PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Garcia (ranked 2675 p4p, 326 weight class) and Rorion Gracie (ranked 3702 p4p, 427 weight class). Gracie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Olha a Explosão. Rafael Garcia has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Garcia
vs
Gracie

170 cm
26
192 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

176 cm
26
192 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rafael Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rorion Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garcia looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Garcia is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Garcia pulls his head out easily.
Gracie is not content to let Garcia control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Garcia trying to advance position but Gracie counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Garcia defends easily.
Garcia trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Garcia is pushing down on Gracie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gracie is fighting to maintain full guard but Garcia has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gracie is pressing down on Garcia's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Garcia seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Garcia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garcia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Garcia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Garcia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Garcia trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Garcia is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Garcia has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Garcia avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Garcia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie with the counter takedown but Garcia avoids it easily.
Garcia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie shoots in but Garcia avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Garcia. Garcia gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie swings for the body but Garcia moves out of range.
Gracie dives in and grabs Garcia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Garcia pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Garcia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Garcia doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Garcia trying to control the position here.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Garcia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Garcia's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Garcia is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Garcia manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Garcia's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rorion Gracie will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A big right from Garcia misses.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garcia scores with a decent looking hook.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Garcia ducks down to avoid it.
Garcia swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Garcia pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Garcia misses with a hook.
Gracie connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Garcia throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Garcia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gracie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garcia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Garcia. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garcia was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Gracie throws a jab when Garcia was well out of range.

Garcia gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Garcia is keeping the position for now.
Gracie passes Garcia's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gracie prevents Garcia from improving his position.

Garcia is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
My spies in Yaw-Yan Ardigma inform me that Gracie has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are battling for position here. Garcia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Garcia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Garcia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Garcia is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Garcia struggling a bit here.
Garcia is trying to get back to half guard.
Garcia wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Garcia tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Garcia is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Garcia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Garcia is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
A control attempt from Garcia but he's now mounted!
Garcia sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Garcia defends the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie passes into side control, despite Garcia's attempt to control the position.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Garcia is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rorion Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Garcia is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Garcia does a little dance to reset his feet.

Garcia closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gracie quickly recovers to half guard.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Gracie can't keep his opponent in guard - Garcia advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Garcia landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Garcia is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Garcia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Garcia wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia prevents Gracie from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Garcia is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Garcia postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gracie is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Garcia, into his guard.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Garcia controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pushing down on Garcia's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rorion Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Garcia is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Garcia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Garcia is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Garcia is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Garcia avoid being mounted?
Garcia is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Garcia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Garcia is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garcia looking for submissions off his back.
Garcia wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Garcia has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rafael Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garcia tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie is thwarting Garcia's attempts to control the position.
Rorion Gracie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Garcia moves into full guard.

Garcia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

Garcia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garcia controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garcia wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.

Garcia looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafael Garcia.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rorion Gracie!
Rorion Gracie decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.