PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Blood (ranked 657 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royler Gracie (ranked 579 p4p, 72 weight class). Gracie has chosen Olha a Explosão as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Blood
vs
Gracie

165 cm
27
155 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

171 cm
26
162 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ivan Blood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Royler Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Blood seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Blood looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Blood misses with a body shot.
Blood lands a jab to the nose.
Blood connects with a crisp jab.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A quick step to the side and Blood tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Blood throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blood avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Blood lands with a nice body punch.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Blood defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blood throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie takes one to the chin there.
Blood lands with an uppercut that bounces Gracie off the cage and back into range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blood paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Blood.
Blood uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.
Blood stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blood wants it to stay on the feet.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Blood was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Blood is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Blood manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Blood's guard.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Blood is retaining full guard.
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!
Blood seems keen to control Gracie's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie trying to control but Blood is working from the bottom.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Blood misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Blood.
Blood misses with a wild body shot.
Blood misses with a straight left.
Ivan Blood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blood swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie defending well as Blood loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Blood misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Gracie gets a double leg takedown into Blood's guard.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Blood is retaining full guard.
Gracie advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Blood dominated that round.
That's time! Blood's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Blood slips the punch.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Blood.
Gracie looks to throw the jab but Blood is out of range.
Gracie swings for the body but Blood moves out of range.
Blood throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Blood throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie moves out of range as Blood strikes.
Blood waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Nice uppercut lands for Blood. That snapped Gracie's head back.
Blood misses with a straight left.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.
Blood looks to land a combination. Gracie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Royler Gracie has been cut.
Blood throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Blood is just out of range.
Blood connects with a right hand. Gracie shakes it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blood defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie defending well as Blood loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Blood manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie is standing up over Blood. Blood looks to escape but Gracie dives into side control.

Gracie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Blood has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gracie but great work by Blood.
Blood is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Blood controlling the position.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Blood is defending it quite comfortably.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Blood is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blood avoid being mounted?
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Blood is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blood is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Blood is looking to improve his position.
Blood has his hands clasped together around Gracie's back. He's all about the action.
Royler Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.

Blood manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Blood connects with a looping right hand.
A jab from Blood does it's job there.
Blood throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gracie on the side of the head.
Blood misses with a looping right.
Blood misses with a double jab

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Blood fights it but they end up in guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Blood is keeping the position.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Blood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Blood dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Royler Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Blood ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
An attempted straight right counter from Blood misses the target.
Blood throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Gracie takes a swing at Blood's ribcage but misses.
Blood connects with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Blood does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blood looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blood looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Blood goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Blood lands a nice looking body shot.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blood manages to avoid it.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Blood tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Blood to the ground. Blood escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Blood moves away from the strike by Gracie.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blood's waist but Blood gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Blood moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Blood slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie slips a straight right by Blood.
Blood connects with a nice looking jab.
Blood with a hook.
Blood scores with the left hand. Gracie knows he should have avoided that one.
Gracie's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Blood connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gracie scrambles back to his feet.

Gracie is rocked!
Gracie walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gracie is still on wobbly legs! Can Blood finish him?
Blood throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Blood cracks Gracie on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Gracie falls backwards against the cage. Blood follows up with more strikes that drop Gracie to his knees. Blood keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Gracie! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ivan Blood!
An out of breath Ivan Blood thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.