PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Said Ibrahimov (ranked 5323 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Gracie (ranked 4611 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen ROYCE GRACIE as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ibrahimov
vs
Gracie

160 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Said Ibrahimov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Helio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ibrahimov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ibrahimov stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Ibrahimov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Ibrahimov controlling him for the moment.
Ibrahimov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Ibrahimov 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.
Ibrahimov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibrahimov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Ibrahimov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ibrahimov keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ibrahimov tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Ibrahimov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Ibrahimov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Ibrahimov trying to control here.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ibrahimov defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ibrahimov is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie passes to side control.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gracie in side control, throwing shots but Ibrahimov defends.
Gracie is putting a hurting on Ibrahimov here, landing some big shots from side control.
Gracie looks winded!
Gracie in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ibrahimov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahimov is looking for a sweep.
Ibrahimov is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ibrahimov wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Ibrahimov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ibrahimov trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie has hold of Ibrahimov's hands but Ibrahimov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ibrahimov lands a nice short elbow.
Ibrahimov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Gracie has hold of Ibrahimov's hands but Ibrahimov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Ibrahimov is looking for a kimura but Gracie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ibrahimov to get the leverage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ibrahimov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ibrahimov is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Helio Gracie will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ibrahimov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ibrahimov to the mat! Ibrahimov manages to get full guard.

Ibrahimov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ibrahimov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ibrahimov wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Ibrahimov is defending well.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ibrahimov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to score with some ground and pound. Ibrahimov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Gracie working the ground and pound but Ibrahimov is defending the strikes.
Ibrahimov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gracie connects with a decent elbow.
Gracie fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Gracie working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Gracie misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ibrahimov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ibrahimov's head.
Ibrahimov wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Ibrahimov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ibrahimov.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to move into half guard but instead Ibrahimov has managed to sweep!

Ibrahimov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ibrahimov landing some decent shots from guard.
Ibrahimov wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Ibrahimov defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ibrahimov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ibrahimov wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.
Ibrahimov passes to full mount!
Ibrahimov scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahimov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ibrahimov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Ibrahimov maintains control.
Ibrahimov controlling from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Helio Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ibrahimov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gracie to the ground. Ibrahimov is now in Gracie's guard.
Ibrahimov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ibrahimov trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Ibrahimov slips an elbow through the middle.
Ibrahimov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibrahimov landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ibrahimov is one step ahead there.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibrahimov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Ibrahimov lands a couple of elbows.
Ibrahimov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Ibrahimov postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ibrahimov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ibrahimov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two 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.
Ibrahimov lands a couple of digs.
Ibrahimov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ibrahimov trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ibrahimov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ibrahimov off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahimov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gracie's guard. Nice work there by Ibrahimov.
Ibrahimov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ibrahimov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Ibrahimov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Helio Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahimov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ibrahimov landing some decent shots from guard.
Ibrahimov wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ibrahimov wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Said Ibrahimov showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Paul Gruel scores the fight for Said Ibrahimov!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Said Ibrahimov!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Helio Gracie!

Said Ibrahimov wins by split decision!