PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Helio Gracie (ranked 5112 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 3999 p4p, 0 weight class). Helio Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by ROYCE GRACIE. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Gracie

185 cm
23
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Helio Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Helio Gracie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Helio Gracie dives in for a single leg takedown but Royce Gracie sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Royce Gracie with the counter takedown but Helio Gracie avoids it easily.
Helio Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helio Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Helio Gracie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royce Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Royce Gracie with the counter takedown but Helio Gracie avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helio Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Helio Gracie darts in looking for a takedown but Royce Gracie gets double underhooks and turns Helio Gracie into the cage.
Helio Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Royce Gracie swivels and escapes.

Helio Gracie dives in and scores a takedown into Royce Gracie's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Royce Gracie keeping full guard, as Helio Gracie tries to pass.
Helio Gracie advances to half guard.
Helio Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Royce Gracie's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Royce Gracie.

Helio Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Royce Gracie turns into him and now he's in Helio Gracie's guard.
Helio Gracie is breathing heavily.
Helio Gracie can't keep his opponent in guard - Royce Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Helio Gracie manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helio Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Royce Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Royce Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Royce Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Helio Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Helio Gracie is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Royce Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Helio Gracie is defending well.
Royce Gracie misses with the ground and pound.

Royce Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Helio Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Helio Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Royce Gracie is looking to pass Helio Gracie's guard but actually Helio Gracie recovers to full guard.
Royce Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Helio Gracie leaves Royce Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Helio Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And Royce Gracie tries to counter it with a takedown but Helio Gracie pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Helio Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Royce Gracie is breathing heavily.
Helio Gracie passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Royce Gracie!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helio Gracie mounts Royce Gracie! Really nice guard pass there!

Helio Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Helio Gracie postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Royce Gracie looks a forlorn figure.
Royce Gracie has given up his back here. Will Helio Gracie look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Helio Gracie is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Helio Gracie landing with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Helio Gracie looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Royce Gracie is controlling Helio Gracie 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Helio Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Royce Gracie can do to turn this around?
Royce Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Helio Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Royce Gracie preventing the sweep.
Royce Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Royce Gracie trying to pass the guard but Helio Gracie defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Royce Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Helio Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Royce Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Helio Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Royce Gracie works his way into side control.

Royce Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Royce Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Royce Gracie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Helio Gracie has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Royce Gracie but great work by Helio Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Helio Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Royce Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Helio Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Royce Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.

Helio Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Royce Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Helio Gracie tries for a kimura but Royce Gracie is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Royce Gracie tries to buck Helio Gracie off but Helio Gracie is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Royce Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Royce Gracie misses with a two punch combination.

Helio Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helio Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Royce Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Helio Gracie works his way into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Helio Gracie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Royce Gracie rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Helio Gracie's guard! Nice work there by Royce Gracie!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helio Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Helio Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Helio Gracie working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Royce Gracie's thigh. Royce Gracie counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Helio Gracie advances to half guard.

Helio Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Royce Gracie is defending well.

Helio 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helio Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Royce Gracie defends it.
Helio Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

Helio Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helio Gracie passes to side control.

Helio Gracie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Royce Gracie has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Helio Gracie but great work by Royce Gracie.
Helio Gracie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Helio Gracie gets full guard.
Royce Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Helio Gracie.
Royce Gracie advances to half guard.
Royce Gracie is pressing down on Helio Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Helio Gracie is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royce Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Royce Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Royce Gracie frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Royce Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Royce Gracie is still trying to improve position.

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 Helio Gracie.
I think Helio Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!