PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raul Gracie (ranked 316 p4p, 39 weight class) and Antonio Salieri (ranked 454 p4p, 58 weight class). Gracie's entrance music is Jiu Jitsu-Apaga Mas Não Bate. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Salieri's choice of entrance music: DMX - Ain’t No Sunshine. Antonio Salieri told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Gracie
vs
Salieri

175 cm
27
165 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

179 cm
29
162 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Urban Fighter

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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Raul Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Salieri!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salieri scores with a decent looking hook.
Salieri misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Salieri scoring well with a low kick there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Salieri.
Gracie scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Salieri connects with an inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Salieri.
Gracie slips under a jab from Salieri.
Gracie is looking to counter the offense by Salieri and move into the clinch.
Salieri lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Salieri fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gracie looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A jab from Gracie does it's job there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie punishes Salieri's body with a nice straight punch.
Salieri misses with an attempted mid kick.
Salieri misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Salieri misses with a body shot

and Gracie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Salieri as Gracie tries to tie him up.
Salieri trying to land knees to the body.
Salieri letting Gracie take a breather here.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Salieri turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Salieri blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Salieri lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gracie misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Salieri.
Salieri tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Salieri breaks the clinch.
Salieri throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Salieri throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salieri.
Gracie appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Salieri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Gracie tries to counter by clinching up but Salieri breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to score with a low kick but Salieri moves his leg out of the way.
Salieri only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Gracie defending well as Salieri loads up on a big left hand.
Salieri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salieri throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Salieri turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Salieri throws a leg kick

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salieri's guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Salieri is keeping the position.
Gracie trying to control but Salieri is working from the bottom.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salieri swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Salieri keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salieri trying to control the position.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Salieri is retaining full guard.
Salieri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Salieri is trying to keep Gracie in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Salieri shows good takedown defense.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Gracie drops down looking for a counter takedown but Salieri sprawls and moves away.
Salieri throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie slips a jab from Salieri.
Gracie takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salieri tries to sprawl but Gracie drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Salieri is trying to control but can't.
Gracie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Salieri is looking to improve his position.
Salieri has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
Gracie passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie tries to control but Salieri wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Raul Gracie will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Salieri rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Gracie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Salieri gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Gracie misses with the head strike.
Salieri working aggressively here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Salieri.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Salieri trying to control the position but instead, Gracie has worked for underhooks and has pushed Salieri into the cage.
Salieri comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Salieri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salieri has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.
Salieri throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gracie.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Salieri to keep the fight standing.
Gracie jumps guard but Salieri stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short left from Salieri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Antonio Salieri seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gracie lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.

Gracie jumps guard and drags Salieri to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Salieri trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salieri makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Salieri defends well.
Salieri must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salieri working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Salieri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Salieri content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Salieri throwing strikes but missing.
Salieri scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Salieri postures up.
Salieri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.
Salieri lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salieri sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Salieri pushes his legs off easily.
Salieri content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Salieri lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Salieri is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Salieri with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Salieri won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salieri missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Gracie working for a triangle but Salieri defends it easily.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Salieri is proving a slippery customer.
Salieri is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salieri works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.
Salieri scoring with punches to the head and body.
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.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Salieri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Salieri's head.
Salieri fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Salieri throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Salieri throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Salieri circles away.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Gracie taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Salieri misses with the head strike.
Salieri misses with a hook from the clinch.
Salieri lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie lands a shot to the body.
Salieri pushes Gracie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gracie misses with some punches.
Gracie looking to slow down the pace here.
Salieri misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Salieri on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gracie creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Salieri.
Salieri has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Gracie seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Salieri can turn it around.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Salieri gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Salieri is keeping busy.
A nice left hand lands by Gracie.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nice body punch from Gracie.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Salieri gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Salieri misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Salieri fails to land.
Salieri throws a head punch that misses.
Gracie lands with a right to the head.
Gracie jumps guard but Salieri stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Salieri.
A body shot lands from Gracie.
Salieri stalling in the clinch but Gracie improves position.
Gracie avoids a wild elbow strike from Salieri.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie blocking some punches.
Gracie lands with a left to the head.

Gracie pulls guard successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Salieri slips an elbow through the middle.
Salieri working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Salieri working some strikes from top position.
Salieri trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Salieri throws a big elbow that misses.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Salieri landing with the ground and pound.
Salieri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salieri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Salieri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Salieri slips an elbow through the middle.

Gracie working for a triangle but Salieri defends it easily.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Salieri is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Salieri wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Salieri postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salieri trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salieri throws a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Antonio Salieri.
I think Salieri 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!