PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Darwin (ranked 666 p4p, 84 weight class) and Raul Gracie (ranked 682 p4p, 86 weight class). Gracie has chosen Jiu Jitsu-Apaga Mas Não Bate as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Raul Gracie was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Darwin
vs
Gracie

190 cm
28
171 lbs
15 - 8 - 1

175 cm
28
165 lbs
10 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 15 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Charlie Darwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Raul Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Darwin feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
Darwin throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Darwin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Charlie Darwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Darwin staying out of range there.
Gracie stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Darwin slips under a jab.
Darwin cracks the inside of Gracie's front leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darwin throws a leg kick

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Darwin's guard.

Darwin uses the cage to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Darwin pinned against the cage. Darwin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Darwin feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Darwin.
Gracie has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Darwin finds it's way round the side to connect with Gracie's head.
Darwin tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.
Darwin throws a leg kick

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Darwin!
Gracie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Darwin is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Darwin is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Total Impact MMA/KT that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Darwin wants to get back to his feet but Gracie drags him back down.
Darwin keeping his opponent close.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Darwin!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darwin tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Darwin bucks up and throws Gracie to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie looks to clinch
and Darwin counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracie walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Darwin misses with a series of wild punches.
Charlie Darwin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Darwin moves away.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Gracie checks a leg kick.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Darwin was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Darwin 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Darwin misses with a leg kick.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Darwin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Darwin connects with a looping right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Darwin moves out of range as Gracie strikes.
Gracie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gracie drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Darwin misses with a right hand

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darwin is adopting a defensive guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Darwin keeps moving.
Darwin trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie scoring with punches to the head and body.
Darwin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Darwin pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie stands and throws Darwin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie tries to advance to mount but Darwin denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Darwin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Darwin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice jab there from Darwin.
Darwin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gracie checks it well.
Darwin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Darwin scores with a shot to the body.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Darwin is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Darwin lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Darwin avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Darwin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darwin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Darwin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Darwin.
Darwin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Darwin throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Darwin throws a leg kick that misses.
Darwin misses with a few strikes there.
Darwin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Charlie Darwin is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Darwin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Darwin works Gracie's body with a nice hook.
Gracie moves out of range as Darwin strikes.
Darwin looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
Darwin misses with a leg kick

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Darwin won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Darwin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Darwin is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Darwin is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Darwin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darwin stops Gracie from passing to mount.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Darwin pushes Gracie away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gracie gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gracie tries to advance to mount but Darwin denies him.
Gracie trying to control the position but Darwin is working away.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Darwin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.
Darwin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Darwin stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A nice inside leg kick there by Darwin. That's going to slow Gracie down.
Gracie on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jab from Darwin.
Darwin throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Darwin misses with an uppercut. Gracie saw that one coming.
Gracie swings widly with a right hand
and Darwin counters with a straight right hand.
Darwin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Darwin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie with the counter takedown but Darwin avoids it easily.
Darwin misses with a low kick.
Darwin misses with an uppercut.
Gracie wants to counter with a clinch but Darwin pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Darwin dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Darwin throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Darwin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Darwin wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Gracie steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Darwin.
Gracie is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Darwin rather than just go for the knockout.
Darwin throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
Darwin throws a leg kick

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Darwin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Darwin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Darwin keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Darwin has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Gracie is on him like a limpet, forcing Darwin back against the cage.
Gracie is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Gracie ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gracie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Darwin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Darwin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Darwin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Raul Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darwin working a defensive guard here.
Gracie stays in close to Darwin's body and controls the position.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Darwin is retaining full guard.
Darwin wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Darwin working a defensive guard here.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Darwin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Darwin is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Darwin throws a leg kick that is checked

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Darwin tries to kick Gracie off in order to stand up. Gracie Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Darwin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie working the ground and pound.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Darwin is defending well.
Charlie Darwin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie trying to control the position but Darwin is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darwin is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.

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

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Darwin has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Darwin 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie Darwin!
Charlie Darwin bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.