PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Damato (ranked 4295 p4p, 3929 weight class) and Travis Gracie (ranked 363 p4p, 342 weight class). Damato comes to the cage accompanied by Thunderstruck. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Damato
vs
Gracie

170 cm
19
150
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
21
154
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Core Combat

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocco Damato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Travis Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Damato gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.

Damato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Damato gets a double leg takedown into Gracie's guard.

Damato gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Damato throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Despite the aggression on Gracie's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Damato scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Damato shoots in and bounces Gracie off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Damato doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Damato manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Damato controls from within his opponent's guard.
Damato forces his way into half guard.
Damato knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie is looking to control Damato's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Damato is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Damato is very close to passing his half guard.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Gracie gets back to full guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Damato defends it easily.

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.
Damato wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Damato preventing the sweep.
Damato trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Damato wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Damato is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Damato decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
Damato darts in trying to clinch
and Gracie makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Damato throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Damato is in Gracie's guard.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Damato defends easily.
Damato landing some decent shots from guard.

Damato gets to his feet - Gracie follows without any prompting.

Damato takes the fight into the clinch.

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

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Damato is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Damato has escaped and now he's on top!

Damato decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Damato shoots in and gets a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Damato trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie controls Damato momentarily but Damato frees himself.
Gracie told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Damato wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Damato can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Damato is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie looks winded!
Damato sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Damato stands up out of the half guard.
Damato wants to clinch
and Gracie counters with a three punch combo that has Damato backing up. Damato nods at Gracie to acknowledge the strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Damato looking to pass the guard.
Damato stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Damato tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Damato from controlling successfully.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Damato tries to pass.
Damato is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Damato pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Damato trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Damato tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Damato has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie working a defensive guard but Damato passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damato tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Damato content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Damato's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Damato's back!

Gracie is working for a rear naked choke. Damato is not defending it well and Gracie has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Damato refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Damato's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Travis Gracie!