PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Big Dog Gracie (ranked 1154 p4p, 221 weight class) and Dennis Rader (ranked 182 p4p, 41 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Gang out blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Rader

190 cm
28
282
12 - 9 - 0

225 cm
28
265
18 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads

SynCity Fightwear
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Big Dog Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dennis Rader!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Chris Dean and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracie showed some decent athleticism there.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Rader is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rader wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rader looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Still in half guard, Gracie seems content to control.
Rader felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rader looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rader is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Rader kicks off Gracie and gets to his feet.
Rader slips a jab from Gracie.
Rader misses with an uppercut.
Rader clobbers Gracie with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rader misses with a double jab

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rader wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.
Rader wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Rader is working from the bottom.
Gracie stops Rader from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rader counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rader as he avoids it easily.
Rader finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rader looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Big Dog Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donk. Rader catches Gracie right on the button with a cross.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rader fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Rader uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rader on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rader throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Rader fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rader is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie is controlling the pace.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rader is looking to escape.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rader blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Rader counters with a straight right hand.
Rader throws out a powerful jab.

Gracie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rader is trying to defend but Gracie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rader tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rader pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie controlling the action here.
Gracie stops Rader from getting back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stops Rader from getting back to his feet.
Gracie looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rader with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rader does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rader is trying to stand.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Rader pushes Gracie off and gets back to his feet.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rader looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gracie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Gracie there.

Rader manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Gracie keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rader tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Rader back against the cage.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gracie wants to take the fight to the mat but Rader manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Big Dog Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rader tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Rader back against the cage.
Rader stalling in the clinch but Gracie improves position.
Rader misses with a short punch on the inside.

Gracie wants the takedown. Rader is fighting it off but Gracie persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rader's guard against the cage.
Rader is wriggling around but Gracie manages to pass to half guard.
Rader is trying to stand.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rader sees it coming and defends easily.
Rader wants to get back to his feet.

Rader has one foot on Gracie's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rader scores with a decent looking hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rader fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dennis Rader is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rader throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Rader keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rader throws a counter combo.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Rader sprawls well.
Nice body punch from Rader.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Rader, which made it look bad.
Rader lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rader misses with an uppercut. Gracie saw that one coming.
Rader lands a really nice looking cross but Gracie seems unphased.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Rader counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rader cracks Gracie with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Gracie looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Rader finish him?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Rader showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rader is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rader throws a head kick that misses.
Rader throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Rader has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rader gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rader is keeping the position for now.
Rader is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rader has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Gracie is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Gracie blocking some punches.

Rader pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie throws an off balance right hand
and Gracie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Good exchange - Rader coming out on top.
Rader lands a slapping body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rader lands with a nice body punch.
Rader scores with the left hand. Gracie knows he should have avoided that one.

Rader feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Gracie sprawling to the canvas! Gracie rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Rader finish him?!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rader lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gracie looks to land a right hand but Rader moved out of range.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rader.
Rader misses with a wild combination.
As Rader tries to get set, Gracie tries to push him back and clinch up but Rader manages to avoid the attempt.
Rader swings widly with a right hand
enabling Gracie to counter with a crisp jab.
Rader cracks Gracie with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Rader cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Rader.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rader.
Gracie appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rader stuffs the takedown.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rader defends it nicely.
Rader looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Big Dog Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four 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.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Rader counters with a straight right hand.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Rader counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rader stuffs the takedown.
A left lands for Rader.

Gracie is rocked!
Gracie tries to get into range but Rader steps to the side and lands a beautiful hook that drops Gracie! He's faceplanted into the mat, ass in the air... he's out cold! That's an image he won't want to show his grandkids when he gets older! Rader scores the big KO victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Dennis Rader!
Dennis Rader seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.