PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Finnish Tax Payer (ranked 12 p4p, 35 weight class) and Renoa Gracie (ranked 3 p4p, 7 weight class). Tax Payer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Konala Cartelli - Mäkikotka. Gracie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Apaga Mas Não Bate. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Tax Payer
vs
Gracie

176 cm
32
148
24 - 8 - 0

166 cm
28
145
11 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Finnish Tax Payer!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Renoa Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tax Payer throws a leg kick

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tax Payer wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Tax Payer is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Gracie presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Tax Payer makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Stalling in the clinch from Gracie.

Gracie pulls guard successfully.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tax Payer stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gracie misses the jab.
Tax Payer is looking for a counter combo.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Tax Payer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie throws an off balance right hand
and Tax Payer makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Tax Payer has been working on his boxing with his coaches at FF Forever in the buildup to the fight.
Gracie tries to clinch
and Tax Payer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gracie lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tax Payer counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gracie lands with a nice body punch.
Tax Payer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gracie throws out the jab.
Tax Payer connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie. Gracie circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tax Payer is looking to counter punch.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Tax Payer ducks down to avoid it.
Tax Payer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tax Payer sprawls well. Tax Payer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Tax Payer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tax Payer is looking to counter punch.
Finnish Tax Payer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renoa Gracie.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
It looked like Tax Payer was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gracie.
Renoa Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Tax Payer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gracie catches Tax Payer with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tax Payer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.
Tax Payer is looking to counter punch.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
It looked like Tax Payer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gracie listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tax Payer looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a straight left.
As Gracie looks to move away, Tax Payer throws a big counter combo but Gracie just gets out of the way.
Finnish Tax Payer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tax Payer throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tax Payer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gracie misses with a straight left.

Gracie clinches up against the cage.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tax Payer walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tax Payer takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gracie jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Tax Payer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gracie.
Tax Payer takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tax Payer looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Tax Payer fails to land.

Tax Payer breaks the clinch.
Gracie fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gracie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Tax Payer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gracie takes a swing at Tax Payer's ribcage but misses.
As Gracie looks to move away, Tax Payer throws a big counter combo but Gracie just gets out of the way.
Tax Payer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tax Payer counters with a nice uppercut.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tax Payer walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tax Payer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Renoa Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tax Payer with the inside leg kick.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Tax Payer misses with a looping right.
Tax Payer wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Gracie working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Tax Payer is looking to escape.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Tax Payer pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tax Payer is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the pace.

Tax Payer has one foot on Gracie's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Gracie moves out of range of the leg kick from Tax Payer.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie moves out of range as Tax Payer strikes.
Tax Payer connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Gracie lands an overhand right.
Gracie dives in for a single leg takedown but Tax Payer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Finnish Tax Payer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renoa Gracie.
Gracie lands a jab.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Tax Payer appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Tax Payer circles away easily
and Tax Payer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Gracie connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Tax Payer against the cage.
Tax Payer lands a shoulder strike.

Tax Payer breaks from the clinch.
Gracie moves out of range as Tax Payer strikes.
Gracie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tax Payer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tax Payer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tax Payer fires out a quick counter leg kick but Gracie just manages to avoid it.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Tax Payer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tax Payer tries to move into range but Gracie moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Tax Payer ducks down to avoid it.
Tax Payer was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Tax Payer misses with a wild combination.
Gracie scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Tax Payer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice shot lands for Gracie.
Gracie lands a nice shot that snaps Tax Payer's head back.
Tax Payer slips under a jab.
Tax Payer thinks about countering with a head kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Renoa Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie moves into the clinch.

Gracie pulls guard effortlessly.
Gracie is adopting a defensive guard.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tax Payer stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Tax Payer wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Renoa Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tax Payer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Tax Payer decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tax Payer tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gracie is able to avoid easily.
Tax Payer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tax Payer paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie takes one to the chin there.
Gracie scores with a nice strike.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jab from Gracie.
Tax Payer thows a leg kick but Gracie checks it

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tax Payer wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tax Payer keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tax Payer keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Tax Payer manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
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!
Tax Payer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tax Payer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie scores with a shot to the side of Tax Payer's head.
Tax Payer scores with a shoulder strike.
Gracie lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gracie trying to control the position but instead, Tax Payer has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gracie into the cage.
Gracie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gracie scores with a hook to the body.
Gracie tries to throw a body punch but Tax Payer avoids it by throwing Gracie back against the cage.
Tax Payer lands a right hand.

Gracie has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tax Payer uses from the top position.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Tax Payer from standing up.
Gracie pulls Tax Payer in to control the position.

Tax Payer stands up and waves to Gracie to follow him.
Gracie punishes Tax Payer's body with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tax Payer.
Gracie gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gracie lands an overhand right.
Gracie misses with a lunging right hand
and Tax Payer counters with a nice body shot.
Gracie getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tax Payer swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tax Payer keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tax Payer misses with a straight right.
Gracie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gracie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tax Payer can pounce on him.
Tax Payer lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd cheers as Gracie lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tax Payer doesn't seem phased though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie lands with an overhand left.
Gracie misses with a hook.
Gracie takes a swing at Tax Payer's ribcage but misses.

Gracie gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Renoa Gracie just about did enough to take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tax Payer takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gracie throws a jab when Tax Payer was well out of range.
Tax Payer is looking to counter punch.
Tax Payer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Gracie pushes Tax Payer up against the cage in a clinch.
Tax Payer looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tax Payer swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Renoa Gracie seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Tax Payer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gracie dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tax Payer backwards.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.

Tax Payer manages to break the clinch.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tax Payer.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tax Payer appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Gracie finds it's way through Tax Payer's defenses.
Tax Payer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Tax Payer counters with a nice uppercut.
Tax Payer takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tax Payer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tax Payer throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie blocks a low kick nicely.
Tax Payer getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie darts in looking for a takedown but Tax Payer gets double underhooks and turns Gracie into the cage.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tax Payer under the eye.
Gracie connects with a looping right hand.
Tax Payer swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Tax Payer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tax Payer wants it to stay on the feet.
A quick step to the side and Tax Payer tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Finnish Tax Payer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renoa Gracie.
Tax Payer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tax Payer sets himself, and Gracie steps forward looking for the clinch! Tax Payer avoids it this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tax Payer throws out a leg kick but Gracie moves out of range and Tax Payer only half commits.
Tax Payer throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tax Payer changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tax Payer as he avoids it easily.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Tax Payer tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tax Payer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tax Payer is looking to counter punch.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tax Payer counters with a nice leg kick.
Tax Payer cracks Gracie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gracie misses with a takedown
and Tax Payer counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tax Payer blocks a jab.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Tax Payer was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tax Payer moves away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tax Payer lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gracie has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gracie and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tax Payer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tax Payer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a looping right.
Gracie throws the left hand but Tax Payer avoids the punch easily.
Tax Payer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Tax Payer swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Finnish Tax Payer will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tax Payer misses with a shot to the body

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Finnish Tax Payer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The fighters are working up against the cage. Tax Payer manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Gracie fails to land.
Tax Payer working aggressively here.
Tax Payer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tax Payer can't break the clinch.
Tax Payer scores with a shoulder strike.
Gracie lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tax Payer blocking some punches.

Tax Payer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tax Payer on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tax Payer throws a leg kick

and Gracie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gracie tries to throw a body punch but Tax Payer avoids it by throwing Gracie back against the cage.
Tax Payer scores with a shoulder strike.

Gracie manages to pull guard.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tax Payer is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tax Payer landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracie controlling the position.
Tax Payer throwing strikes but missing.
Tax Payer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tax Payer wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Tax Payer gets to his feet. Gracie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tax Payer moves away.
An attempted straight right counter from Tax Payer misses the target.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Tax Payer to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie tests Tax Payer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tax Payer feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Tax Payer!
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Tax Payer is looking to counter punch.
Tax Payer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Tax Payer.
Gracie wants to counter with a clinch but Tax Payer pushes him away.
Tax Payer throws a low kick, looking for Gracie's leg but Gracie calmly moves out of range.
Tax Payer stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Finnish Tax Payer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renoa Gracie.
Gracie looks to clinch
and Tax Payer counters with a series of strikes that practically lifts Gracie off his feet! He tumbles backwards, his head bouncing off the mat - Tax Payer follows up with more strikes before the ref can step in but Gracie was out before he hit the floor.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 5, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Finnish Tax Payer!
Finnish Tax Payer retains his featherweight title!
An out of breath Finnish Tax Payer thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.