PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zigor Azarola (ranked 492 p4p, 785 weight class) and Rufino Gracie (ranked 36 p4p, 58 weight class). Azarola's entrance music is Million Shattered Swords by Witchrot. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Azarola
vs
Gracie

160 cm
25
144
12 - 9 - 0

165 cm
27
135
11 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Fast

Conquer
Conviction

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zigor Azarola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rufino Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azarola walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
We've been told by Azarola's head coaches at House of 1000 Corpses that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Gracie misses with a hook.
Gracie lands a two punch combo.
Gracie scores with the left hand. Azarola knows he should have avoided that one.
Gracie tests Azarola's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Azarola. Azarola obviously looking to wear him down.
Azarola throws a lazy head kick
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
Gracie throws a poor cross that misses
and Azarola counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gracie throws a right hand that misses
and Azarola counters with a nice body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Gracie moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azarola takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gracie thuds a left hand into Azarola's body.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Azarola moves away and avoids it.
Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Azarola.
Gracie throws a leg kick which misses Azarola's front leg but catches the back leg as Azarola tries to avoid it.
Azarola slips a straight right by Gracie.
Zigor Azarola is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie throws a right hand that misses
and Azarola counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gracie connects with a right hand. Azarola shakes it off.
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gracie jabs Azarola to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Azarola throws a right hand that misses
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

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!
Azarola swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And Gracie tries to counter it with a takedown but Azarola pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Azarola bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gracie is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Azarola had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Gracie avoids a kick to the body.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Azarola.
Gracie tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gracie scores with the left hand. Azarola knows he should have avoided that one.
Azarola walks into a straight right hand from Gracie.
Azarola gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gracie has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
A leg kick checked by Gracie.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Azarola avoids it well.
Azarola thows a left - swing and a miss!
Azarola thuds his shin into the meat of Gracie's side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azarola thows a leg kick but Gracie checks it

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Azarola looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Azarola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie content to stall in guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Azarola takes one on the button.
Azarola throws a poor cross that misses
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rufino Gracie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie throws a lazy right hand but Azarola sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Azarola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gracie on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Azarola lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A head kick by Azarola misses
and Gracie counters with a nice low kick that buckles Azarola's knee momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azarola misses with a hook.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Azarola clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azarola lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Azarola smiles and moves away.
Gracie dives in and grabs Azarola's left leg, looking for a takedown. Azarola pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Zigor Azarola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufino Gracie.
Gracie throws the left hand but Azarola avoids the punch easily.
Gracie gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Azarola.
Azarola punishes Gracie's body with a nice straight punch.
Gracie misses with a hook. Azarola ducked under it nicely.
Azarola fires out a quick counter leg kick but Gracie just manages to avoid it.
Azarola takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Azarola takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Azarola throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Azarola!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Azarola's legs.
Azarola is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azarola biding his time, looking for the opening.
Gracie wants to control his opponent's hands but Azarola gets his hands free.
Azarola really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Gracie.
Gracie tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the action but Azarola just sinks the hooks in.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Zigor Azarola overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie trying to control the action but Azarola just sinks the hooks in.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracie wants to control his opponent's hands but Azarola gets his hands free.
Azarola trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Gracie doesn't escape.
Azarola has the hooks in. Gracie is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Azarola controls the position.
Gracie rolls, trying to escape but Azarola keeps control of the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zigor Azarola dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Azarola motions for Gracie to come forward. Azarola throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Azarola misses with a looping right.
Gracie tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Azarola takes one to the side of the head.
Azarola throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Gracie to counter with a crisp jab.
A slow jab from Azarola misses its intended target.
Azarola swings widly with a right hand

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Azarola looking for a sweep. Not yet Azarola, not yet.
Azarola pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azarola's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azarola bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.

Gracie looking to control.
Azarola not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Azarola decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
Azarola fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gracie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a jab when Azarola was well out of range.
Azarola scores with a hook.
A lazy left from Gracie finds it's target.
Gracie looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Azarola tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Azarola lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gracie will feel that in the morning.
Gracie checks a low kick from Azarola.
Gracie looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Azarola avoids the body shot from Gracie.
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!
Gracie scores with the left hand. Azarola knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a swing at Azarola's ribcage but misses.
Rufino Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A solid leg kick lands there for Azarola.
Azarola throws a head kick that misses.
Azarola lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Azarola jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Azarola fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Azarola thuds a left hand into Gracie's body.
Azarola connects with a crisp jab.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
As Gracie looks to move away, Azarola throws a big counter combo but Gracie just gets out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azarola looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Azarola moves into the clinch successfully.
Azarola cracks Gracie with a nice body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie misses with the head strike.
Gracie tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gracie taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gracie's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Azarola tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Azarola.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Azarola breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie swings widly with a right hand
and Azarola counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Azarola swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zigor Azarola showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Azarola 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zigor Azarola!
A victorious Zigor Azarola thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.