PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Faded Faded (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakuraba Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen Gimme Shelter as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Faded
vs
Gracie

188 cm
21
201 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
194 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Faded Faded!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sakuraba Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Faded did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.
Faded tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Faded dodges it nicely.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Faded tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Faded taking some punishment here, with Gracie in his half guard.
Gracie prevents Faded from improving his position.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie throws a strike but Faded avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Faded working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.
Faded is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Faded preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Faded looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Faded gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faded looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Faded looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie postures up and lands a big shot to Faded's brow.
Gracie is working Faded over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Faded wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie is working Faded over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Faded is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Faded looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Faded is breathing heavily.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Faded blocks nicely.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.

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

Faded scores with a takedown into Gracie's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Faded pushes his legs off easily.
Faded trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Faded pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but Faded is controlling him
Faded trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Faded sits in half guard.
Faded uses his free foot to push down on Gracie's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Faded controlling his opponent.

Faded is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Faded takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gracie throws a head kick but Faded moves out of range.
Gracie connects with a good right hand that stumbles Faded. Faded circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Faded fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracie sprawls well initially but Faded persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Faded is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Faded wants to free his trapped foot but Gracie is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Faded wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sakuraba Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Faded looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gracie is staying active underneath Faded, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Faded is controlling well.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakuraba Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Faded trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faded stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Faded wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Faded tries to advance to mount but Gracie denies him.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Faded wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Faded's best efforts.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Faded has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.

That's two 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 is adopting a defensive guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Faded passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Faded controlling the pace.
Faded trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faded wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie is pressing down on Faded's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fadedis looking to pass into half guard but Gracie pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gracie is in guard.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Faded.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie won't allow Faded to sweep him here.
Faded looking to control.

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.
Faded looking for a sweep. Not yet Faded, not yet.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Faded's guard.
Gracie lands with a punch from half guard.
Gracie working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Faded is looking to improve his position.
Nice strikes from Gracie there.
Faded is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gracie scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Faded is looking to improve his position.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sakuraba Gracie 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Faded fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Faded works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Faded is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Faded is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie pushes down on Faded's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gracie drops an elbow to the side of Faded's head.
Faded is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Gracie with a couple of short strikes.
Faded is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gracie with a couple of short strikes.
Faded is working to get back to half guard.
Faded is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie lands a nice shot to the head.
Faded is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie lands with some strikes.
Gracie breaks from Faded's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Faded defends it well.
Faded wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
Faded is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
Faded bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie keeping full guard, as Faded tries to pass.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Faded won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Faded wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie looking to control.

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 being controlled here, momentarily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Faded tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily
and Gracie counters with an outside leg kick.
Sakuraba Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Faded Faded has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Faded escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Faded looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie trying to control but Faded is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sakuraba Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gracie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sakuraba Gracie!