PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Thales Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Glenardo Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Glenardo Gonzalez struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Glenardo Gonzalez will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Gracie
vs
Gonzalez

169 cm
22
137 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
22
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

S.W.A.T.

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thales Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Glenardo Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Gracie scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gracie displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Gracie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gonzalez at a distance.
Gonzalez tries to move into range but Gracie moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gracie throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd cheers as Gracie lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gonzalez doesn't seem phased though.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gonzalez as he jumps to the side.
Gonzalez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gracie. Gracie obviously looking to wear him down.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gonzalez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie lands an overhand right.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Gracie rushes Gonzalez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie scores with a hook to the body.
Gonzalez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gracie is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Gonzalez won't allow it.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gracie has had enough of the clinch but Gonzalez keeps him there for the moment.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gonzalez tries for a takedown but Gracie manages to get underhooks.
Gracie wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gonzalez keeps control of Gracie as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Gonzalez won't allow it.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Gonzalez won't allow it.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gracie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gracie has closed the distance and engaged Gonzalez in a clinch.
Gracie is trying to break free.
A short right from Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie is trying to break free.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Gonzalez moves out of range.

Gonzalez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gonzalez is controlling him well.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gonzalez takes a little break here. Gracie wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Gracie tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Gonzalez controls the position.
I looks like Gonzalez might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gonzalez advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gonzalez controlling the pace for now.
Gonzalez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Despite being in the dominant position, Glenardo Gonzalez just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonzalez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gonzalez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Gracie wants to stand up but Gonzalez is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gonzalez controlling from the top position.
Gonzalez won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thales Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie looks to land a combination but Gonzalez avoids it well.
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.
Gracie lands a slapping body shot.
Gracie scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gonzalez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gracie throws a lazy right hand but Gonzalez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gracie missing with a left hand there. Gonzalez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A nice combination there by Gracie.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Gonzalez passes into half guard.
Gonzalez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gonzalez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie tries to kick Gonzalez off but Gonzalez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez stalling.
Gonzalez is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Gonzalez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gonzalez is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Despite being in the dominant position, Glenardo Gonzalez just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gonzalez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Gonzalez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but Gonzalez is controlling him
Gonzalez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie is trying to stand up here but Gonzalez is controlling him well.
Gonzalez tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Gonzalez sits in half guard.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but Gonzalez is controlling him
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gonzalez in particular looking to stall.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie closes the distance but Gonzalez moves to the side

and Gonzalez counters with a single leg into guard. Gracie didn't expect that.
Gonzalez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gonzalez stops Gracie from standing up.
Gonzalez postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Gonzalez from controlling successfully.
Gracie wants to stand up but Gonzalez is controlling him.
Gonzalez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gonzalez stops Gracie from standing up.
Gonzalez is stalling in the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a takedown into side control.
Gonzalez controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Gonzalez staying calm.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Glenardo Gonzalez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gracie misses the jab.
Gracie tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gonzalez counters with a takedown into side control.
Gracie pushes Gonzalez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gonzalez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gonzalez just content to control the position.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gonzalez works to advance to full mount. Gracie defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gonzalez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gonzalez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Glenardo Gonzalez just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gonzalez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gracie tries to clinch

and Gonzalez counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
Gonzalez content just to control the position here.
Gonzalez punishing his opponent with strikes.
Gonzalez content just to control the position here.
Gracie's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Gonzalez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to buck Gonzalez off but he can't manage it.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Gonzalez content just to control the position here.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Glenardo Gonzalez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gonzalez controlling from the full mount.
Gracie tries to lock up and control but Gonzalez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gracie wants to hold on but Gonzalez pushes him away.
Gonzalez tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Gonzalez won't let Gracie get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Gonzalez content just to control the position here.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gonzalez controlling the pace for now.

Despite being in the dominant position, Glenardo Gonzalez just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four 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.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Gonzalez circles away easily

and Gonzalez counters with a single leg into guard. Gracie didn't expect that.
Gracie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gonzalez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gonzalez trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie wants to stand up but Gonzalez is controlling him.
Gonzalez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gonzalez lands a couple of decent looking shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Glenardo Gonzalez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gonzalez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Glenardo Gonzalez!