PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Lukashenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolex Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lukashenko
vs
Gracie

170 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roman Lukashenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rolex Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Lukashenko misses.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Lukashenko's guard.

Lukashenko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lukashenko working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Gracie has passed into half guard!
Gracie is taking a breather. Lukashenko says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Lukashenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Gracie works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lukashenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is staying tight to Lukashenko's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Lukashenko is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gracie passes to full mount!
Lukashenko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lukashenko is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Gracie has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rolex Gracie just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lukashenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Lukashenko does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lukashenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Lukashenko is breathing heavily.
Lukashenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lukashenko throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gracie is controlling the pace.

Lukashenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Gracie get's back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Lukashenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Gracie controlling the position from side mount.
Lukashenko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Gracie stands up and beckons Lukashenko to his feet.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lukashenko.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Lukashenko's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lukashenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lukashenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lukashenko throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Lukashenko.
Lukashenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lukashenko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Lukashenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie prevents Lukashenko from getting the reversal.

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Lukashenko manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gracie taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lukashenko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rolex Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lukashenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.
Lukashenko is not content to let Gracie control the position.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lukashenko is trying to get back to half guard.
Lukashenko sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lukashenko looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lukashenko sees it coming and defends easily.

Lukashenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

Lukashenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Gracie is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Lukashenko actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lukashenko tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

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

Lukashenko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lukashenko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lukashenko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Lukashenko's legs - danger averted.

Lukashenko has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.

Lukashenko working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Gracie has passed into half guard!

Lukashenko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolex Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Gracie dodges the punch combination from Lukashenko.
Lukashenko throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Lukashenko!
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Gracie prevents Lukashenko from getting the reversal.
Gracie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lukashenko can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie working Lukashenko over with strikes here.
Lukashenko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lukashenko can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Gracie controlling the pace for now.

Gracie working for a submission but Lukashenko is keeping him at bay.
Gracie content just to control the position here.
Lukashenko can't escape the position.
Roman Lukashenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie trying to control but Lukashenko is having none of it.
Lukashenko is looking to get to half guard.
Lukashenko is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to ground and pound but Lukashenko is blocking nicely.
Lukashenko avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gracie.
Lukashenko is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lukashenko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

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 controlling the pace for now.
Lukashenko is working to get back to half guard.

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but Lukashenko is having none of it.
Gracie trying to control but Lukashenko is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lukashenko is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rolex 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

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