PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ultimate Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fighter
vs
Gracie

185 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 New York, Ultimate Fighter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roger Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fighter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gracie as he jumps to the side.
Gracie throws a nice looking combination but Fighter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Fighter sees it coming and defends easily.
Fighter is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fighter wants to control the action here but instead Gracie manages to pass to full mount!
Gracie avoids the attempt from Fighter to control.

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Fighter defends it well.
Fighter is in all sorts of trouble here.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Fighter has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Fighter bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter lands a couple of elbows.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fighter.
Fighter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fighter is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fighter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fighter connects with a couple of short punches.
Gracie looks gassed!

Fighter got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fighter has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Fighter distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Fighter 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.
Fighter working some strikes from top position.
Fighter lands a couple of elbows.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Fighter passes into side control.
Fighter grinds an elbow into Gracie's temple.

Fighter tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Fighter moves into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter is landing with some decent strikes but Gracie is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
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.

Fighter is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gracie is surviving well by controlling Fighter's body position as best he can.
Fighter content just to control the position here.
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ultimate Fighter dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Fighter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fighter manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Fighter's guard.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fighter has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Fighter's legs - danger averted.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Fighter is retaining full guard.

Fighter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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 trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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 is breathing heavily.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Fighter won't let him.
Fighter bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.
Fighter advances to half guard.
Fighter scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ground and pound from Fighter.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Fighter pushes his legs off easily.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fighter postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Fighter thows a big elbow that misses.

Fighter avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fighter defends it easily.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Fighter isn't so interested in that idea.

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.
Fighter slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.

Fighter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie is pressing down on Fighter's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fighter is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ultimate Fighter will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Fighter with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.
Fighter sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fighter trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fighter has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fighter moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Fighter dives on top into guard.
Fighter advances position into side control!
Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Fighter scoring with strikes.
Fighter in side control lands a decent elbow.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fighter looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Fighter.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Fighter is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fighter's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fighter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Fighter had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Ultimate Fighter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

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.
Fighter wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Gracie is now in half guard.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

Fighter actively working from the bottom here.
Roger Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fighter's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Roger Gracie.
I think Fighter 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ultimate Fighter!