PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael McCready (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rover Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Desperado by Los Lobos. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Rover Gracie enters the cage!

McCready
vs
Gracie

165 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
26
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

.: AFFAKETION :.
.: AFFAKETION :.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael McCready!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rover Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McCready to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McCready has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
McCready cracks Gracie with a solid left hand.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McCready defends well.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McCready manages to get himself to full guard.
McCready might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
McCready wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! McCready is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McCready manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into McCready's guard.
McCready looking for a sweep. Not yet McCready, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCready is keeping the position for now.
Gracie won't allow McCready to get back to his feet.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

McCready shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gracie napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked McCready off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCready preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gracie.

McCready defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Gracie's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Gracie has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, McCready has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Gracie looking to break McCready's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. McCready remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Gracie looks gassed!
McCready tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is persistently looking for the submission but McCready is defending it well.
McCready trying to control the position but Gracie manages to sink in the hooks.

McCready is having to fend off submission attempts from Gracie, who is looking to sink in the choke. Gracie doesn't have the hooks in though and McCready manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

McCready avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McCready working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCready preventing the sweep.
McCready knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McCready defends well.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McCready is aware though and is defending well.
McCready throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
McCready with a flurry of punches that miss.
McCready is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McCready defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McCready accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McCready working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rover Gracie dominated that 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.

McCready will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McCready wants to clinch.
McCready changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to avoid it but McCready manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gracie to the ground. Gracie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.

McCready bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McCready has managed to free his arm - good work.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gracie is thwarting McCready's attempts to control the position.

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 seems to be looking for submissions.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but McCready is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
McCready trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.
McCready wants to control the action here but instead Gracie manages to pass to full mount!

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Gracie trying to control but McCready is having none of it.
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Gracie moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, McCready has worked his arm free - good work by McCready!
Gracie working away.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

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.
McCready can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracie tries to move to mount but McCready blocks the move with his legs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McCready is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie works to advance to full mount. McCready defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rover Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McCready shoots and misses

and Gracie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gracie is working McCready over against the cage.
McCready fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Gracie pulls guard.
McCready postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCready preventing the sweep.
McCready connects with a couple of short punches.

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

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McCready gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

McCready got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McCready has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McCready working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McCready is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but McCready defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCready throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells McCready's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
McCready lands a couple of elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
McCready wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Rover Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie has gone for a leg lock! McCready slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McCready is aware though and is defending well.

Gracie working for a triangle but McCready defends it easily.
Gracie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McCready is controlling him.
McCready postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McCready.
McCready is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McCready on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McCready tries to get out of the position.
Gracie passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McCready!
McCready 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 jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… McCready is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by McCready and Gracie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
McCready is trying to get back to his feet.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
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That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCready can't do much from the bottom here.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but McCready is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rover 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

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