PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Asmir Zslevski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zslevski
vs
Gracie

181 cm
18
176 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
18
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Asmir Zslevski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Zslevski sprawls well.
Gracie looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zslevski lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zslevski tries to land a front kick but Gracie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zslevski misses the shot to the body.
Gracie misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zslevski tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Zslevski is letting Gracie control him for a moment.
Gracie moves into full mount!
Zslevski can't escape the position.
Zslevski is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie controlling from mount.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Zslevski is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zslevski slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zslevski does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zslevski is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zslevski working a defensive guard here.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Zslevski keeps moving.
Gracie passes Zslevski's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie is tying to control. Zslevski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Zslevski is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie looks gassed!
Gracie is thwarting Zslevski's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Zslevski is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Zslevski is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Zslevski has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
Gracie drops an elbow to the side of Zslevski's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zslevski with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Zslevski keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Zslevski is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Zslevski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Zslevski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Zslevski misses with a takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zslevski's guard now.
Gracie trying to control but Zslevski is working from the bottom.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zslevski doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zslevski wants to clinch

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Zslevski is keeping the position.
Gracie trying to control but Zslevski is working from the bottom.

Zslevski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zslevski keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Zslevski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie trying to control but Zslevski is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zslevski had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gracie is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Zslevski Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gracie's back instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zslevski trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Gracie just looking to survive in the bad position.
Gracie turns into Zslevski and is now in his guard.
Gracie trying to control but Zslevski is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A big right from Zslevski misses.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Zslevski circles away easily

and Zslevski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie 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.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zslevski's guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Zslevski manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Zslevski maintains control.
Helio Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zslevski with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Gracie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gracie tries to hold on but Zslevski pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zslevski is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gracie can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Gracie tries to control the position but Zslevski now has his back.
Zslevski trying to control momentarily.

Zslevski has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Gracie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Zslevski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Zslevski 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.
Zslevski takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zslevski is tying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie trying to hold on to Zslevski's head to control him but Zslevski postures up.
Zslevski trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Zslevski counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
Gracie wants to control but Zslevski is having none of it.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asmir Zslevski dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zslevski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zslevski misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zslevski throws a push kick but Gracie slaps the foot to one side.
Zslevski tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Zslevski keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Zslevski keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zslevski is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Zslevski pushes his legs off easily.
Zslevski 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.
Zslevski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie seems keen to control Zslevski's posture.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zslevski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Zslevski tries to pass.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Zslevski from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.

Zslevski is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Gracie has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Zslevski is looking to defend but Gracie has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Zslevski! Gracie pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Zslevski taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Helio Gracie!