PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Khalifman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Dread Zepellin - Stairway to Heaven. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Alexander Khalifman enters the cage!

Gracie
vs
Khalifman

185 cm
26
190 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

185 cm
28
190 lbs
22 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roger Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Khalifman!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khalifman. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.

Khalifman has closed the distance and engaged Gracie in a clinch.
Gracie dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Khalifman wants the takedown. Gracie is fighting it off but Khalifman persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gracie's guard against the cage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Khalifman 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.
Khalifman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Khalifman trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.
Khalifman trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalifman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Khalifman defends it easily.
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 can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khalifman controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Khalifman was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Khalifman throws a solid leg kick but Gracie takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Khalifman.
Alexander Khalifman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Khalifman.
Khalifman misses the shot to the body.
Gracie gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Khalifman misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Khalifman.
Khalifman connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Khalifman's guard.
Gracie chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie wants to control from the top but Khalifman keeps moving.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie stops Khalifman from standing up.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gracie postures up in Khalifman's guard and throws a big left but Khalifman blocks it.
Khalifman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Khalifman dives on top into guard.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie is landing with some decent strikes but Khalifman is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Gracie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is stalling here but it's allowed Khalifman to get half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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 wants to free his trapped foot but Khalifman is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working Khalifman over with strikes.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Khalifman is defending well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Khalifman 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.

Roger Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Khalifman on that attempt.
Gracie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khalifman.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Khalifman.
Roger Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Khalifman.
Khalifman lands with a slapping head kick.
A combination from Khalifman does no damage.
Khalifman falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Khalifman throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Khalifman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifman misses with an uppercut.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Khalifman throws out the jab.
Gracie closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Khalifman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Khalifman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Khalifman.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Khalifman.

Khalifman forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.
Khalifman is trying to break free.
Gracie has Khalifman pressed against the cage, preventing Khalifman from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Khalifman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Khalifman is trying to break the clinch but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman tries to break free but Gracie pushes him back against the cage.

Khalifman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Khalifman looks to clinch
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Alexander Khalifman has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie blocks a jab.
Khalifman misses with a looping right.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gracie counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Khalifman sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Khalifman throws a nice outside leg kick.
Khalifman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Khalifman looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Khalifman moves out of range as Gracie strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gracie connects with a crisp jab.
Khalifman throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Khalifman tries for a takedown but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Khalifman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Khalifman doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Khalifman misses the jab.
Khalifman misses with a wild body shot.
Khalifman wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Alexander Khalifman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Khalifman connects with a right hand. Gracie shakes it off.
Khalifman throws a poor cross that misses
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie throws the left hand but Khalifman avoids the punch easily.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Khalifman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khalifman manages to avoid it.
Khalifman connects with a right hand. Gracie shakes it off.
Khalifman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to avoid it but Khalifman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gracie to the ground. Gracie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Khalifman misses with a hook

and Gracie counters with a crisp right hand that drops Khalifman! Gracie lets Khalifman back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Khalifman is rocked!
Gracie lands a big uppercut and this one is all over! His foe lies motionless on the canvas - a massive one punch knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Roger Gracie!
Roger Gracie decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.