PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rover Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Brophy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Desperado by Los Lobos. Brophy has chosen LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Gracie
vs
Brophy

178 cm
34
175 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

170 cm
30
175 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Rover Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Grant Brophy!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brophy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Brophy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brophy wants it to stay on the feet.

Gracie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Brophy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gracie is in Brophy's guard.
Gracie stops Brophy from standing up.
Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Brophy is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Brophy wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Brophy is having none of it.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Brophy sees it coming and defends easily.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Brophy wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brophy wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Brophy keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Brophy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Brophy defends the submission attempt.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Brophy is defending well.
Brophy won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Brophy sees it coming and defends easily.
Brophy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Brophy.
Brophy tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brophy is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Brophy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Brophy manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Brophy's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Brophy blocks nicely.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Brophy holds on and takes a little breather.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Brophy manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Brophy in his guard.

Brophy stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brophy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rover Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brophy fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Brophy.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Brophy.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Brophy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brophy lands with a slapping head kick.
Brophy moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rover Gracie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Brophy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brophy wants it to stay on the feet.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rover Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Brophy wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Brophy lands a slapping body shot.
Brophy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gracie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Gracie shoots in and bounces Brophy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

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 sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Brophy's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Brophy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Brophy is trying to control but can't.
Brophy manages to get to full guard.
Brophy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Brophy is breathing heavily.
Gracie tries to roll over but Brophy keeps him under control.
Brophy is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.

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

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brophy would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Brophy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Brophy is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brophy wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Brophy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Brophy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Brophy wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gracie looking to control.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Brophy is aware though and is defending well.
Brophy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brophy's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brophy wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brophy is not content to let Gracie control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brophy regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Brophy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rover Gracie dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Brophy gets a clinch.
Gracie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Brophy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Brophy.
Brophy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Brophy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gracie is pushing Brophy up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Brophy is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Brophy prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gracie is working for takedown but Brophy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Brophy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stalls.
Brophy scores a nice knee to the body.

Brophy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Brophy shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rover Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brophy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brophy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Brophy throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brophy throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Brophy lands a high kick!
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Brophy swivels and escapes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Brophy counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Brophy moves into the clinch successfully.

Brophy breaks from the clinch.
Brophy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brophy wants it to stay on the feet.
Grant Brophy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Brophy pinned against the cage. Brophy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Brophy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Brophy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brophy has closed the distance and engaged Gracie in a clinch.
Brophy misses with a knee to the head.
Brophy tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Grant Brophy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie trying to control the position but instead, Brophy has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gracie into the cage.
Gracie is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Brophy is defending well.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Brophy throws a knee to the head but misses.
Brophy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Gracie.
Brophy trying to land knees to the body.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Brophy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Brophy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Brophy looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Brophy is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brophy down to the mat. Brophy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gracie takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brophy is looking to improve his position.
Rover Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Brophy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gracie 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

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