PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Leonard Stubbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Leonard Stubbs
vs
Gracie

183 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

Team S.W.A.T.

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodney Leonard Stubbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rickson Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stubbs looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Stubbs persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Stubbs is keeping the position.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stubbs wants to get back to full guard.
Stubbs is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Stubbs won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Stubbs keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stubbs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stubbs misses with a takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stubbs won't be happy with that.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stubbs knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stubbs has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie tries to score with some ground and pound. Stubbs controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Stubbs tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Stubbs manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Stubbs looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie prevents Stubbs from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stubbs looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stubbs is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

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.

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

Stubbs gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Stubbs has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gracie is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Stubbs.
Stubbs is breathing heavily.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracie advances to mount.
Stubbs is trying to escape the mount.
Stubbs holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gracie seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Stubbs is holding on tight.

Gracie working for a submission but Stubbs is keeping him at bay.
Stubbs is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stubbs tries to improve his position but instead Gracie has taken his back!
Stubbs tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Stubbs working to try and regain half guard.
Stubbs bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

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

Stubbs throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gracie escapes and throws Stubbs's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Stubbs tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stubbs manages to get back to half guard.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Gracie throwing shots but Stubbs is blocking nicely.
Stubbs is looking to improve his position.
Stubbs has hold of Gracie's hands but Gracie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gracie works his way into side control.
Stubbs gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Gracie throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stubbs because Gracie loaded up on that one.
Gracie moves to take his opponent's back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie looking for the choke but no joy.

Gracie is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie shoots in and drives through. Stubbs sprawls well.
Gracie shoots in but Stubbs avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Gracie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stubbs is keeping the position for now.
Stubbs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.
Stubbs slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Stubbs works to advance to full mount. Gracie defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Stubbs goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Gracie turns into him and now he's in Stubbs's guard.

Stubbs working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stubbs swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Stubbs had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gracie is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Stubbs Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gracie's back instead.
Stubbs doesn't have the hooks in and Gracie manages to turn into his guard.
Gracie stands and throws Stubbs's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stubbs is looking for a sweep.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stubbs, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stubbs sneaks back into half guard.

Stubbs looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie throwing shots but Stubbs is blocking nicely.
Stubbs wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie passes to full mount!
Stubbs is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Gracie raining down shots from the mount!
Stubbs blocking the ground and pound.
Stubbs is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes Stubbs's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Stubbs is in trouble.
Stubbs rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rickson Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Stubbs actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gracie pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Stubbs is in no mood to give up.
Gracie prevents Stubbs from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Stubbs bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stubbs tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stubbs's guard.
Stubbs keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

Stubbs 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.
Stubbs is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rickson Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Stubbs closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stubbs's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stubbs's back!

Stubbs is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Gracie gets his way!

Gracie is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Stubbs rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stubbs is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stubbs has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Gracie. Oh but Stubbs has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Gracie goes limp - he's gone! Stubbs jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rodney Leonard Stubbs!