PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Ponjev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Royce Gracie has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Sam Ponjev's chin.

Ponjev
vs
Gracie

185 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sam Ponjev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.

Ponjev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ponjev blocks a body shot from Gracie.

Ponjev jumps into guard, dragging Gracie to the mat.
Gracie trying to control but Ponjev is working from the bottom.
Gracie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ponjev is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Ponjev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ponjev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gracie has hold of Ponjev's hands but Ponjev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ponjev in particular looking to stall.

Ponjev 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 looking to control Ponjev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sam Ponjev just wasn't active enough.
Nice sprawl there from Gracie as Ponjev shoots in.
Gracie goes for a double leg but Ponjev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ponjev continues to drive forward.
Gracie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ponjev has picked Gracie up - he's going for a ride! Ponjev dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Ponjev wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie trying to control here.
Ponjev controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Ponjev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ponjev connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ponjev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ponjev wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.

Gracie has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Ponjev escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Ponjev!
Gracie prevents Ponjev from moving into mount.
Ponjev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponjev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gracie will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Ponjev keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie struggling a bit here.
Ponjev grinds an elbow into Gracie's temple.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
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.
Gracie is being controlled here.
Gracie is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ponjev is controlling him well.
Gracie takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Ponjev politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ponjev prefers to stall for the moment though.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie is trying to escape the position but Ponjev is controlling the position.
Ponjev lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Ponjev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie tries to bench press Ponjev off him but Ponjev keeps the position.
Sam Ponjev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ponjev working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ponjev wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his arm.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Ponjev dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ponjev instigates a clinch.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gracie tries to circle away but Ponjev has him pinned against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ponjev as Gracie tries to tie him up.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Ponjev won't allow it.
Ponjev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ponjev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gracie to keep the fight standing.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Ponjev won't allow it.

Ponjev breaks from the clinch.
Gracie tries to clinch but Ponjev moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Ponjev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gracie can't break the clinch.

Gracie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ponjev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ponjev manages to pull guard.
Ponjev has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ponjev working a defensive guard but Gracie passes into half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ponjev defends it well.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ponjev wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev is holding on to half guard well.
Ponjev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
Gracie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gracie prevents Ponjev from standing back up.
Ponjev works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ponjev pulls Gracie in to control the position.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie trying to control but Ponjev is working from the bottom.
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Ponjev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gracie is trying to keep Ponjev in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie misses with the combination.

Ponjev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ponjev wants to stand but Gracie has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ponjev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie tries to roll over but Ponjev keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Ponjev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ponjev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Ponjev!