PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justin Ewers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolls Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rolls Gracie told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ewers
vs
Gracie

183 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
22
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Ewers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rolls Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie takes the fight into the clinch.
Ewers wants to get back to striking at distance but Gracie won't allow it.
Ewers has had enough of the clinch but Gracie keeps him there for the moment.
Ewers prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gracie lands a knee to the head.
Gracie with a knee to the head.
Gracie landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ewers misses with a hook from the clinch.

Ewers manages to break the clinch.
Ewers throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Ewers misses with a double jab.
Ewers keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Some wild striking there from Ewers.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

It looks like Rolls Gracie has been cut.
Come on Gracie - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gracie lands a knee to the body.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Ewers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ewers lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gracie tries for a takedown but Ewers sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Justin Ewers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rolls Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ewers throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.

Gracie forces Ewers back against the cage and clinches.
Gracie prevents Ewers from breaking the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gracie.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Ewers holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Ewers scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ewers is trying to break free.
Ewers tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
Ewers can't break the clinch.
Gracie tries to break the clinch but Ewers is controlling the position.
Gracie unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ewers lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gracie prevents Ewers from breaking the clinch.
Ewers tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
Ewers is trying to break free.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Ewers shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gracie looks gassed!
Ewers working aggressively here.

Ewers breaks from the clinch.
Ewers misses with a double jab.
Ewers lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.
Ewers misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ewers throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Ewers.
Ewers throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ewers looks to land a combination. Gracie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ewers stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Ewers misses with the combination.
Gracie shoots in but Ewers avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Justin Ewers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ewers displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nice sprawl there from Ewers as Gracie shoots in.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Ewers circles away.
No joy there for Ewers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ewers misses with the combination.
Ewers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ewers tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ewers to the ground. Ewers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ewers misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ewers misses with a series of wild punches.

Gracie instigates a clinch.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gracie takes the fight into the clinch.
Gracie unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ewers lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ewers lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
Ewers is trying to break the clinch but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Ewers can't break the clinch.
Gracie wants to stall.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Gracie breaks the clinch.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Ewers.
Ewers throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Gracie shoots in but Ewers avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ewers misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ewers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ewers wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Ewers kicks Gracie off and gets back to his feet.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Ewers pushes him off.

Gracie clinches.
Gracie keeps control of Ewers as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ewers breaks the clinch.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ewers is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ewers pushes Gracie off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Ewers dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rolls Gracie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Gracie rushes Ewers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ewers is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
Knees to the body from Gracie.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracie landing knees to the body.
Gracie unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ewers lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ewers is trying to break free.
Ewers takes a knee right on the jaw!

Gracie breaks from the clinch.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ewers's waist but Ewers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ewers misses with the combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Ewers tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ewers manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Justin Ewers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rolls Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ewers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No joy there for Ewers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ewers throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a good, hard body kick but Ewers shrugs it off.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Ewers swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a good, hard body kick but Ewers shrugs it off.
Ewers fails to land with a series of punches.
Ewers falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ewers won't be happy with that.
Gracie tries to score with some ground and pound. Ewers controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Gracie tries to score with some ground and pound. Ewers controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ewers is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Gracie throws an elbow but Ewers slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ewers wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ewers is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ewers pushes Gracie away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gracie gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ewers trying to remain calm as Gracie controls from the top position.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ewers is trying to buck Gracie off.

Ewers bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Ewers misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Ewers is trying to break free.
Gracie connects with a knee to the head.

Gracie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ewers looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Ewers throws a left and a right that both miss

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch.
Ewers working aggressively here.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Ewers won't allow it.
Gracie lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ewers lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.

Gracie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ewers misses with a double jab.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ewers throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Ewers misses with the combination.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ewers but Ewers pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ewers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Ewers.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ewers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice sprawl there from Ewers as Gracie shoots in.
Ewers throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Ewers sprawls well.
Ewers falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie stops Ewers from getting back to his feet.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Ewers dodges it nicely.

Gracie escapes and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolls Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rolls Gracie's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ewers throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Ewers is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gracie postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ewers to stand up.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Ewers.
Ewers misses with a double jab

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gracie.
Gracie unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ewers lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Gracie.
Ewers doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ewers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie lands a nice elbow.
Gracie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Ewers manages to get underhooks.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ewers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ewers wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ewers wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ewers is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Gracie gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

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.
Ewers is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Gracie seems to have locked his on tight now - Ewers screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Gracie, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Rolls Gracie!