PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Romain Gastineau (ranked 5681 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Blanco Gracie (ranked 6026 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Gastineau
vs
Blanco Gracie

185 cm
18
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Romain Gastineau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo Blanco Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gastineau has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Gastineau clinches up against the cage.
Gracie lands an elbow inside that Gastineau shrugs off.
Gastineau takes a shot to the head.
Gastineau takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gracie lands a hook that snaps the head of Gastineau backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gracie.

Gastineau pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gastineau dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Gastineau fails with a takedown attempt.
Gastineau ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Gastineau feinted with a counter takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gastineau shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gastineau takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gracie connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Leo Blanco Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie scores with a decent looking hook.
Romain Gastineau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gracie.
Gastineau looks to clinch
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gastineau with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Romain Gastineau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Gastineau shoots and misses
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gracie throws a good cross that connects.

Gastineau has Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie lands a damaging elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gracie.
Gastineau has Gracie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gracie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gastineau is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gastineau takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gracie creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gracie comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gracie lands an elbow that stopped Gastineau in his tracks for a moment.
Gracie lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gracie lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gastineau backwards.
Gastineau takes an elbow to the temple.
Gastineau tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Gracie lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gracie tries to break free but Gastineau pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gastineau backwards.
Gracie blocks an elbow strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gracie creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gracie lands a nice elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a nice uppercut.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gracie lands an elbow inside.
Gracie working hard to break the clinch.
Gracie lands an elbow inside that Gastineau shrugs off.

Gastineau successfully pulls guard.
Gracie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie trying to control but Gastineau is working from the bottom.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gastineau lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gastineau.
Gracie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gastineau. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gracie throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gastineau escapes and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gastineau remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Gastineau works to advance to full mount. Gracie defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gastineau controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Blanco Gracie dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gastineau misses with a head kick.
Gastineau fails with the takedown.
Gastineau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Gastineau throws a lazy head kick
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Gastineau has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracie lands a shoulder strike.
Gracie lands a hook that snaps the head of Gastineau backwards.
Gracie lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gastineau is working for takedown but Gracie is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gastineau is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Romain Gastineau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gastineau stalls.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gastineau pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gastineau misses with a head kick.
Gracie looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gracie lands a nice shot that snaps Gastineau's head back.
Leo Blanco Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie lands a really nice looking cross but Gastineau seems unphased.
Gracie scores with a head kick. Gastineau tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gastineau throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Gastineau manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gracie on his heels. He'll look to pass Gracie's guard now, I'm sure.
Gracie is looking to stand back up but Gastineau counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Gracie.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gastineau blocks the strikes from Gracie.
Gastineau missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gastineau sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.

Gastineau seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
Gastineau lands strikes from half guard.
Gastineau works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gastineau is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gracie is surviving well by controlling Gastineau's body position as best he can.
Gastineau sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Romain Gastineau overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gastineau sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gastineau has control of Gracie's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gracie regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gracie is trying to reverse the position but instead Gastineau has taken his back - oops!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leo Blanco Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Gastineau's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Gastineau goes for a double leg but Gracie avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gracie continues to drive forward.
Gastineau misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Gastineau moves forwards but Gracie connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gastineau doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gracie counters with a nice uppercut.
Gastineau just misses with a punch to the body.
Gastineau closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gracie circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Romain Gastineau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gracie.
Gastineau looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gracie lands with an uppercut that bounces Gastineau off the cage and back into range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gastineau tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gracie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gastineau somewhat.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gracie darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gracie.
Gastineau with a poor takedown
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.
A punch lands to the side of Gastineau 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Romain Gastineau is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gastineau on the side of the head.
Gracie throws a shot to the body.
Gracie cracks Gastineau with a good jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gracie lands a left and a right that send Gastineau crashing to the mat, dazed. Gracie thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Gastineau is rocked!
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.
Gastineau throws a quick counter kick to the body but Gracie avoids it.
Oh Gastineau is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gastineau chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gracie can pounce on him.
Gastineau seems to have got his legs back now.
Gracie lands with a right hand.
Gastineau looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Gastineau shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gracie manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gastineau stays in close to Gracie's body and controls the position.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gastineau passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gastineau controlling the action here.
Gastineau moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gastineau controlling the position from side mount.

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

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Blanco Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gracie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

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