PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Taj Mahal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralf Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mahal kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Warning. Gracie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Mulheres - Martinho da Vila. Ralf Gracie struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.7lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Taj Mahal has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mahal
vs
Gracie

175 cm
18
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
167 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Knock Out Artistry

[JMFC] Bulk Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Taj Mahal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ralf Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mahal is looking to slow Gracie down with leg kicks.
Mahal finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mahal scores with a nice right hand.

Mahal gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mahal is keeping the position for now.

Mahal has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.

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 thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie stops Mahal from standing up.
Mahal trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mahal is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Mahal has picked Gracie up and slammed him! Gracie can't keep hold of the triangle and Mahal manages to pass to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie looks gassed!

Mahal looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Mahal is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ralf Gracie!