PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reece Gregory (ranked 3276 p4p, 4063 weight class) and Victor Braddock (ranked 374 p4p, 444 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gregory
vs
Braddock

175 cm
25
165
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
165
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Reece Gregory!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Braddock!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Braddock throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gregory shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Braddock but Braddock pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Braddock is looking for the big counter here.
Gregory slips a jab from Braddock.
Braddock tries to close the distance and clinch but Gregory swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Braddock will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Braddock blocks a head kick by Gregory.
Braddock looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gregory is fending him off so far but Braddock persists. Nope, Gregory circles away and we're back to standing.
Gregory throws a head kick that misses.
Gregory keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregory shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Braddock defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Braddock.
Reece Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Braddock.

Braddock rushes Gregory and presses him up against the cage.
Gregory stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Braddock tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gregory avoids it.
Braddock tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gregory just stands there and leans against the cage.
Braddock wants a takedown.
Braddock has Gregory pushed against the cage.
Gregory is trying to break the clinch but Braddock has him pressed against the cage.

Braddock manages to break the clinch.
Gregory shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gregory closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Gregory breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Braddock clinches with his opponent.

Gregory pulls Braddock into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Braddock content to stall in guard here.
Gregory controls Braddock momentarily but Braddock frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Braddock content to stall in guard here.
Gregory looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory looking to control.
Braddock pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gregory is keeping the position for now.
Gregory is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gregory throws a body shot but no joy.
Braddock looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gregory is fending him off so far but Braddock persists. Nope, Gregory circles away and we're back to standing.

Braddock bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gregory tries to bench press Braddock off him but Braddock keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory manages to work his way to half guard, despite Braddock's best efforts.
Braddock trying to control from half guard but Gregory is working away.
Gregory tries to roll over but Braddock keeps him under control.
Braddock sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Gregory's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Braddock is thwarting Gregory's attempts to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Victor Braddock will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gregory's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Braddock throws a sloppy head kick and Gregory moves out of range easily.
Braddock tries for a takedown but Gregory sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Braddock fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gregory checks it well.
Braddock has a takedown stuffed.
Gregory looks for a takedown but Braddock sprawls well.
Reece Gregory is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Braddock misses with a body kick.

Gregory darts in and clinches Braddock up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Braddock darts in and clinches Gregory up against the cage.
Braddock tries for a takedown. No joy.
Reece Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Braddock.
Gregory displaying some good clinch control by pressing Braddock up against the cage.
Gregory tries to land knees in the clinch but Braddock avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braddock gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gregory.

Gregory's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Braddock swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gregory is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Braddock.

Gregory moves into the clinch successfully.
Gregory misses with a knee strike.
Braddock can't break the clinch.
Gregory tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Braddock is trying to push Gregory away but Gregory has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Gregory's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Braddock. No joy for Gregory on that attempt.
Gregory avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Braddock stuffs the takedown.
Gregory tries for a takedown but Braddock circles away easily

and Braddock counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Braddock fails to pull guard.
Gregory has Braddock pressed against the cage.
Braddock wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gregory has him pressed against the cage.
Gregory is pressed up against the cage. Braddock has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gregory down to the mat. Gregory avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Braddock tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gregory manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Braddock shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gregory pinned against the cage. Gregory gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braddock shoots for a double leg takedown but Gregory sprawls well. He's pushed Braddock's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gregory fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gregory looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gregory sets himself, and Braddock steps forward looking for the clinch! Gregory avoids it this time.
Gregory tries to score a power double leg takedown but Braddock sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gregory somewhat.

Braddock closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braddock tries to move into full mount but can't pass Gregory's legs.
Gregory tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Braddock wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
My spies in Ginásio Guerreiro inform me that Braddock has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Braddock is looking to take a break and control but Gregory is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gregory tries to improve position but can't.
Gregory wants to control but Braddock postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Braddock wants to control but Gregory is keeping him busy.
Gregory manages to work his way to half guard, despite Braddock's best efforts.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Reece Gregory will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gregory shoots and misses
and Braddock counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Braddock misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Gregory clinches.

Braddock pulls guard successfully.
Braddock looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gregory with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gregory trying to control the position from guard on top but Braddock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Braddock trying to keep a closed guard but Gregory is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregory controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory wants to control from the top but Braddock keeps moving.

Braddock is working an open guard so Gregory takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Braddock moves into range and clinches up with Gregory.

Gregory decides to pull guard.
Gregory keeping full guard, as Braddock tries to pass.

Braddock decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gregory, up you get!
Gregory doesn't manage to clinch there - Braddock circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Braddock as he jumps to the side.

Gregory moves into the clinch.
Gregory trying to control the position but instead, Braddock has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gregory into the cage.

Braddock pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Braddock shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gregory as he jumps to the side.
Gregory throws a combination. Braddock tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

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

Braddock kicks Gregory off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gregory looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Braddock is controlling Gregory's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Braddock is trying to control but can't.
Gregory thows a huge punch but Braddock dodges it nicely.
Braddock holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Braddock wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Braddock flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Braddock throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Braddock gets caught flat footed, as Gregory shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Gregory decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Braddock misses with a body kick.
Gregory tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Braddock.
Gregory avoids the head kick by Braddock.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Victor Braddock just about did enough to take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Braddock tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gregory sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Braddock somewhat.
Braddock throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Gregory counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Braddock!
Braddock can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregory in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braddock wants to get back to his feet but Gregory is dominant here and he's now got Braddock's back!
Braddock trying to control the action but Gregory just sinks the hooks in.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Braddock is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Gregory's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Gregory is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Braddock has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Braddock manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gregory's guard. Nice work there by Braddock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory wants to stand but Braddock is controlling the position.
Braddock wants to control from the top but Gregory keeps moving.
Gregory looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gregory throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gregory wants to sweep but no luck.
Gregory not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gregory keeping full guard, as Braddock tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory pulls Braddock in close to prevent any damage.
Braddock working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gregory dives in for a single leg takedown but Braddock sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Braddock slows down the pace here.
Braddock tries to break the clinch but Gregory is controlling the position.
Gregory is pushing Braddock up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Gregory escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gregory changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Braddock looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Gregory is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Braddock has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gregory works to advance to full mount. Braddock defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Gregory avoids the attempt from Braddock to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reece Gregory had his way with Victor Braddock in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gregory tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gregory displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Braddock.
Braddock tries for a takedown but Gregory sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Braddock shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gregory but Gregory pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As Braddock looks to move away, Gregory throws a big counter combo but Braddock just gets out of the way.
Reece Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Braddock.
Braddock takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Gregory shoots in looking for a takedown. Braddock tries to sprawl out of it but Gregory keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Braddock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Braddock scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gregory in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory leaves Braddock with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Gregory clinches with his opponent.

Gregory gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gregory advances position into side control!
Gregory trying to control the action but Braddock is working from the bottom.
Gregory creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Braddock sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Braddock tries to bench press Gregory off him but Gregory keeps the position.
Gregory tries to advance to mount but Braddock denies him.
Braddock is not content to let Gregory control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Braddock's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Braddock manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Braddock works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gregory trying to control the position from guard on top but Braddock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reece Gregory overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gregory seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gregory postures up and lands a big shot to Braddock's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gregory is working Braddock over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gregory works over Braddock with some ground and pound from guard.
Gregory slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Braddock is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gregory sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Victor Braddock seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Braddock throws a sloppy head kick and Gregory moves out of range easily.

Gregory moves into the clinch.
Gregory tries for a takedown but Braddock manages to get underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gregory missing with knees to the body.
Gregory keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Braddock's efforts to push away.
Gregory manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reece Gregory showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gregory has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 47:48
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 47:48
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Victor Braddock!