PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andre Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Fightmaster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Fightmaster struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.1lbs 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. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Gracie
vs
Fightmaster

180 cm
18
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
20
200 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andre Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Fightmaster!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fightmaster throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fightmaster throws out the jab.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Fightmaster throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Fightmaster.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fightmaster can do anything to dispel that myth.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fightmaster knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Fightmaster, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Fightmaster rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Gracie's guard! Nice work there by Fightmaster!

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Fightmaster pushes his legs off easily.
Fightmaster slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
I looks like Fightmaster might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

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

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fightmaster sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fightmaster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Fightmaster from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fightmaster stands up from Gracie's guard - Fightmaster perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fightmaster throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A lazy left from Fightmaster finds it's target.
Fightmaster lands with an uppercut that bounces Gracie off the cage and back into rage.

Fightmaster gets a clinch.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.

Fightmaster breaks from the clinch.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fightmaster as he avoids it easily.
Fightmaster works the jab nicely.

It looks like Andre Gracie has been cut.
Fightmaster swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gracie.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fightmaster looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fightmaster breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fightmaster swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fightmaster fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.

Gracie has gone for a leg lock! Fightmaster slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.
Fightmaster is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Fightmaster must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Fightmaster is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gracie.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Fightmaster dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andre Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Fightmaster lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Andre Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fightmaster throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fightmaster misses with an attempted mid kick.
Fightmaster lands a nice shot that snaps Gracie's head back.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Fightmaster counters with a straight right hand.
Fightmaster fails in his attempt to clinch.
Max Fightmaster seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fightmaster waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Fightmaster counters with a body kick that stops Gracie in his tracks momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Fightmaster counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andre Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fightmaster tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A big left from Fightmaster misses.
Fightmaster throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fightmaster misses with a series of wild punches.
Fightmaster looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Fightmaster scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fightmaster lands a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Fightmaster.
Fightmaster sizes up Gracie with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Max Fightmaster seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fightmaster is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fightmaster gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gracie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Fightmaster!
Gracie prevents Fightmaster from getting the reversal.
Fightmaster manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Fightmaster sees it coming and defends easily.
Fightmaster tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie 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 sneakily working for an arm triangle but Fightmaster sees it coming and defends easily.
Gracie stops Fightmaster from getting back to his feet.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Fightmaster is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Fightmaster gets back to full guard.
Fightmaster striking off his back but it's not causing Gracie any problems.

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.
Fightmaster managing to control the position.
Fightmaster not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Fightmaster is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Fightmaster has escaped and now he's on top!
Fightmaster showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Fightmaster showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Andre Gracie's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Fightmaster.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Fightmaster shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gracie pinned against the cage. Gracie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fightmaster misses with a takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fightmaster won't be happy with that.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fightmaster has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Fightmaster, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fightmaster manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Fightmaster is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie trying to advance position but Fightmaster counters by regaining guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Fightmaster lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!
Fightmaster takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Fightmaster has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gracie's face.
Fightmaster controlling from the full mount.
Gracie sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fightmaster trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gracie has an active guard here but Fightmaster has managed to pass into half guard.
Gracie trying to get back to full guard but Fightmaster takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fightmaster is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Andre Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Fightmaster looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Fightmaster looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Fightmaster!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fightmaster cracks Gracie with a big elbow.
Gracie looking for a sweep but Fightmaster has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Fightmaster content just to control the position here.
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Fightmaster really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Andre Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Max Fightmaster is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fightmaster content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fightmaster has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Fightmaster!