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TWGC 36 (205lbs, D1): Tokyo Qualifier - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the light heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; Billy Riley! And in the blue corner, fighting out of London, with a TWGC record of 1 wins and 2 losses; Helio Gracias!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Riley shoots in looking for a takedown. Gracias tries to sprawl out of it but Riley keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gracias manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Riley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracias changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Riley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Riley rushes Gracias and presses him up against the cage.
Gracias is trying to drag Riley to the mat but Riley just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gracias is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Riley to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley prevents the takedown attempt.
Billy Riley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Gracias.
Gracias jumps into guard, dragging Riley to the mat.
Riley controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracias tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Riley wants to pass the guard but Gracias is keeping the position.
Riley won't allow Gracias to sweep him here.
Gracias keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.
Gracias has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Riley can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracias lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Riley (0) vs (2) Gracias
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley wants to sweep but no luck.
Riley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Riley can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracias advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracias wants to pass to mount but Riley is defending the position.
Riley regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracias looking to pass the guard.
Riley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley trying to control the position.
Riley can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracias advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Riley is trying to get back to full guard.
Riley looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracias is working for a kimura but Riley is defending it quite comfortably.
Riley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracias is trying to work for a kimura but Riley is defending well.
Gracias is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Riley sees it coming and defends easily.
Riley trying to hold on to Gracias's head to control him but Gracias postures up.
Gracias wants to pass the guard but Riley is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riley tries to get to full guard but Gracias has control of the leg.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gracias passes the guard and advances to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Riley (0) vs (5) Gracias
Riley is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracias wants to take Riley's back here but Riley is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Gracias looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Gracias wants to take his opponent's back but Riley doesn't allow it.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Gracias sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracias moves to take his opponent's back. Score +3 for taking back: Riley (0) vs (8) Gracias
Riley trying to control the hands but Gracias won't let him.
Gracias has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Riley has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Riley looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Riley is trying to break free.
Gracias is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Riley knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Riley for a finish.
Gracias is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Riley has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Gracias is looking for the choke from the back position but Riley is controlling his hands well.
Gracias is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Riley defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Riley wants to control his opponent's hands but Gracias gets his hands free.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Riley manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gracias's guard. Nice work there by Riley.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Riley (2) vs (8) Gracias
Gracias tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Riley wants to control from the top but Gracias keeps moving.
Gracias bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Riley's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Riley (2) vs (10) Gracias
Gracias trying to control the position from guard on top but Riley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riley working a defensive guard here.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Gracias trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riley working for a triangle but Gracias defends it easily.
Gracias preventing the sweep.
Riley trying to control the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Gracias wants to pass the guard but Riley is keeping the position.
Riley trying to control the position.
Gracias trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riley looking for subs off his back but Gracias has passed one foot through into half guard.
Riley is trying to get back to full guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Gracias tries to pass the half guard into mount. Riley knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gracias is looking to pass Riley's guard but actually Riley recovers to full guard.
Riley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracias doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracias manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracias passes Riley's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Riley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracias is looking for a kimura but Riley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracias to get the leverage.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Gracias looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracias wants to work for an arm triangle but Riley is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Riley moves into full guard.
Gracias stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Riley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracias is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracias controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Riley wants to improve his position but instead Gracias has moved into half guard.
Gracias stalling away here and it's allowed Riley to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gracias advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Riley (2) vs (13) Gracias
Riley can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracias tries for a kimura but Riley is defending well.
Gracias thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Riley tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracias wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gracias tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gracias is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Riley is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracias tries to move into full mount but can't pass Riley's legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracias working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that's the end of the fight!
Gracias wins on points by 13 to 2.
An out of breath Helio Gracias thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career. |
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