PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Dos Anos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakuraba Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Gimme Shelter. The key to victory for Rafael Dos Anos has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Dos Anos
vs
Gracie

185 cm
24
194 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
194 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafael Dos Anos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sakuraba Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Anos takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dos Anos as he jumps to the side.
The crowd cheers as Dos Anos lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gracie doesn't seem phased though.
Dos Anos waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Dos Anos throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Dos Anos connects with a crisp jab.
Dos Anos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dos Anos throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Dos Anos jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Dos Anos which made him look bad.
Dos Anos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Dos Anos throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gracie dives in and grabs Dos Anos's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dos Anos pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Rafael Dos Anos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sakuraba Gracie.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Dos Anos throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Sakuraba Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Gracie slips under a jab from Dos Anos.
Gracie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gracie throws the kick towards the body but Dos Anos avoids it.
Dos Anos moves out of range as Gracie strikes.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dos Anos throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie misses with a body kick.
Dos Anos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Dos Anos throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Anos as he avoids it easily.
Gracie lands a jab to Dos Anos's midsection.
Gracie moves out of range as Dos Anos strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Anos throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dos Anos lands a left and a right that sends Gracie crashing to the canvas! Dos Anos dives into mount looking to finish!

It looks like Sakuraba Gracie has been cut.
Gracie is in a horrible position here. Dos Anos smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dos Anos 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.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Dos Anos has a good base and remains in mount.
Dos Anos landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie looks gassed!
Dos Anos postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gracie looks a forlorn figure.
Dos Anos lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Dos Anos scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gracie flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Dos Anos wants to finish this one by submission but Gracie is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Dos Anos.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dos Anos wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.

Dos Anos has hold of Gracie's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gracie manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Dos Anos lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Dos Anos lands a nice shot to the head.
Gracie manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Dos Anos wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Dos Anos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Gracie flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Dos Anos prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Dos Anos there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dos Anos scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dos Anos wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.

Dos Anos is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie punching from the bottom.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dos Anos's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dos Anos's back!
Dos Anos breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie is striking from the bottom but Dos Anos uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Gracie throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dos Anos working the head and body with strikes.

Dos Anos is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Dos Anos wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Dos Anos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sakuraba Gracie's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Dos Anos shows good takedown defense.
Dos Anos throws a leg kick
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dos Anos misses with a low kick.
Nice sprawl there from Dos Anos as Gracie shoots in.
Gracie connects with a nice looking jab.
Dos Anos thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie misses with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lazy left from Dos Anos finds it's target.
Dos Anos tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Anos is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Dos Anos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Anos throws a combination. Gracie tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A swing and a miss from Dos Anos.
Dos Anos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Gracie feints and as Dos Anos raises his hands in defense, Gracie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dos Anos wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Dos Anos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dos Anos working the ground and pound effectively.
Gracie swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.

Gracie has left one of his arms exposed and Dos Anos doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Gracie screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rafael Dos Anos!