PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lou Gotch (ranked 3685 p4p, 2952 weight class) and Rufino Gracie (ranked 233 p4p, 197 weight class). Lou Gotch has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gotch
vs
Gracie

165 cm
31
145
12 - 8 - 2

165 cm
25
135
5 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 2, fighting out of New York, Lou Gotch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rufino Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gotch throws a lazy uppercut
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.
Lou Gotch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gotch ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gotch looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gotch with a body shot.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on Gotch's shoulder, as Gotch tries to avoid the shot.
Gotch lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie throws out a counter right but Gotch avoids it with no problem.
Gotch throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.
Gotch misses with a double jab
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Gotch is rocked!
Gotch connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie. Gracie circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gracie with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gotch loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Gotch throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotch throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Oh Gotch is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gracie misses with a hook. Gotch ducked under it nicely.
Gotch seems to have got his legs back now.
Gotch misses with the combination.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gotch.
Gotch darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Lou Gotch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab from Gotch.
Gracie lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gotch throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Gotch throws an off balance right hand

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Gotch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie is fighting to break Gotch's control of his arms but Gotch is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gracie cracks Gotch with a solid left hand.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Gotch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gotch keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gotch wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gotch seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Gracie passes Gotch's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to advance position but Gotch counters by regaining guard.
Gotch keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gotch has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gracie trying to control but Gotch is working from the bottom.
Gracie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gotch's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie 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.
Gotch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gotch keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Gracie working his ground and pound in the gym.

Gotch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Gracie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rufino Gracie dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gotch throws a right hand that misses
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Gotch ducks down to avoid it.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Gotch.
Gotch throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gotch won't be happy with that.
Gotch is looking for a sweep.
Gracie trying to control the position but Gotch is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gotch being controlled for a moment.
Gotch parries the strikes from Gracie easily there. Gracie is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gotch to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Gotch manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Gracie.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gotch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Gotch blocks nicely.
Rufino Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie trying to control but Gotch is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gracie with a nice head shot there.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gotch is keeping the position for now.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gotch's head.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gotch is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Gotch gets full guard.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Gotch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Gotch!

Gotch stands up and waves to Gracie to follow him.
Gotch connects with a single shot there.
Nice defenses there by Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gotch throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gotch throws out the jab.
Gotch misses with a lunging right hand
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Gotch finds it's way through Gracie's defenses.
Gotch missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gracie swings for the body but Gotch moves out of range.
Gotch throws an off balance right hand
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gotch throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie throws out a counter right but Gotch avoids it with no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A lazy left from Gracie finds it's target.
Gotch throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gotch misses with a combination
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rufino Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jab, jab by Gotch - just one landing.
Gotch lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gotch misses with a double jab.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gotch is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Gotch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gotch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie slips under a jab.
Gotch misses with a left hand
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Gotch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie throws out a counter right but Gotch avoids it with no problem.
Gotch misses with a straight right.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gotch throws out the jab.
Gotch misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotch fails to land with a series of punches.
Gracie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lou Gotch is winning the standup battle so far.
Gotch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gotch throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
Gotch throws a right hand that misses
and Gracie makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gotch was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Gotch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Gotch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gotch misses with a double jab.
Gotch swings widly with a right hand

and Gracie counters with a left hand that sends Gotch to the canvas!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gotch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Gotch is keeping the position.
Lou Gotch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Gotch is keeping the position.
Gotch controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Gotch gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gracie wants to improve his position but instead Gotch has moved into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Gotch wants to free his trapped foot but Gracie is holding on for dear life with his legs.
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.
Gotch seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gotch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gotch prevents Gracie from improving his position.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rufino Gracie.
Well Gracie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rufino Gracie!
Our winner, Rufino Gracie, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.