PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Helio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and EJ Tap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tap has chosen Pop Lock and Drop It as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Tap

186 cm
20
175 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
180 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

☻MMA Pro Gear☻ - $4 Shirt☻
Syndicate Drugs

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helio Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, EJ Tap!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tap just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tap to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

Tap postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gracie is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tap, into his guard.

Tap looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tap makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tap.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Gracie decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Gracie connects with a jab.

It looks like EJ Tap has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tap lands a with a good body shot.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tap tries to clinch up.
Tap tries to clinch up
and Gracie counters with a left to the body.
Tap lands a with a good body shot.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.
Tap throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Tap throws a big shot that misses.
Tap walks into a left hand.
Tap misses the body punch
and Gracie counters with a right hand to the body.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tap napping and manages to drive through into side control!
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tap has escaped the position, nice work there.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Tap manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tap tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Tap!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on EJ Tap's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tap clinches but Gracie breaks the clinch
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tap keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Tap wants to sweep but no luck.

Tap is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Tap can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tap swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie postures up.
Tap is adopting a defensive guard.

Tap throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Tap throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gracie uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tap is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Tap is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tap tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Tap blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Tap is defending well.
Tap is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Tap manages to get back to half guard.
Tap is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tap misses with a combination
and Tap takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tap has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tap wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tap swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on EJ Tap's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tap looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
A shot to the body from Tap misses
and Gracie counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gracie throws a leg kick which misses Tap's front leg but catches the back leg as Tap tries to avoid it.
Tap avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tap swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tap tries to clinch but Gracie moves away
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tap takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gracie.

That has opened up EJ Tap's cut even more.
Tap just misses with a punch to the body.
Tap doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gracie counters with an inside leg kick.
Gracie is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gracie with a poor takedown

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

Tap tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tap in the domination position with Gracie hanging on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tap wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie prevents Tap from improving position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tap's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Tap trying to control from Gracie's half guard. Gracie has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tap is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gracie is controlling the pace.
Gracie tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tap controls his leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tap is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on EJ Tap's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tap misses with a combination
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tap swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Helio Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.
Tap is looking to clinch.
Gracie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tap moves out of range of the body kick.
Tap is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Tap rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tap misses with a jab to the body
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gracie lands a right hook to the body.
Gracie connects with a right hand. Tap shakes it off.
A jab-cross combination lands for Gracie and sends Tap crashing to the mat! Gracie follows him down to the mat - Tap regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

The cut above EJ Tap's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Tap is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tap wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Gracie is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Tap!

Gracie stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Gracie throws a right hand that Tap ducks under and follows up with a left that Tap also avoids with ease.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Tap misses with a body punch
and Gracie counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tap thinking.
Tap stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tap gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tap can do to turn this around?
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Tap throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tap's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tap's back!
Tap is keeping busy.
Tap trying to control the hands but Gracie breaks the grip.
You can see the frustration on Tap's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Gracie's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Gracie controlling from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie doesn't have the hooks in and Tap manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie had his way with EJ Tap in that round.
The cut man is working on EJ Tap's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tap waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Gracie punishes Tap's body with a nice straight punch.
Gracie lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tap circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tap circles away.
Tap digs a good hook to Gracie's body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tap with a poor takedown

and Gracie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tap tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tap struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Tap tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Tap pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helio Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tap swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Tap throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Helio Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tap misses with a straight left.
Gracie throws a left and a right that both miss

so Tap counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracie controlling Tap's posture.

Tap drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Tap is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tap can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.

Tap working for submissions but it's allowed Gracie to get to half guard.
Tap wants to get back to full guard but Gracie has mounted him!
Tap is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gracie controlling from mount.
EJ Tap has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tap really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Gracie stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Tap misses the shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to EJ Tap.
Well Gracie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 49:46
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 50:46
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helio Gracie!
Helio Gracie retains his welterweight title!