PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Choice Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by MotherFu*ker of the Year - Motley Crue. Juan Sanchez told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Gracie
vs
Sanchez

176 cm
25
163 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

173 cm
23
161 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

Non-Stop Nutrition
Non-Stop Nutrition

Bushido Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Choice Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez misses with a wild body shot.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Sanchez takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Gracie buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanchez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanchez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sanchez misses with a body shot.
Sanchez just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez lands with a shot to the body.
Sanchez looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Sanchez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Sanchez looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sanchez throws a sloppy head kick

and Gracie moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanchez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Gracie moves away

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gracie trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Sanchez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Sanchez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sanchez looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Sanchez looks gassed!
Gracie wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Sanchez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sanchez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gracie is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Sanchez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gracie's back instead.
Gracie trying to control but not successfully.
Sanchez keeps control of the position as Gracie tries to break free.
Gracie trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Sanchez looking to break Gracie's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Gracie remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Sanchez will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie breaks Sanchez's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Sanchez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Sanchez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sanchez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sanchez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gracie advances position into side control!
Gracie content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sanchez throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie wants to control but Sanchez is keeping him busy.
Sanchez is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanchez keeps working.
Gracie avoids the strikes from the bottom by Sanchez.
Gracie lands a nice forearm strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Choice Gracie dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie moves away from the strike by Sanchez.
A combination from Sanchez does no damage.
Sanchez clinches but Gracie breaks the clinch

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Sanchez flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Sanchez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sanchez.
Sanchez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sanchez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanchez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sanchez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gracie counters with a low kick, right behind Sanchez 's knee.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.

Gracie breaks from the clinch.
Juan Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanchez swivels and escapes.
Sanchez throws out a leg kick but Gracie moves out of range and Sanchez only half commits.
Juan Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sanchez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gracie thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Sanchez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gracie rather than just go for the knockout.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick from Sanchez.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sanchez moves out of range as Gracie throws a body kick.
Sanchez closes the distance but Gracie moves to the side
and Gracie counters with an outside leg kick.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gracie thuds his shin into the meat of Sanchez's side.
Sanchez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gracie lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanchez's sensitive parts.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Gracie lands a nice looking body shot.
Sanchez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Sanchez misses with a jab to the body

and Gracie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Gracie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Sanchez slips a straight right by Gracie.
A jab from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with a three punch combo that has Sanchez backing up. Sanchez nods at Gracie to acknowledge the strikes.
Gracie's corner calls for a 1-2. Gracie obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sanchez misses the shot to the body.
Crunch! Gracie slams his shin into Sanchez's torso.
Sanchez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanchez takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gracie dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sanchez. That did some damage!
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanchez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gracie moves out of range as Sanchez strikes.
Juan Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie is looking to slow Sanchez down with leg kicks.
Sanchez tries to land a body kick

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sanchez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Choice Gracie dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A shot to the body from Sanchez misses
and Gracie counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gracie, as that shot connected.
Gracie scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sanchez in his tracks.

Sanchez is rocked!

Gracie gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sanchez is still on wobbly legs! Can Gracie finish him?
Gracie holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Gracie lands a takedown into guard.
Sanchez seems to have recovered his senses.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sanchez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Sanchez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie is stalling in the full guard.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sanchez's guard.
Gracie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gracie wants to control but Sanchez is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez actively working from the bottom here.

Sanchez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanchez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gracie drops an elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Sanchez tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez has hold of Gracie's hands but Gracie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Sanchez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Sanchez missing with punches from the bottom.
Gracie is keen to just control but Sanchez is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie is trying to control. Sanchez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gracie lands with a punch from half guard.
Sanchez misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Gracie prevents Sanchez from improving his position.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sanchez is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Sanchez moves into full guard.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sanchez punching from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Sanchez is having none of it.

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.
Sanchez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Sanchez punching from the bottom.
Sanchez misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Choice Gracie clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanchez moves away.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Sanchez, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Sanchez against the cage but Sanchez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sanchez misses with a shot to the body
and Gracie counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sanchez.
Sanchez swings away with a body shot that misses

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.
Sanchez is trying to get back to half guard.
Sanchez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gracie is trying to control. Sanchez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie controlling the action here.
Sanchez is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Gracie wants to control but Sanchez is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez strikes from the bottom but Gracie uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Sanchez striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Sanchez misses with a strike from the bottom.
Gracie lands a few punches from side control.
Choice Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
Gracie looks up at the clock and then as Sanchez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Gracie smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gracie trying to control the position but Sanchez is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to improve his position.
Gracie working the head with strikes.
Gracie scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sanchez to see if he's OK.
Sanchez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Sanchez is defending the position.
Sanchez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sanchez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanchez can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Gracie tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Gracie landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sanchez working to try and regain half guard.

Gracie jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sanchez is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sanchez and Gracie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sanchez tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sanchez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Sanchez punching from the bottom.
Sanchez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Gracie content to control rather than advance.

Sanchez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sanchez is not content to let Gracie control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Choice Gracie had his way with Juan Sanchez in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanchez misses with a hook to the body
and Gracie counters with a nice leg kick.
Sanchez misses with a shot to the body
and Gracie makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sanchez really felt that one!
Sanchez misses with a jab to the body
and Gracie counters with a slapping leg kick.
A good leg kick by Gracie.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sanchez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gracie has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gracie and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Gracie cracks the inside of Sanchez's front leg.
Gracie lands with a nice body punch.
Gracie works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice shot lands for Gracie.
Sanchez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gracie counters with an outside leg kick.
Sanchez is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Gracie scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie thows a body kick. Sanchez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Gracie thumps Sanchez with a low kick.
Gracie lands a jab to Sanchez's midsection.
Sanchez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gracie lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Sanchez in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Gracie fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sanchez.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Jab from Gracie.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Sanchez swings away with a body shot that misses

and Gracie counters by clinching up.
Choice Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gracie is keeping busy.
Sanchez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gracie smiles and moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sanchez's head.

Gracie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sanchez.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sanchez fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Gracie turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gracie manages to end up in side control.
Sanchez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie avoids the strikes from the bottom by Sanchez.
Sanchez striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Sanchez being controlled for a moment.
Juan Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez is not content to let Gracie control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a little break here. Sanchez wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Sanchez tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Sanchez misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Sanchez wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
Gracie avoids the strikes from the bottom by Sanchez.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sanchez ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie.
Sanchez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.

And that's the end of the fight!
Choice Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 50:44
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 50:44
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Choice Gracie!
Choice Gracie retains his lightweight title!