PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Smotes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gracie
vs
Smotes

191 cm
22
240 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

199 cm
19
220 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

154 RECOVERY-UCF NUTRITION
Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodney Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Smotes!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smotes but Smotes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Joe Smotes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smotes feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
Smotes with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smotes's guard.
Smotes wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie trying to control but Smotes is working from the bottom.
Smotes 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.
Smotes keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie won't allow Smotes to get back to his feet.
Smotes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smotes can do anything to dispel that myth.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Smotes.

Smotes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smotes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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 wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Smotes controlling the position easily from mount.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Smotes's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Smotes has a good base and remains in mount.
Smotes controlling from mount.
Gracie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smotes won't let Gracie get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smotes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smotes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smotes wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Smotes prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Smotes thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Smotes controlling from mount.
I looks like Smotes might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joe Smotes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smotes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smotes fakes the leg kick and cracks Gracie in the body.
Smotes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
Smotes lands a nice looking body kick.
Smotes delivers a nice body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Smotes. Gracie shrugs it off though.
Smotes buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Smotes connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice body kick from Smotes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Gracie crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Smotes - the referee stops the clock and Gracie gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Smotes. Gracie manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Smotes fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Smotes didn't expect that.
Rodney Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Smotes.
Gracie has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smotes is proving hard to escape from.
Gracie postures up.
Smotes looking for a sweep. Not yet Smotes, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smotes looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smotes scores with a kick to the midsection.
Smotes connects with a high kick.

Smotes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Smotes is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smotes wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Smotes wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smotes bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Smotes!
Smotes stuffs the takedown.
Smotes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Smotes fights it but they end up in guard.
Smotes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smotes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smotes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Smotes defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smotes wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Rodney Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smotes lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gracie takes a step back to recover.
Smotes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rodney Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smotes scores with a spinning back kick!
Smotes throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Gracie takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Smotes delivers a nice body kick.
Gracie steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Smotes. That one must have hurt.
Gracie will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Smotes thuds his shin into the meat of Gracie's side.
Smotes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gracie's waist but Gracie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smotes off to one side.
Rodney Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Smotes.
A head kick from Smotes lands but Gracie takes it in his stride.
Gracie on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Good leg kick by Smotes there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Smotes dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Smotes's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smotes.
Gracie leaves Smotes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracie slaps away a takedown attempt from Smotes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie moves out of range as Smotes throws a body kick.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Smotes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Smotes scores with a kick to the midsection.
Smotes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smotes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smotes looking to control but Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smotes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smotes tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Smotes can't escape the position.

Gracie has hold of Smotes's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Smotes manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Smotes regains half guard.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Smotes is working away.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smotes is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

Smotes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smotes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smotes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gracie won't allow Smotes to sweep him here.
Gracie prevents Smotes from getting back to his feet.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Smotes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smotes manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Smotes's guard.
Smotes trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Gracie dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Smotes is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smotes avoid being mounted?
Gracie works his foot free and advances to mount.

Smotes defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gracie.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Smotes to control.
Smotes squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smotes blocking the ground and pound.
Smotes tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Smotes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Smotes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Smotes is in all sorts of trouble here.

Gracie stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Smotes's guard.
Smotes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Smotes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smotes manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Smotes's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smotes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gracie trying to control but Smotes is working from the bottom.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Smotes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smotes manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Smotes's guard.
Smotes controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Smotes controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smotes lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gracie will feel that in the morning.
Smotes goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Smotes scores with a head kick.
Smotes lands a high kick!
Gracie throws a lazy right hand but Smotes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smotes scores with a leg kick.
Smotes moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Smotes lands with a nice body kick.
Smotes throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Smotes scores with a kick to the midsection.
Nice body kick there by Smotes.
Smotes cracks the inside of Gracie's front leg.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gracie takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gracie is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Smotes scoring well with a low kick there.
Gracie steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Smotes. That one must have hurt.
Crunch! Smotes slams his shin into Gracie's torso.
Smotes scores with a spinning back kick!
Smotes scores with a spinning back kick!
Gracie has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Smotes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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 is trying to control. Smotes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smotes wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Smotes's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Smotes.
Smotes is wriggling around trying to escape.

Gracie working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Smotes looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Gracie! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Rodney Gracie!