PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tindao Sapopemba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen Bate pesadão as his entrance music. Tindao Sapopemba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sapopemba
vs
Gracie

170 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tindao Sapopemba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kevin Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sapopemba shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sapopemba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sapopemba is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sapopemba knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sapopemba tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie working away.
Sapopemba is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Sapopemba is defending well.
Gracie postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sapopemba is looking for a sweep.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sapopemba knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sapopemba is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapopemba manages to get back to half guard.

Gracie looking for a submission but Sapopemba manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Gracie postures up in Sapopemba's guard and throws a big left but Sapopemba blocks it.
Sapopemba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sapopemba is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sapopemba has escaped and now he's on top!
Gracie looks gassed!
Sapopemba passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sapopemba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Sapopemba lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sapopemba stands up and beckons Gracie to his feet.

Sapopemba scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sapopemba blocks the strikes from Gracie.

Sapopemba is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sapopemba trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Sapopemba looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sapopemba works his way into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sapopemba decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gracie to his feet.
Sapopemba tries to clinch up.
Sapopemba shoots and misses

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sapopemba manages to get back to half guard.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sapopemba doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sapopemba is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sapopemba tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gracie as Sapopemba tries to tie him up.

Gracie tightens his grip and picks Sapopemba up, before dumping him to the ground. Sapopemba manages to land in guard.

Sapopemba is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

Gracie has gone for a leg lock! Sapopemba slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.

Sapopemba got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sapopemba has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Sapopemba won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.

Sapopemba gets to his feet. Gracie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sapopemba shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gracie manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapopemba is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Sapopemba working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kevin Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sapopemba wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Sapopemba tries to pass.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Sapopemba pushes his legs off easily.
Sapopemba trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapopemba wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Sapopemba from controlling successfully.
Gracie trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sapopemba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sapopemba manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Sapopemba in his guard.
Sapopemba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapopemba would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sapopemba is stalling in the full guard.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sapopemba can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sapopemba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sapopemba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sapopemba's back!
Sapopemba looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Gracie working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Gracie is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for the RNC.
Sapopemba rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Sapopemba gets back to full guard.
Gracie stops Sapopemba from standing up.
Gracie postures up.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sapopemba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Sapopemba tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Sapopemba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Sapopemba didn't expect that.
Sapopemba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie postures up.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sapopemba 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.
Sapopemba tries to strike from the bottom.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sapopemba 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Sapopemba is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.

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

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Sapopemba is defending well.

Sapopemba is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

That's two 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 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.
Sapopemba moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sapopemba lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!

Sapopemba is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gracie is surviving well by controlling Sapopemba's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapopemba tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Sapopemba wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Sapopemba looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Sapopemba wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sapopemba trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Kevin Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gracie flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Gracie wants to hold on but Sapopemba pushes him away.
Sapopemba prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.

Sapopemba stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Sapopemba throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sapopemba shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gracie's guard.
Tindao Sapopemba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sapopemba is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sapopemba's back instead.
Gracie struggling to keep hold of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Gracie!