PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Gurgel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Bate pesadão. Pablo Gurgel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Gurgel

177 cm
19
153 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

UCF Clothing

Win Nutritional

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kevin Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Gurgel!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie avoids the head kick by Gurgel.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gurgel throws a half hearted mid kick.

Gurgel gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gurgel wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gracie lands a nice short elbow.
Gurgel is trying to stand.
Gurgel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Gurgel looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Gurgel won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Gurgel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gurgel wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Gracie tries to clinch but Gurgel moves away

and Gurgel counters by moving into the clinch.

Gurgel manages to break the clinch.
Gurgel fails with an attempt to clinch.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Gurgel.
Gurgel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gurgel wants to stall.

Gurgel breaks the clinch.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gurgel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gurgel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kevin Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Gurgel circles away easily
and Gurgel counters with a nice body kick.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.

Gurgel rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.

Gurgel manages to break the clinch.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Gurgel.
Gurgel throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gurgel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie stalks Gurgel and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gurgel's face. Gurgel staggers backwards, shaken.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Gurgel tries to clinch but Gracie moves away
and Gracie counters with a left to the body.
Gurgel looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gurgel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
Gurgel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gurgel circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gurgel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gurgel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gurgel breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Gurgel.
Gracie lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gracie.
Gracie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gurgel avoids it really well and circles away.

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Gurgel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Gracie pulls guard.

Gurgel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gurgel has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Gurgel has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.

Gurgel decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!

Gracie moves into the clinch successfully.
Gurgel prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.

Gurgel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gurgel throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gurgel defends it nicely.
Gurgel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie tries to clinch

and Gurgel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gurgel pressing his opponent against the cage.

Gurgel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Gurgel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Gurgel shows good takedown defense.

Gurgel moves into the clinch.

Gurgel breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie closes the distance but Gurgel moves to the side
and Gurgel counters with a head kick. That will keep Gracie thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Gurgel.
Gurgel throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Gurgel dominated that round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Gurgel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Gurgel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
A head kick by Gurgel misses
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gurgel tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gurgel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gurgel looks to clinch

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gurgel's guard now.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gurgel looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gurgel looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gurgel!

Gurgel has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gurgel throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gracie's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Gurgel counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurgel stalling.
Gurgel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Gurgel stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.

Gurgel breaks from the clinch.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gurgel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Gurgel gets a clinch.
A knee to the head by Gurgel.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Gurgel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Gurgel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Gurgel moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gurgel is defending well for now.

Gurgel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gurgel swivels and escapes.
Gurgel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gurgel.
Gurgel misses with a two punch combination.
Gurgel takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Gurgel circles away.
Gurgel digs a good hook to Gracie's body.
Gurgel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kevin Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Gurgel.
Gurgel misses with a body kick.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Gurgel moves into the clinch.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gurgel is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but Gurgel blocks with his arms.
Gracie is trying to drag Gurgel to the mat but Gurgel just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gurgel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Gurgel manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gurgel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gurgel kicks Gracie off and gets back to his feet.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gurgel manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gracie prevents Gurgel from escaping the position.
Gracie lands a few punches from side control.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gurgel is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie working the ground and pound but Gurgel is defending the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pablo Gurgel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gurgel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gurgel makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Gracie really felt that one!
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pablo Gurgel seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Gurgel gets a clinch.
Gurgel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gurgel prevents the takedown attempt.

Gurgel breaks from the clinch.
Gurgel misses with the body kick

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gurgel's guard.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gurgel kicks Gracie off and gets to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gurgel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Gurgel pushes him off.
Gurgel wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.

Gracie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gurgel's half guard.

Gurgel pushes Gracie off and gets back to his feet.
Gurgel lands a front kick.
Gracie tries to clinch
and Gurgel counters with an inside leg kick.
Gurgel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Gurgel.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gurgel tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gurgel to the ground. Gurgel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Gurgel makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gurgel throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gurgel throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Pablo Gurgel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Gracie there.
Gurgel circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gurgel counters with a series of strikes. Gracie will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gurgel throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Gurgel keeps it at a distance.
Gracie tries to bum rush Gurgel with a series of wild strikes but Gurgel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Gracie moves into the clinch successfully.

Gurgel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gracie gets a clinch.
Gurgel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Gurgel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Gurgel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gurgel tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Gracie has managed to clinch.
Gracie is trying to stall.
Gracie jumps guard but Gurgel stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Gurgel breaks the clinch.
Pablo Gurgel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gurgel is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Gurgel circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gurgel tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gurgel defends it nicely.
Gurgel throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie misses with a double jab

and Gurgel counters by moving into the clinch.

Gurgel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gurgel takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gurgel lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Gurgel circles away easily
and Gurgel counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Gurgel throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gurgel throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.

Gurgel moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gurgel smiles and moves away.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gurgel counters with a nice kick to the body.
Gurgel throws a head kick that misses.

Gurgel clinches with his opponent.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!

Gurgel manages to break the clinch.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gurgel counters with a left and a right that stings Gracie.
Gurgel lands with a slapping head kick.
Gracie shoots and misses

and Gurgel moves into the clinch.

Gurgel breaks from the clinch.
Kevin Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie tries to clinch up but Gurgel circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gurgel takes the fight into the clinch.

Gurgel manages to break the clinch.
Gracie lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Gurgel darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Gurgel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gurgel winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Gurgel!