PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Manny Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caden Ash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ash has chosen your going down as his entrance music. Manny Gracie could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Caden Ash's chin.

Gracie
vs
Ash

178 cm
20
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Caden Ash!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ash scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The strikes coming from Ash are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ash wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ash connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gracie some visible discomfort.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Ash circles away easily

and Ash counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ash tries to stand but Gracie is controlling his head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ash trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Ash controls the position.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ash wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ash uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gracie has time to react.
Ash fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ash's guard now.

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

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie postures up.
Gracie prevents Ash from getting back to his feet.

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

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ash is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Ash would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ash forces his way into half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Ash trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Ash wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ash throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Ash defends the submission attempt.
Ash is trying to control but can't.

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

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ash has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ash is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ash doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Caden Ash will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ash clinches up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ash.

Ash breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ash darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.
Ash gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ash gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ash pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Caden Ash seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ash throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ash.
Ash wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Ash lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ash works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A left and a right from Ash both land. Nice combination.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ash.
Ash throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Ash.
Gracie drops his hands momentarily and Ash takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ash pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Caden Ash is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ash closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gracie to the mat! Gracie manages to get full guard.
Ash trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Ash pushes his legs off easily.

Gracie looking for subs off his back but Ash has passed one foot through into half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie is not content to let Ash control the position.
Ash passes to side control.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ash's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Ash is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caden Ash showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ash lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ash wants to clinch.
Ash misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Ash has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ash is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ash has escaped and now he's on top!
Ash wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Ash is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ash got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ash has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ash defends well.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ash can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie checks a leg kick.
A combination from Ash does no damage.
Ash gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ash has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ash is looking to escape.
Ash trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ash pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Ash is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Ash is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Ash tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Manny Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Caden Ash is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Gracie is going olschool here, as he tries to force Ash to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ash shrugs it off.
Ash slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ash has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Caden Ash!