PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Sigic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sigic
vs
Gracie

188 cm
20
218 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

193 cm
19
221 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, James Sigic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mauricio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Sigic. Sigic gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie is looking to score with low kicks.
Sigic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie throws a lazy right hand but Sigic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sigic has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gracie finds it's way round the side to connect with Sigic's head.
A head kick from Gracie lands but Sigic takes it in his stride.

Sigic bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Sigic tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sigic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sigic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sigic's back!

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

Gracie is persistently looking for the submission but Sigic is defending it well.

Gracie working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Gracie looks gassed!
Gracie controlling well, preventing Sigic from escaping the position.
Gracie is trying to stick to Sigic's back but Sigic is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Sigic.
Sigic wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sigic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sigic won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.
Sigic passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sigic trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sigic is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie is pressing down on Sigic's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sigic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Sigic has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sigic moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sigic trying to strike off his back.
Sigic trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sigic is on top in guard.
Sigic scoring with some ground and pound.
Sigic tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sigic!
Gracie trying to control but Sigic is having none of it.
Sigic tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Gracie is going olschool here, as he tries to force Sigic to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sigic shrugs it off.
Gracie wants to stand but Sigic is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Sigic is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie throws out a leg kick but Sigic moves out of range and Gracie only half commits.
Gracie throws a head kick but Sigic moves out of range.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Gracie connects with a high kick.
Gracie is looking to clinch but Sigic is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sigic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
Gracie cracks the inside of Sigic's front leg.
Mauricio Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sigic.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gracie is looking to slow Sigic down with leg kicks.
Sigic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gracie pinned against the cage. Gracie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sigic checks a leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Gracie scores with a four punch combination!
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Sigic keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gracie. That's going to slow Sigic down.
Gracie connects with a high kick.
Gracie lands a slapping body shot.

Sigic scores with a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sigic won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sigic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sigic is one step ahead there.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sigic manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie wants to stand but Sigic has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sigic manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie is bucking up trying to escape but Sigic cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie trying to hold on to Sigic's head to control him but Sigic postures up.
Sigic wants to free his trapped foot but Gracie is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sigic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Sigic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Sigic won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Sigic wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie takes a swing at Sigic's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie misses with a looping right.
James Sigic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sigic chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gracie can pounce on him.
Gracie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Gracie throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gracie buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sigic takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Sigic checks a low kick from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Sigic moves out of range easily.
Gracie lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sigic moves out of range of the body kick from Gracie.
Gracie bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Gracie dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sigic. That did some damage!
Sigic shoots in but no luck this time.
Sigic takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gracie lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sigic gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Sigic circles away and keeps his distance.
Mauricio Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Sigic pushes him off.
Gracie fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie cracks Sigic with a good jab.
Gracie throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gracie. That's going to slow Sigic down.
James Sigic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gracie.
Sigic has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sigic there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gracie swings for the body but Sigic moves out of range.
Gracie swings for the body but Sigic moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gracie.
Sigic blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Gracie throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sigic's head.
Gracie throws a nice head kick!
Sigic takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sigic shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Sigic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie thows a body kick. Sigic tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Gracie scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sigic ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mauricio Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sigic avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Gracie lands a high kick!
Gracie misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sigic misses with the combination.
Sigic takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30

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