PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zap Morten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Morten
vs
Gracie

186 cm
22
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
165 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

啓発 Shaolin Nutrition [Q155+]

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zap Morten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morten stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Morten misses with a takedown

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.
Gracie trying to control the action but Morten is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gracie slows the pace down.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Morten is defending well.
Gracie is trying to ground and pound but Morten uses the momentary lack of control by Gracie to regain half guard.
Morten looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Morten is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie stops Morten from getting back to his feet.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Morten is trying to get back to full guard.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Morten has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Morten wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Morten displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Morten closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morten is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
Morten is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!
Morten wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Morten is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Gracie. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morten scores with punches from the back.
Gracie trying to control the action but Morten just sinks the hooks in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Can Gracie hold on?! Morten is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Gracie tries to escape but Morten has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Gracie defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Gracie tries to escape but Morten has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Morten is looking to control Gracie but Gracie is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Morten lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Gracie hold on?!
Morten lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Morten throwing damaging strikes from the back! Gracie could be in trouble here!
Morten throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Gracie!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morten gets his hands free as Gracie looks to control.
Morten loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Gracie hold on?

Morten is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Morten lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

Morten is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Morten knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Morten lands punches and elbows.
Gracie prevents Morten from getting a body triangle.
Morten punches the canvas rather than the man.
I really don't envy Gracie right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zap Morten will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A lazy left from Morten finds it's target.
Morten misses the shot to the body.

Morten lands a left and a right that send Gracie crashing to the mat, dazed. Morten thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Gracie is rocked!
Morten pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie is still on wobbly legs! Can Morten finish him?
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Morten.
Gracie seems to have recovered his senses.
Zap Morten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Morten misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morten misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Morten, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Morten against the cage but Morten circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Morten throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Morten tries a head kick but it misses.
Morten misses with a two punch combination.
Morten tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Morten tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Morten is adopting a defensive guard.
Gracie stops Morten from standing up.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Morten.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Morten blocks nicely.
Morten has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morten wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morten lands with an uppercut that bounces Gracie off the cage and back into rage.
Morten misses with a double jab

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Morten is having none of it.
Manny Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morten trying to control here.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Morten doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Morten desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morten is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Morten trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Morten is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Morten.
Morten closes the distance and clinches up with Gracie, looking for a takedown. Morten pushes Gracie against the cage but Gracie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zap Morten will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Morten lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Morten lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Morten looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Morten misses with a takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Morten didn't expect that.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Morten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morten looking to control.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Morten dives on top into guard.
Morten advances position into side control!
Morten is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Morten wants to stand but Gracie has his arm trapped.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gracie taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Morten off and has taken his back!
Morten trying to control the position but Gracie manages to sink in the hooks.
Morten trying to get back to his feet but Gracie is in full control for now.

Morten preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gracie.

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 working for the choke.
Gracie not allowing Morten to control his hands.
Gracie has the hooks in. Morten is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Gracie has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Morten has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Morten turns into Gracie and is now in his guard.
Morten trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Morten defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morten tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.

Morten avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gracie has his foot on Morten's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Morten works his way back into a safe position though.
Morten trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie working for a triangle but Morten defends it easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Morten misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Morten wants to clinch but Gracie slips to the side

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Morten works his way to full guard. Good work.
Morten keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Morten manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Morten in his guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morten has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Zap Morten!