PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Peterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Beat You Down. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Peterson
vs
Gracie

191 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Peterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Helio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Peterson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Peterson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Peterson is working away from the top position though.
Peterson is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Peterson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Peterson.
Gracie is not content to let Peterson control the position.
Gracie tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Gracie is trying 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.
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Peterson misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peterson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Peterson.
Peterson wants to clinch.
Peterson tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.

Peterson forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Peterson.

Peterson manages to pull guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Peterson is keeping the position for now.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Peterson working a defensive guard here.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Peterson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Peterson is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.

Peterson has managed to clinch.
Gracie should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Peterson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gracie wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peterson lands with a left to the head.
Peterson scores with a knee to the head.
Gracie is working for takedown but Peterson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Peterson breaks from the clinch.
Peterson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.
Peterson has a takedown stuffed.
Gracie takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Peterson trying to control the position.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Peterson blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peterson is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Peterson.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Peterson is keeping the position for now.
Gracie trying to control but Peterson is working from the bottom.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie with a poor takedown
and Peterson counters with a slapping leg kick.

Peterson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Peterson from controlling successfully.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Peterson defends it easily.
Peterson trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie pushes Peterson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Peterson tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Peterson prevents the takedown attempt.
Nice body punch from Peterson - that landed with a thud.
Peterson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Peterson lands a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peterson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Peterson punching from the bottom.
Peterson is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Peterson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Peterson's guard.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie throwing shots but Peterson is blocking nicely.
Peterson is controlling Gracie's trapped leg to prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.
Peterson moves into full guard.
Gracie is pushing down on Peterson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Peterson is fighting to maintain full guard but Gracie has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gracie passes into side control, despite Peterson's attempt to control the position.
Peterson tries to control but Gracie manages to take his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie scores with punches from the back.
Gracie missing with punches from the back.

Gracie is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Peterson defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Peterson looking very determined here, making life difficult for Gracie.
Gracie lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Gracie.
Peterson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Peterson wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Peterson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Peterson defending well though.
Peterson gets back to full guard.

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.
Peterson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Peterson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
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 Mike Peterson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Peterson tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Peterson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Peterson jumps guard.
Peterson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie won't allow Peterson to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie content to stall in guard here.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Peterson has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peterson looking for a sweep. Not yet Peterson, not yet.
Peterson keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Peterson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Gracie with a nice head shot there.
Peterson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Peterson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Peterson counters with a body kick.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Peterson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Peterson as he jumps to the side.
Mike Peterson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Gracie.
Peterson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Peterson misses with a takedown attempt

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Gracie.
Peterson is controlling the position but Gracie somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Peterson thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.
Gracie trying to control from the bottom.
Gracie is staying active underneath Peterson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Peterson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Peterson.
Gracie trying to hold on to Peterson's head to control him but Peterson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Peterson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Peterson clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.

Peterson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Peterson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie passes Peterson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Peterson wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Gracie content to control rather than advance.
Peterson wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie is thwarting Peterson's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Peterson is having none of it.
Peterson wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Helio Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Peterson is looking to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Peterson swivels and escapes.
Peterson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Mike Peterson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Peterson tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Peterson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Peterson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Peterson!