PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cristian Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cunningham has chosen Disturbed - Conflict as his entrance music. Cristian Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Cunningham

195 cm
24
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

187 cm
19
192 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cristian Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brad Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Lou da Vinci and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cunningham landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cunningham lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
Gracie misses with a body punch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cunningham throws an elbow but misses.
Cunningham lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Cristian Gracie has been cut.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Cunningham lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cunningham gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Cunningham lands a nice elbow.
Cunningham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie is trying to drag Cunningham to the mat but Cunningham just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cunningham smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristian Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cunningham throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A jab lands there for Cunningham.

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cunningham did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunningham is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cunningham's head.
Cunningham looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gracie controlling the pace.
Cunningham is trying to stand.
Gracie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cunningham pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab from Cunningham does it's job there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cunningham throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Cunningham keeps it at a distance.
Cunningham tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cunningham connects with a high kick.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
No joy there for Cunningham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A left lands for Cunningham.
Gracie throws a nice looking combination but Cunningham bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Cunningham pushes him off.
Cunningham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cunningham throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham scores with a hook.
Cunningham lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cunningham.
Cunningham thuds a left hand into Gracie's body.

Cunningham gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cunningham working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Cunningham lands a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cunningham lands a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Cunningham.
Cunningham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A knee to the head by Cunningham.
Cunningham lands a nice knee to the body.
Cunningham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Cunningham.
Cunningham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Cunningham scores with a knee to the head.

Gracie is rocked!
Cunningham lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cunningham misses with a knee to the head.
Cunningham lands a nice elbow.
Cunningham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cunningham landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cunningham lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Cunningham lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
Cunningham lands a good knee to the midsection. Gracie won't want to take too many of those.
Cunningham connects with a knee to the head.

Gracie decides to pull guard.

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

Cunningham stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Gracie tries to clinch but Cunningham moves away
and Cunningham counters with a head kick. That will keep Gracie thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Cunningham lands with a cross.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cunningham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Brad Cunningham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cunningham is looking to clinch.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Cunningham dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cristian Gracie's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cunningham lands with a cross.
Cunningham avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Cunningham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cunningham throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cunningham was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cunningham, as that shot connected.
Cunningham looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Cunningham throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cunningham's guard.
Cunningham is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stops Cunningham from standing up.
Gracie is stalling in the full guard.
Gracie won't allow Cunningham to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Cunningham avoids it well.
Nice straight punches there by Cunningham. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cunningham.
Cunningham tests Gracie's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cunningham misses the shot to the body.
Cunningham avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Cunningham throws a shot to the body.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Cunningham circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cunningham lands a really nice looking cross but Gracie seems unphased.
Gracie has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gracie there as he acknowledges the shot.

Cunningham darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cunningham.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Cunningham obliges.
Cunningham lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cunningham tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cunningham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cunningham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cunningham gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Cunningham lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cunningham lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Cunningham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Cunningham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Cunningham.
Nice elbow from Cunningham.
Gracie tries to throw a body punch but Cunningham avoids it by throwing Gracie back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Cunningham.
Cunningham lands a knee to the head.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Cunningham obliges.
Gracie avoiding damage as Cunningham throws knees to the body.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cunningham tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Cunningham won't allow it.
Cunningham misses with a knee strike.

Gracie manages to pull guard.

Cunningham stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Gracie has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Cunningham manages to get his head free but now Gracie has transitioned to an armbar! Cunningham grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Gracie! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Cristian Gracie!