PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent Assaf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Dread Zepellin - Stairway to Heaven. Assaf has chosen click click boom as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Vincent Assaf will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gracie
vs
Assaf

185 cm
20
190 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

183 cm
24
190 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Fightworld Formula

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roger Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vincent Assaf!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a series of punches but Assaf avoids them all with ease.
Gracie scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Roger Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Assaf lands a lovely overhand right.
Assaf throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Assaf can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracie trying to control the action but Assaf is working from the bottom.
Assaf is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Gracie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Assaf rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Gracie's guard! Nice work there by Assaf!

Assaf drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Assaf jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Assaf trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Assaf. Assaf gets slowly back to his feet.
Assaf shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gracie throws a nice looking combination but Assaf bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie tries to bum rush Assaf with a series of wild strikes but Assaf uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Assaf looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Assaf finds it's way through Gracie's defenses.

Assaf has managed to clinch.

Assaf has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gracie uses from the top position.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Assaf works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes 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.

Assaf throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Assaf looking for a sweep. Not yet Assaf, not yet.
Assaf looks gassed!
Assaf working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Assaf is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Assaf manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Assaf's guard.
Assaf keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

Assaf is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Assaf trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gracie with a nice head shot there.

Assaf is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie trying to control but Assaf is working from the bottom.
Gracie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Assaf's head.
Gracie won't allow Assaf to sweep him here.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Assaf works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Assaf manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Assaf in his guard.
Assaf trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Assaf is one step ahead there.
Gracie doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie controls Assaf momentarily but Assaf frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Gracie dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Assaf avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Gracie closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gracie throws the left hand but Assaf avoids the punch easily.
Gracie misses with a double jab
and Assaf counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gracie throws a right and a left that Assaf avoids nicely.
Gracie falls off balance throwing a combination

and Assaf counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gracie can't keep his opponent in guard - Assaf advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Assaf is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Assaf is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Assaf stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie misses with a combination
and Assaf counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gracie thinking.
Gracie moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Assaf looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Assaf is breathing heavily.

Assaf is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Assaf is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Assaf prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Assaf defends well.
Gracie is trying to keep Assaf in close.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Assaf!
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Assaf is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assaf taking shots to the head.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Assaf has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee warns Assaf that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gracie looking to finish Assaf with some ground and pound. This is bad for Assaf!
Assaf in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gracie with a couple of short strikes.

Assaf is rocked!
Gracie trying to control but Assaf is having none of it.
The referee warns Assaf that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Assaf tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Assaf turns into him and now he's in Gracie's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Assaf trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Assaf wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Gracie dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck for Assaf with that takedown attempt.
Gracie scores with a jab. Assaf acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Assaf misses with an uppercut.
Good shot there by Gracie.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Assaf moved away.
Gracie lands with a right that hurts Assaf. Assaf looks to clinch but Gracie throws a short knee that drops Assaf. This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch and Knee). Roger Gracie!