PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Finalizador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Max Gracie enters the cage!

Finalizador
vs
Gracie

185 cm
19
196 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

173 cm
24
185 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Finalizador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie swings for the body but Finalizador moves out of range.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Finalizador.
Finalizador throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gracie's waist but Gracie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Finalizador off to one side.
Max Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finalizador avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie misses with a body kick.
Gracie throws a nice looking combination but Finalizador bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Finalizador closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gracie to the mat! Gracie manages to get full guard.
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 thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Finalizador's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Finalizador manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Finalizador manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Finalizador avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Finalizador tries to pass.
Finalizador sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Finalizador throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.

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.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Finalizador.
Finalizador content to control rather than advance.
Finalizador wants to free his trapped foot but Gracie is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gracie is looking to control Finalizador's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Finalizador throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador slips nicely into half guard.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.

Finalizador wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Finalizador will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four 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 is looking for a sweep. Finalizador is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Finalizador is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Finalizador. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Finalizador trying to control the pace.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Finalizador dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gracie looks to land a left hand but Finalizador moved out of range nicely.
Finalizador throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Finalizador tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Finalizador misses with a takedown attempt - Gracie sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A head kick by Gracie misses

and Finalizador counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finalizador preventing the sweep.
Finalizador controlling from the top position.
Finalizador trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Finalizador stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Finalizador uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Finalizador moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Finalizador closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Finalizador lands in his opponent's guard.

Finalizador drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Finalizador dodges it nicely.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Finalizador is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Finalizador is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Finalizador avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gracie is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gracie is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Finalizador doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Gracie is posturing up here but Finalizador has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Gracie tries to roll out but it's too tight and Gracie has to tap! Slick submission there by Finalizador!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gabriel Finalizador!