PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Graiter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodion Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Graiter has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Graiter
vs
Gracie

225 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryan Graiter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodion Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Graiter as Gracie shoots in.
Graiter wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
Graiter displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Ryan Graiter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodion Gracie.
Graiter lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graiter throws a leg kick that misses.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Graiter which made him look bad.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rodion Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graiter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Graiter.
Graiter motions for Gracie to come forward. Graiter throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Graiter pinned against the cage. Graiter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Graiter lands with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Graiter as he avoids it easily.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Graiter sprawls well.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Graiter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie looks gassed!
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Graiter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Graiter wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.

Graiter clinches with his opponent.
Graiter lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Graiter pulls Gracie into guard.
Gracie postures up.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Graiter manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Graiter in his guard.
Graiter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Graiter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Graiter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A nice leg kick lands there from Graiter.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Graiter sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ryan Graiter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graiter misses with a low kick.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Graiter is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Graiter circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Graiter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ryan Graiter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodion Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graiter throws a one two combo.
Graiter does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Graiter misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Graiter sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Graiter shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

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.
Graiter throws a right and a left that both miss.

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Graiter tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie trying to control the position but Graiter is working away.
Graiter wants to control but Gracie postures up.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Graiter, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graiter can't do much from the bottom here.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Graiter knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Graiter knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Graiter, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rodion Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gracie checks a low kick from Graiter.
Graiter pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gracie is out of range and Graiter settles back down.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Graiter which made him look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Graiter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Graiter sprawls well.
Ryan Graiter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodion Gracie.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Graiter throws a leg kick but Gracie sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Graiter's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Gracie has an Americana. Graiter didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Gracie is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Gracie hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Rodion Gracie!