PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Damian Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Lesner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Gracie
vs
Lesner

185 cm
24
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damian Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Lesner!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lesner swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Lesner looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Lesner blocks nicely.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lesner dives on top into guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lesner defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lesner 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.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Lesner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lesner has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.

Lesner drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Lesner off! Lesner jumps back into Gracie's guard.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lesner drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lesner jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Lesner drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!
Lesner looks gassed!

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lesner is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lesner is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Lesner has hold of Gracie's hands but Gracie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesner on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gracie throws a strike but Lesner avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Lesner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lesner manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Lesner's guard.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lesner keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie postures up in Lesner's guard and throws a big left but Lesner blocks it.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lesner manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie is working Lesner over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Gracie 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.

Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Lesner which made him look bad.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lesner to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lesner is aware though and is defending well.

Lesner is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gracie is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gracie has escaped and now he's on top!
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

Lesner working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lesner is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie distracts Lesner with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gracie chips away with some ground and pound.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie trying to control but Lesner is working from the bottom.
Lesner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Lesner has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Lesner is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Lesner extends the arm and Gracie is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steven Lesner!