PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Huxley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Huxley is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gracie
vs
Huxley

183 cm
25
224 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

177 cm
22
220 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Chuck my Norris Ninja Viking Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Huxley!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie moves away from the strike by Huxley.
Huxley tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Huxley does a little dance to reset his feet.
Huxley slips a jab from Gracie.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Gracie as Huxley shoots in.
Nice defenses there by Huxley.
Gracie's corner calls for a 1-2. Gracie obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Huxley has taken the fight into the clinch.
Huxley content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The referee calls for Gracie to work.
Huxley is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Huxley is controlling him.
Huxley working hard to break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Gracie.
Huxley works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.
Gracie throws a hook but Huxley avoids it easily.
Huxley swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Huxley.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Huxley on the side of the head.
Gracie connects with a body shot.
Huxley is looking to clinch.
Huxley looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Huxley throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Huxley throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Huxley tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Huxley is just out of range.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Huxley manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Huxley is retaining full guard.
Huxley seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Huxley working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Huxley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Huxley looking to control.
Huxley keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie defending well as Huxley loads up on a big left hand.
Huxley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie takes a swing at Huxley's ribcage but misses.
Gracie misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Huxley shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Huxley showed some decent athleticism there.
Huxley is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gracie!
Huxley punching from mount but Gracie doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Huxley controlling the position easily from mount.
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Huxley with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Huxley in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gracie tries to hold on but Huxley postures up.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Huxley tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Huxley passes into side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Royce Gracie will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie takes a swing at Huxley's ribcage but misses.
Huxley has his takedown stuffed
and Huxley takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Huxley moves away from the strike by Gracie.
Huxley closes the distance but Gracie moves to the side

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gracie trying to control but Huxley is working from the bottom.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Huxley is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Gracie wants to control but Huxley passes easily into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huxley throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Huxley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Huxley throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Huxley is fighting to break Gracie's control of his arms but Gracie is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Huxley won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Huxley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie controls Huxley momentarily but Huxley frees himself.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Huxley!
Gracie wants to control the pace but Huxley is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Huxley is trying to reverse the position but instead Gracie has taken his back - oops!
Gracie trying to control momentarily.
Gracie is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Huxley is keeping busy.

Gracie is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Gracie controlling from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Royce Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Huxley misses with a straight left.
Gracie lands a slapping body shot.
Huxley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Huxley throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Huxley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Huxley tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Huxley scores with a hook to the body. Gracie takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Huxley throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Huxley slips the punch.

Huxley scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gracie is not content to let Huxley control the position.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huxley connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gracie some visible discomfort.
Royce Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Huxley decides to stand up.
Huxley wants to clinch but Gracie slips to the side

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Huxley fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Huxley is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Huxley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Huxley is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Huxley throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Gracie is looking to wear down Huxley with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Huxley works the jab nicely.
Gracie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Huxley at a distance.
Huxley wants to clinch
enabling Gracie to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Huxley sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie punishes Huxley's body with a nice straight punch.
Huxley throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gracie lands a jab to Huxley's midsection.
Huxley pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Huxley was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.

Huxley gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie advances position into side control!
Gracie wants to control but Huxley is keeping him busy.
Huxley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huxley tries to improve position but can't.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Huxley has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Huxley is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Huxley is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Huxley manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie is thwarting Huxley's attempts to control the position.

That's two 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 trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Huxley has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Huxley's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Huxley.

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but Huxley is having none of it.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Huxley to control.
Huxley's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huxley tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Huxley is in real trouble.
I really don't envy Huxley right now.
Gracie controls the position.

Huxley preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gracie.
Royce Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie biding his time, controlling Huxley.
Gracie wants to control but Huxley is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huxley trying to control the hands but Gracie breaks the grip.
Will Gracie go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Huxley breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Huxley throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie has his hands on Huxley's head, controlling the position.
Huxley stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Huxley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Gracie!