PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Stokes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimbo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stokes
vs
Gracie

172 cm
21
163 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

181 cm
25
161 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Machina Clothing and Apparel - Basics $15 a piece

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brandon Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kimbo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Eddie Farnsworth and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stokes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Stokes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Brandon Stokes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Gracie.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stokes's waist but Stokes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
A good leg kick by Stokes.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Stokes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stokes attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Stokes tries to score with a low kick but Gracie moves his leg out of the way.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Stokes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie tries to move into range but Stokes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stokes.
Stokes looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
Brandon Stokes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stokes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stokes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Stokes looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Stokes as Gracie shoots in.
Stokes misses with a looping left.
Stokes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie looks for a takedown but Stokes sprawls well.
Stokes feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
Stokes throws a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
Stokes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie slips under a jab from Stokes.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Brandon Stokes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stokes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gracie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
Gracie throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Stokes holds on, trying desperately to control.
Stokes is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Gracie lands a heavy elbow.
Gracie in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gracie landing strikes from the mount.
Stokes tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Gracie tries to control but Stokes wriggling away.
Stokes wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gracie.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Stokes is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stokes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stokes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stokes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stokes is one step ahead there.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stokes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Stokes dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stokes misses with a looping left.
Stokes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stokes wants it to stay on the feet.
Stokes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stokes swivels and escapes.
Stokes throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Brandon Stokes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Gracie.
Stokes throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Stokes misses the target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Stokes.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stokes as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Gracie on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gracie slips under a jab from Stokes.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Stokes.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stokes.
A big right from Stokes misses.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stokes's waist but Stokes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Stokes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Stokes is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Gracie's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Stokes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Gracie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stokes avoids it really well and circles away.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stokes as he jumps to the side.
Stokes slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A head kick by Stokes misses

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stokes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Stokes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stokes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Stokes looking to pass the guard.
Gracie looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Stokes puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Gracie tries to roll over but Stokes keeps him under control.
Stokes is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stokes lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stokes.
Stokes misses with a leg kick.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Stokes.
Gracie checks a leg kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Stokes 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!

Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Stokes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Stokes circles away.
Stokes throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Stokes misses with a low kick.
Stokes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Brandon Stokes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Gracie.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Stokes. Stokes obviously looking to wear him down.
Stokes throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
Stokes takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Stokes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stokes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gracie checks a leg kick.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Stokes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stokes throws a leg kick but Gracie moved away.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Stokes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Stokes.
Gracie moves forwards but Stokes connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stokes misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Stokes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Stokes as Gracie shoots in.
Kimbo Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes throws a nice outside leg kick.
Brandon Stokes is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie shoots in but Stokes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Stokes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stokes scores with a jab. Gracie acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stokes throws a combination that misses

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Stokes fights it but they end up in guard.
Stokes 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 with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie throws and elbow that misses. Stokes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Stokes!
Gracie can't keep his opponent in guard - Stokes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stokes is taking a breather. Gracie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Stokes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Stokes is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

That's four 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.
Gracie tries to roll over but Stokes keeps him under control.
Brandon Stokes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stokes is controlling the pace.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Stokes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Well, if Stokes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Stokes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stokes, 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Stokes!