PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafal Piotrowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gracie
vs
Piotrowski

188 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafal Piotrowski!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Piotrowski closes the distance and clinches up with Gracie, looking for a takedown. Piotrowski pushes Gracie against the cage but Gracie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Piotrowski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Piotrowski wants to get back to full guard.

Piotrowski actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie works his way into side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie controls the position from side control.
Piotrowski is trying to get back to half guard.

Gracie decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Piotrowski with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Piotrowski won't be happy with that.
John Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafal Piotrowski.
Piotrowski looks gassed!
Gracie is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Piotrowski will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piotrowski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.
The referee asks Gracie politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gracie prefers to stall for the moment though.
Gracie has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Piotrowski gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gracie controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Piotrowski feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Piotrowski tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Gracie is adopting a defensive guard.

Piotrowski drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gracie manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Piotrowski has Gracie in his guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Piotrowski for as long as he can get away with.

Piotrowski actively working from the bottom here.
Piotrowski is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Gracie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Piotrowski tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Piotrowski counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Gracie is not content to let Piotrowski control the position.
Gracie keeps Piotrowski under control for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Piotrowski trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John 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.

Gracie shoots in and drives through. Piotrowski sprawls well.
Piotrowski tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is taking a breather. Piotrowski 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.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gracie prevents Piotrowski from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Piotrowski is breathing heavily.
Gracie moves to take his opponent's back.
Gracie biding his time, looking for the opening.

Gracie is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Gracie doesn't have the hooks in and Piotrowski manages to turn into his guard.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Piotrowski is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Piotrowski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie works his way into full mount!
Gracie controlling from mount.
Piotrowski is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Piotrowski misses with a takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gracie'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.

Piotrowski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the action here.

Piotrowski looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
John Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Piotrowski is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie scores with a takedown into Piotrowski's guard.
Gracie stays in close to Piotrowski's body and controls the position.
Gracie pushing down on Piotrowski's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Piotrowski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Piotrowski is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Piotrowski to the mat! Piotrowski manages to get full guard.

Piotrowski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie passes into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gracie in particular looking to stall.

Piotrowski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stalling.

Piotrowski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Piotrowski's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Piotrowski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Piotrowski can't escape the position.
Piotrowski is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie controlling the pace for now.
Piotrowski has given up his back.
Gracie controlling from the back.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Piotrowski counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Piotrowski tries to pass.
Piotrowski wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Piotrowski stops Gracie from standing up.
John Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Piotrowski controlling him for the moment.

Piotrowski drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gracie manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Piotrowski has Gracie in his guard.
Gracie stays in close to Piotrowski's body and controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gracie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

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