PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randjob Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Nicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gracie
vs
Nicks

189 cm
22
209 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

192 cm
21
220 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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White Gorilla Nutrition

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randjob Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Nicks!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nicks lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A slapping leg kick lands for Nicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Nicks misses the target.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicks. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nicks throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie lands a two punch combo.
Nicks cracks Gracie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Nicks is just out of range.
Nice shot by Gracie.
Nicks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie walks into a jab.
A punch combination from Nicks misses.
Nicks slips under a jab.
Nicks takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Nicks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie wants to slow Nicks down by chopping away at his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Mario Nicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicks walks into a left hand.
Mario Nicks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nicks throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nicks slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nicks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Gracie lunges at Nicks with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nicks's hand.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nicks.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nicks.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nicks throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nicks.
Nicks misses with a looping left.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Nicks.
Nicks lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nicks scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gracie in his tracks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicks takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nicks lands a slapping body shot.
Nicks keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.
Nicks avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Nicks looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Nicks slips under a jab from Gracie.
Gracie throws a combination that misses
and Nicks counters with a nice body shot.
Gracie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nicks takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nicks connects with a single shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nicks scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nicks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie missing with a left hand there. Nicks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nicks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nicks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Nicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Nicks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gracie throws a lazy right hand but Nicks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nicks finds it's way round the side to connect with Gracie's head.
Nicks fails to land with a series of punches.
A right-left combo lands from Gracie.
Nicks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
Nicks misses with a head kick.
A clash of legs there as Nicks blocks the low kick.
A combination from Nicks does no damage.
Nicks misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicks looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gracie buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nicks.
Gracie throws a hook to the side of Nicks's head but Nicks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nicks looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Nicks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from Nicks does no damage.
Nicks is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Gracie had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Nicks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nicks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie throws a hook but Nicks blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A jab from Gracie misses.
Nice takedown defense from Nicks. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randjob Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicks tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Nicks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
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 Randjob Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nicks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Nicks keeps moving.
Nicks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie trying to control but Nicks is working from the bottom.
Nicks 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 thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws and elbow that misses. Nicks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Nicks!
Nicks wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nicks is one step ahead there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Nicks from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nicks cracks Gracie with a good jab.
Nicks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie 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.
Gracie swings for the body but Nicks moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nicks's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Nicks duly obliges.
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Nicks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nicks misses with a low kick.
A big right from Gracie misses.
Gracie takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nicks gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gracie.
Nicks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Nicks keeps moving.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie being controlled here momentarily.
Nicks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Nicks is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nicks is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.

That's four 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie throws a leg kick that is checked
and Nicks counters with an inside leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Nicks which made him look bad.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Nicks.
Nicks tries to land a front kick but Gracie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gracie takes one on the button.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Nicks bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Gracie scores with a jab.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Nicks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie punishes Nicks's body with a nice straight punch.
A jab from Gracie finds it's way through Nicks's defenses.
Nicks misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Randjob Gracie will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie shoots in but Nicks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nicks.
Mario Nicks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie misses with a looping right.
Nicks slips under a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicks. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nicks is looking to chop away at Gracie's legs.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie scores with a jab.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Nicks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randjob Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicks defending well as Gracie loads up on a big left hand.
Nicks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nicks steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Nicks sprawls well.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Nicks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nicks scores with a push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nicks throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Nicks throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nicks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nicks throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nicks throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nicks misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nicks works over Gracie's head and body with a nice combination.
Nicks moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nicks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Mario Nicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie defending well as Nicks loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Nicks slips the punch.
Nicks scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nicks.
Nicks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Nicks misses.
Gracie scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nicks doesn't seem bothered though.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Nicks defends the submission attempt.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicks trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Nicks dodges it nicely.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Nicks is having none of it.
Nicks is trying to control but can't.
Nicks is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nicks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nicks misses with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Nicks avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gracie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nicks misses with a leg kick.
Gracie with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Randjob Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nicks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nicks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie moves out of range as Nicks throws a body kick.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nicks wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Nicks is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Nicks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mario Nicks!