PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Rawls (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
Rawls

183 cm
26
224 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
221 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Elite Supplement Supplier

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 6 - 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 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Rawls!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries to bum rush Rawls with a series of wild strikes but Rawls uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rawls misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rawls.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rawls manages to avoid it.

Rawls shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rawls showed some decent athleticism there.
Rawls perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rawls is looking to advance position but Gracie won't allow it.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Rawls is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gracie pulls Rawls in to control the position.
Rawls trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie 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.
Rawls must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rawls misses the body punch
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A swing and a miss from Gracie.
Rawls with a poor takedown

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rawls's guard.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rawls keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rawls is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Rawls is keeping the position.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Rawls is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rawls swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie scores with a decent looking hook.
Rawls slips a straight right by Gracie.

Rawls gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Rawls is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rawls is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gracie pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rawls gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rawls sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gracie 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pulls Rawls in close to prevent any damage.
Rawls trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Rawls is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rawls trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Rawls being controlled here momentarily.
Rawls won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce 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 misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rawls.
Rawls slips a jab from Gracie.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Rawls counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rawls content to stall in guard here.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Rawls postures up.
Rawls sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gracie is controlling Rawls's posture.
Rawls works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawls performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Rawls looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Rawls.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Rawls looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Gracie sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Gracie controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Rawls seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Rawls is controlling well.
John Rawls has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie trying to hold on to Rawls's head to control him but Rawls postures up.
Rawls takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rawls's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gracie wants to control but Rawls is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gracie cracks a nice hook into Rawls's ribs.
A big right from Gracie misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws the left hand but Rawls avoids the punch easily.
Nice defenses there by Rawls.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
John Rawls is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rawls looks to clinch
and Gracie counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rawls moves away.
Gracie lands a body shot.
Gracie changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rawls is breathing heavily.
Rawls fails with the takedown
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rawls misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rawls was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Rawls shoots and misses

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Rawls is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
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 Royce Gracie will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Rawls manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Gracie.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Rawls is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rawls wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Royce Gracie.
Rawls shoots and misses
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Rawls does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rawls tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rawls darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rawls 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.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Gracie keeping control of the position.
Gracie trying to hold on to Rawls's head to control him but Rawls postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Rawls is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie trying to control but Rawls is working from the bottom.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Rawls being controlled here, momentarily.
Royce Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rawls is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

That's four 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.
Rawls can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
John Rawls has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rawls keeping control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Rawls is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Royce Gracie.
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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

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