PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mahammed Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Sanchez

179 cm
25
180 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

183 cm
24
179 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mahammed Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rico Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchez drives through and clinches with Gracie against the cage.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Sanchez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Sanchez clinches.
Sanchez connects with a knee to the head.
Sanchez lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie jumps guard but Sanchez stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sanchez lands with a right to the head.
Sanchez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Sanchez lands a damaging elbow.
Gracie is trying to drag Sanchez to the mat but Sanchez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mahammed Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gracie takes a shot to the head.
Sanchez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sanchez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sanchez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sanchez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gracie is working for takedown but Sanchez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Gracie 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a nice shot to the body.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sanchez.
Sanchez is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sanchez down to the mat. Sanchez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mahammed Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sanchez takes the fight into the clinch.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Sanchez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gracie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sanchez.
Gracie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sanchez pulls his leg out and moves away.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches.
Sanchez lands with a left to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sanchez obliges.
Sanchez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gracies head.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Gracie 's eye.
Sanchez pushes Gracie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sanchez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nice body punch from Sanchez - that landed with a thud.
Sanchez scores with a shoulder strike.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Gracie's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Sanchez.
Sanchez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sanchez lands a right hand.
A short body shot lands from Sanchez as the two fighters clinch.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
Sanchez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sanchez working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sanchez lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sanchez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sanchez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sanchez lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Sanchez lands a nice uppercut.
Sanchez lands a body punch.
Sanchez lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sanchez is working Gracie over against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a nice knee to the body.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Sanchez.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sanchez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gracie takes an elbow to the temple.
Sanchez with a knee to the head.
Sanchez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Sanchez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sanchez landing knees to the body.
Sanchez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.

Gracie lands a takedown into guard.
Sanchez controlling Gracie's posture.
Gracie won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie advances position into side control!
Gracie throws a strike aimed at the side of Sanchez's head but Sanchez avoids it well.
Sanchez wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Sanchez defending against the ground and pound.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sanchez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sanchez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie moves into full mount! Sanchez won't be happy about that!

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Sanchez defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Sanchez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A nice inside leg kick there by Sanchez. That's going to slow Gracie down.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanchez but Sanchez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sanchez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mahammed Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches.
Sanchez lands with a light punch inside.
Sanchez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gracie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sanchez crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Sanchez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Sanchez lands a nice shot to the body.
Sanchez lands a shoulder strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie takes an elbow to the temple.
Rico Sanchez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Gracie 's eye.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Sanchez lands with a right to the head.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sanchez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sanchez scores with a shoulder strike.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sanchez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gracie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sanchez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Sanchez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sanchez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sanchez misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mahammed Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sanchez instigates a clinch.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sanchez lands a damaging elbow.
Sanchez stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sanchez pushes Gracie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Sanchez manages to get underhooks.
Sanchez connects with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.
Sanchez pushes off an throws an elbow but Gracie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sanchez pushes off an throws an elbow but Gracie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sanchez misses with an elbow over the top.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanchez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses.
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sanchez sprawls well. Sanchez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanchez throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Sanchez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.

Sanchez takes the fight into the clinch.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.
Sanchez connects with a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sanchez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gracie wants a takedown.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sanchez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gracie avoids a wild elbow strike from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.

Gracie has Sanchez pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gracie pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sanchez tumbling to the mat - Gracie dives into Sanchez's guard.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A lazy left from Sanchez finds it's target.
A head kick from Sanchez lands but Gracie takes it in his stride.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Sanchez sprawls well.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sanchez.
Gracie walks into a straight right hand from Sanchez.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sanchez is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Sanchez circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanchez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sanchez scores with a three punch combo!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Sanchez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ground and pound from Gracie seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracie scores with punches from side control.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sanchez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sanchez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is defending well.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mahammed Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sanchez defending well though.
Sanchez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Sanchez trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sanchez's head.
Sanchez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Sanchez still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Sanchez has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Sanchez works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sanchez off and has taken his back!
Sanchez trying to control the position but Gracie manages to sink in the hooks.
Gracie controlling well, preventing Sanchez from escaping the position.
Gracie is striking well from the back but Sanchez escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rico Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Sanchez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Sanchez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Sanchez gets full guard.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sanchez dives on top into guard.
Sanchez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanchez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.
Sanchez is pushing down on Gracie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gracie is fighting to maintain full guard but Sanchez has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sanchez trying to control the pace.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanchez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Sanchez!