PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between DJ Early (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Early comes into the arena with Trivium - Kirisute Gomen blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Early
vs
Gracie

165 cm
22
141 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Intelligent

Bushido Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, DJ Early!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Helio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Early pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Early 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.
Early is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Early keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Early is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie wants to control but Early is keeping him busy.
Early gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Early tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Early is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Early misses with an uppercut. Gracie saw that one coming.
Early throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Early throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Early pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Early pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Early throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Early throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Early throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
A punch combination from Early misses.
Gracie steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Early. That one must have hurt.
Early throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Early throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Early is breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Early misses.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Early misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Early ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Early misses with a hook.
Early rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Early throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two 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.
Early throws a right and a left that both miss.

Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Early sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gracie stalling.
Gracie works his way into full mount!
Gracie trying to control but Early is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but Early is having none of it.

Gracie has control of Early's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Early regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Early is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie looking to control but Early is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Early is holding on tight.
Early keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Early is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Early really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie is trying to take his opponent's back.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Early is in no mood to give 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.

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Early is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.
Early can't escape the position.

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Early is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.
Early tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Early is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Early has given up his back. Will we see Gracie going for some submissions?
Early tries to escape the position.

Gracie has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Gracie trying to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Early misses with a double jab.
Early throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Early fails in his attempt to clinch.
Early will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The fighters circling - Early throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
DJ Early seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie moves out of range as Early strikes.
Early throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Early tries to score with a low kick but Gracie moves his leg out of the way.
A head kick misses from Early.
Early pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Early pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Early is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie trying to control the position but Early is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Early is defending well.
Early is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Early wants to get back to full guard but Gracie has mounted him!
Gracie wants to take Early's back here but Early is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Early tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Early is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Early sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Early manages to get to full guard.

Early has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Early manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.

Early is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gracie can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Early moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Gracie has worked his arm free - good work by Gracie!
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Early looks to land a strike but Gracie avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Early gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Early is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gracie has his feet on Early's thighs here. He's pushed Early off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Early screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Helio Gracie!