PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentin Hristov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Gracie is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Gracie
vs
Hristov

188 cm
25
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
220 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
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 3 - 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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Valentin Hristov!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Hristov as Gracie shoots in.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hristov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Hristov shows good takedown defense.
Hristov tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Hristov stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hristov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hristov trying to control the position.
Hristov trying to control the position here.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hristov is keeping the position for now.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Hristov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hristov manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Hristov's guard.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Hristov is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Hristov is retaining full guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Hristov keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hristov rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Hristov is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hristov down to the mat. Hristov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Hristov.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Valentin Hristov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hristov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie shoots in but Hristov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Hristov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hristov lands a knee to the head.
Gracie wants a takedown.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Hristov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Hristov landing knees to the head.
Hristov tries to stall but Gracie uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hristov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Hristov landing knees to the head.
Hristov lands a knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hristov stalls.
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gracie is working for takedown but Hristov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knees to the body from Hristov.
Hristov lands a good knee to the midsection. Gracie won't want to take too many of those.
Hristov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hristov prevents it.
Hristov with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Hristov dominated that round.
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.

Hristov tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Hristov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gracie shoots in but Hristov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hristov moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Hristov fails with an attempt to clinch.
John Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hristov tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Hristov sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hristov takes the fight into the clinch.
Hristov with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hristov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hristov looking to stall.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hristov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
Hristov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hristov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hristov landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Hristov with a knee to the head.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie jumps guard but Hristov stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hristov just leaning against Gracie, taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Hristov holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hristov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hristov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gracie trying to control the position but instead, Hristov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gracie into the cage.
Hristov has Gracie pushed against the cage.
Hristov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Gracie jumps guard.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Hristov controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Hristov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hristov avoids it really well and circles away.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hristov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hristov tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Hristov drives through and clinches with Gracie against the cage.
Gracie jumps guard but Hristov stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hristov as Gracie tries to tie him up.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hristov prevents it.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Knees to the body from Hristov.
Hristov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hristov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hristov walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hristov is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Hristov which made him look bad.
Hristov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hristov as he avoids it easily.

Hristov moves into the clinch.
Valentin Hristov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hristov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hristov.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hristov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
Hristov taking a breather.
Hristov lands a knee to the body.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hristov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Hristov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Hristov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
John Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hristov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hristov smiles and moves away.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hristov circles away.
Hristov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Hristov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Valentin Hristov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hristov clinches.
Hristov prevents the takedown attempt.
Gracie misses with a body punch.
Come on Hristov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hristov prevents a body shot from Gracie.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentin Hristov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hristov 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentin Hristov!