PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Max Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Learmont (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Learmont is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Snoop Dogg and Young Jeezy - Wannabes. The key to victory for Max Gracie has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Gracie
vs
Learmont

173 cm
25
178 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

175 cm
21
170 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Max Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steve Learmont!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a body punch but Learmont moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gracie.

Learmont drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Learmont advances position into side control!

Learmont is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.

Learmont wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Learmont throws an elbow but Gracie slips to the side and avoids it well.

Learmont is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Learmont tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie dodges the ground and pound from Learmont.
Gracie defending against the ground and pound.

Learmont tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Learmont has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Learmont is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Learmont looks gassed!

Learmont is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet but Learmont drags him back down.
Learmont has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Learmont wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Learmont working away.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Learmont won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.

Learmont drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gracie manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Learmont has Gracie in his guard.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Learmont blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Learmont is retaining full guard.
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Learmont gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

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.

Learmont thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Learmont drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Learmont off! Learmont jumps back into Gracie's guard.

Learmont drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Learmont jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Learmont advances position into side control!
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Learmont thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Learmont dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Learmont on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Gracie throws a leg kick which misses Learmont's front leg but catches the back leg as Learmont tries to avoid it.
Learmont fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gracie slaps away a takedown attempt from Learmont, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Learmont looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Learmont throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Learmont decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Learmont scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Learmont won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Learmont drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gracie manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Learmont has Gracie in his guard.
Learmont keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Learmont won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie won't allow Learmont to sweep him here.
Gracieis looking to pass into half guard but Learmont pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Learmont is in guard.
Learmont stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Learmont is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Learmont is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Learmont is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Learmont is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Learmont passes into half guard.
Learmont uses his free foot to push down on Gracie's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gracie.
Learmont working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Learmont fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gracie can't escape the position.
Gracie tries to hold on but Learmont pushes him away.
Learmont lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gracie hang on?
Learmont works his way to his opponent's back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Learmont scores with punches from the back.

Gracie fending off the submission attempt from Learmont.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Learmont has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Gracie tries to escape but Learmont has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Learmont throwing damaging strikes from the back! Gracie could be in trouble here!

Learmont looking for the choke but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Learmont lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Learmont showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.

Learmont is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gracie's half guard.
Nice strikes from Learmont there.
Learmont is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gracie!

Learmont 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!

Learmont tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Learmont is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Learmont wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Learmont thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracie tries to buck Learmont off but Learmont is having none of it.
Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Learmont scoring with strikes.
Steve Learmont is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Learmont working the ground and pound from side control.
Learmont grinds an elbow into Gracie's temple.
Learmont landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Learmont wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Learmont is chipping away with strikes.
Learmont working the body and head with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Learmont is working to tighten is grip on Gracie's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Gracie has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Learmont is really squeezing tight and eventually Gracie passes out! Learmont breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Steve Learmont!