PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Illidan Stormrage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stormrage
vs
Gracie

191 cm
21
218 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

191 cm
25
205 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Illidan Stormrage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlson Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stormrage gets the takedown into side control.
Gracie avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Stormrage.
Stormrage is staying tight to Gracie's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Stormrage wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Stormrage throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Stormrage taking a break here but Gracie is having none of it and regains half guard.
Stormrage with the ground and pound but Gracie uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Stormrage trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Stormrageis looking to pass into half guard but Gracie pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gracie is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stormrage uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracie showed some decent athleticism there.
Gracie is pressing down on Stormrage's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stormrage is holding on for now.
Gracie trying to control the action but Stormrage is working from the bottom.
Stormrage won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.
Stormrage keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Stormrage is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stormrage is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Gracie trying to control but Stormrage is having none of it.
Stormrage is looking to get to half guard.
Gracie wants to take Stormrage's back but he can't do it this time.
Stormrage is looking to get to half guard.
Gracie is trying to take his opponent's back.
Stormrage is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Stormrage to control.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Stormrage is trying to stand up.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Stormrage has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Stormrage is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie moves to the back position.
Gracie is trying to stick to Stormrage's back but Stormrage is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Stormrage.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Stormrage isn't so interested in that idea.

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.
Stormrage chips away with some ground and pound.
Stormrage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stormrage passes into half guard.
Stormrage is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stormrage tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Stormrage with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stormrage seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gracie for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Illidan Stormrage will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stormrage fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Stormrage fights it but they end up in guard.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Stormrage is retaining full guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Stormrage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Stormrage looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stormrage keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stormrage manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Stormrage misses with a head shot.
Stormrage fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Stormrage looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stormrage throws some wild stikes that Gracie manages to avoid easily.
Stormrage looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie tries to buck Stormrage off but he can't manage it.
Stormrage throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Stormrage in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gracie is in a horrible position here. Stormrage smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Illidan Stormrage overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Stormrage misses with a head shot.
Stormrage putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stormrage tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stormrage with shots to the head and body - Gracie looks very uncomfortable down there.

Stormrage goes for an armbar but Gracie turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gracie.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Stormrage keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Stormrage manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Stormrage shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stormrage working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stormrage wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Stormrage thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Gracie to regain full guard.
Stormrage controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stormrage wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
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.

Illidan Stormrage dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stormrage has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stormrage won't be happy with that.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stormrage keeps working.
Stormrage is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!
Stormrage controlling from the back.
Stormrage throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Stormrage lands punches and elbows.
Stormrage is looking to control Gracie but Gracie is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Gracie is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Will Stormrage go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Stormrage working for the choke.
Gracie is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Stormrage throwing sloppy strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stormrage throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Can Gracie hold on?! Stormrage is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Stormrage.
Stormrage looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Stormrage struggling to land strikes to the head as Gracie covers up.
Gracie manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stormrageis looking to pass into half guard but Gracie pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gracie is in guard.
Gracie prevents Stormrage from getting back to his feet.
Stormrage can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stormrage works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stormrage is keeping the position for now.
Stormrage is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Stormrage is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Stormrage wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Carlson Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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 passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gracie in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gracie cracks Stormrage with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stormrage is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie working away.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stormrage, who protects the arm well.
The ground and pound from Gracie seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Illidan Stormrage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stormrage manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stormrage blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Stormrage is controlling Gracie's trapped leg to prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.

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 Illidan Stormrage.
Well Stormrage has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Illidan Stormrage!