PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bad News (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Gravelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gravelli has chosen 3 Shades of Black by Hank Williams III as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

News
vs
Gravelli

185 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bad News!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Gravelli!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Lou da Vinci and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
News shoots in but Gravelli avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gravelli 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.
News tries to close the distance and clinch but Gravelli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gravelli shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gravelli wants to control but News is keeping him busy.
Gravelli controlling the action here.

News looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gravelli is looking to take a break and control but News is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gravelli wants to get back to his feet.
News is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gravelli escapes and gets back to his feet.
Gravelli swats away the attempt to clinch by News.
Bad News seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
News misses with a series of wild punches.
News tries for a takedown but Gravelli circles away easily

and Gravelli moves into the clinch.
News drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bad News. That's going to take a lot out of him.
News is breathing heavily.
Gravelli has News pushed against the cage.
Gravelli is trying to break free.

Gravelli pulls guard successfully.
News looking to pass the guard.
Gravelli controlling News's posture.

Gravelli pushes News off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
News stuffs the takedown attempt from Gravelli. Gravelli gets slowly back to his feet.
News with a poor takedown

and Gravelli counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gravelli is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Gravelli tightens his grip and picks News up, before dumping him to the ground. News manages to land in guard.
Gravelli seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
News keeping moving, preventing Gravelli from controlling successfully.
Gravelli stays in close to News's body and controls the position.
Gravelli passes into half guard.
Gravelli trying to control from half guard but News is working away.
News makes his way to full guard. A much better position for News.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gravelli slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gravelli drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gravelli jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gravelli sitting in guard here, content to control.
I looks like Gravelli might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Gravelli trying to control but News is working from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Antonio Gravelli just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gravelli moves into range and clinches up with News.
Knees to the body from Gravelli.

Gravelli manages to break the clinch.
Gravelli feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to News's calf.

Gravelli has closed the distance and engaged News in a clinch.

News pulls guard successfully.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

News had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gravelli is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. News Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gravelli's back instead.

News is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gravelli knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gravelli for a finish.
Gravelli really doesn't want to stay on the ground with News. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
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!

News is persistently looking for the submission but Gravelli is defending it well.
News doesn't have the hooks in and Gravelli manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gravelli trying to control the position from guard on top but News is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Gravelli gets to his feet. News looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Gravelli dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A punch combination from News misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gravelli.
News with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gravelli counters with a nice double leg into side control. News won't be happy with that.
News is not content to let Gravelli control the position.

Gravelli decides to stand back up. Gravelli steps back and let's News get back to his feet.
News clinches but Gravelli breaks the clinch

and Gravelli counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for News!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
News tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gravelli unloads with some shots from mount but News bucks and avoids them well.
News sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
News regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gravelli stopping the sweep attempt from News.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gravelli's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gravelli is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
News will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Gravelli stands up and waves to News to follow him.
Gravelli tries to clinch but News moves out of range.
News takes a head kick and keeps coming.
News misses with a takedown

and Gravelli moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gravelli breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
News doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gravelli counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bad News. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gravelli passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for News!
Gravelli takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gravelli cracks News with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
News is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gravelli landing strikes from the mount.
News can't escape the position.
Gravelli looking to control and managing it successfully.
News is squirming around, avoiding Gravelli's attempts to control the action.
News tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gravelli trying to control but News is having none of it.
Antonio Gravelli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gravelli takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gravelli misses with punches from the back.

Gravelli looking to break News's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. News remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gravelli will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
News breaks Gravelli's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Gravelli looking to control.
News preventing the sweep.
Gravelli tries to strike from the bottom.

Gravelli throws his legs up looking for a submission but News uses it to pass to side control.

News tries for a kimura but Gravelli is defending well.
Gravelli regains half guard.
News wants to pass the guard but Gravelli is defending well.
Gravelli wants to get back to full guard.
Gravelli controlling the position for now.
News tries to pass to full mount but Gravelli defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gravelli holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Gravelli is in trouble now - News has advanced to mount!
Gravelli is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

News get's back to his feet.
News fails with the takedown

and Gravelli counters with a nice double leg into side control. News won't be happy with that.
News manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gravelli is trying to control but can't.
Gravelli desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Gravelli wants to control but News is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gravelli moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Gravelli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gravelli with a lazy takedown attempt

and News counters by clinching up.
Gravelli lands a shoulder strike.

Gravelli breaks from the clinch.
Gravelli throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around News's waist but News gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gravelli off to one side.
Gravelli misses with a takedown

and News counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bad News has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Gravelli.
News wants to control from the top but Gravelli keeps moving.
News postures up.
Gravelli wants to stand and escape but News is having none of it.
Gravelli wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and News is now in half guard.
Gravelli is pressing down on News's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
News wants to control from the top but Gravelli keeps moving.
Gravelli has his hands on News's head, controlling the position.

Gravelli is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gravelli throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gravelli trying to control the position.
News wants to get up but he can't break Gravelli's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
News wants to control from the top but Gravelli keeps moving.

News thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gravelli is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

News drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and News jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gravelli has News pulled in close to control his posture.

Gravelli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. News gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gravelli is trying to keep News in close.
Gravelli looking to hit a scissor sweep but News is one step ahead there.
Gravelli not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
News trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

News shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. News showed some decent athleticism there.
News works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
News prevents Gravelli from escaping the position.
Gravelli can't do much from the bottom here.

News in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Gravelli is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Bad News!