PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thanks Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Villalobos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Gracie
vs
Villalobos

180 cm
25
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thanks Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Santiago Villalobos!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villalobos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Villalobos moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie just leaning against Villalobos, taking a breather.
Villalobos wants a takedown but no success here.
Villalobos is working for takedown but Gracie is calmly controlling the position for now.
Villalobos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Santiago Villalobos has been cut.
Gracie just leaning against Villalobos, taking a breather.

Villalobos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Villalobos tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie lands a nice looking body shot.
Villalobos tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Villalobos is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Villalobos avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Villalobos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gracie darts in and clinches Villalobos up against the cage.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Villalobos breaks from the clinch.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gracie instigates a clinch.
Gracie is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Villalobos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gracie.

Gracie moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villalobos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Villalobos can't get the takedown.
Thanks Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Villalobos.
Villalobos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gracie gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Villalobos has Gracie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gracie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie misses with an elbow over the top.
Gracie looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Villalobos creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.

Villalobos breaks the clinch.
Gracie lands an overhand right.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Villalobos is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gracie creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Gracie slowing the pace effectively.

Villalobos manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Villalobos.
Villalobos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gracie sprawls well. Gracie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Villalobos gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Villalobos tries a head kick but it misses.
Horrible takedown by Villalobos or perhaps it was just good defense by Gracie which made him look bad.

Gracie clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gracie just misses with a elbow thrown towards Villalobos's brow.
Villalobos looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie slows down the pace here.
Gracie lands a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gracie just misses with a elbow thrown towards Villalobos's brow.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie lands a slapping body shot.

Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Villalobos comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Gracie breaks the clinch.
Gracie misses with an attempted mid kick.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.

Villalobos breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Villalobos tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Villalobos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Villalobos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Villalobos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Villalobos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gracie avoids it really well and circles away.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Villalobos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie throws a shot to the body.
Gracie scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Gracie lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Gracie pushes Villalobos up against the cage in a clinch.
Villalobos wants a takedown but no success here.
Villalobos wants to break the clinch but can't.
Villalobos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gracie using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Villalobos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Villalobos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gracie avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Villalobos looks gassed!
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Villalobos is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie prevents Villalobos from breaking the clinch.
Villalobos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gracie prevents it.
Villalobos tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie connects with a knee to the head.
Gracie misses with a knee strike.
Gracie has Villalobos pushed against the cage.

Villalobos jumps guard and drags Gracie to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie scoring with some ground and pound.

Gracie gets to his feet - Villalobos follows without any prompting.

Gracie darts in and clinches Villalobos up against the cage.
Villalobos stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.

Villalobos successfully pulls guard.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Villalobos has a closed guard, preventing Gracie from standing up.

Villalobos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thanks Gracie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Santiago Villalobos's cut.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Villalobos keeps the fight on the outside.
Santiago Villalobos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Gracie.

Villalobos moves into the clinch.
Gracie lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie displaying some good clinch control by pressing Villalobos up against the cage.
Gracie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Villalobos blocks it with crossed arms.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Villalobos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gracie gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Villalobos tries to pull guard but Gracie won't allow it.
Gracie prevents Villalobos from breaking the clinch.
Villalobos wants to get back to striking at distance but Gracie won't allow it.
Gracie stalling in the clinch.

Villalobos manages to break the clinch.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Villalobos against the cage.
Gracie slows down the pace here.
Gracie misses with an elbow strike.

Villalobos manages to break the clinch.
Gracie throws a body kick that misses.
Gracie throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gracie is looking to wear down Villalobos with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Villalobos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Villalobos.

Gracie gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gracie stops a takedown attempt from Villalobos.
Thanks Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Villalobos.
Villalobos is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gracie is keeping busy.

Villalobos breaks from the clinch.
Thanks Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Villalobos tries to keep at a distance but Gracie has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gracie lands a damaging elbow.
A frustrated look appears on Villalobos's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Villalobos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Villalobos is trying to break free.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gracie throws an elbow but misses.
Gracie creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Villalobos's defenses.
Villalobos letting Gracie take a breather here.
Gracie landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Villalobos is breathing heavily.
Villalobos takes a knee right on the jaw!
Villalobos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gracie is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Gracie decides to pull guard.
Villalobos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gracie tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villalobos trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Villalobos throws a big right hand that misses.
Villalobos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Villalobos 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 wants to stand and escape but Villalobos is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Villalobos thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Villalobos wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Villalobos stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Villalobos fails with the takedown.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Villalobos against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Villalobos breaks from the clinch.
Villalobos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Gracie has managed to clinch.
Villalobos tries to score a body lock takedown but Gracie shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Villalobos takes a shot to the head.
Villalobos avoids the elbow strike from Gracie, against the cage.
Villalobos has Gracie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gracie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie throws a knee to the head but misses.

Villalobos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Villalobos's calf.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gracie swings for the body but Villalobos moves out of range.
Villalobos tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gracie counters by clinching up.
Villalobos wants a takedown.
Gracie stalling in the clinch.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gracie moves into range and clinches up with Villalobos.
Villalobos looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Villalobos pulls guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thanks Gracie dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Santiago Villalobos's cut.
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 tries to clinch but Villalobos moves out of range.
Villalobos shoots for a takedown but Gracie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gracie, right into the meat.
Villalobos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Villalobos takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Villalobos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Villalobos misses with a takedown attempt - Gracie sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thanks Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Villalobos.

Gracie clinches with his opponent.
Villalobos blocks an elbow strike.
Nice body punch from Gracie - that landed with a thud.
Villalobos blocks an elbow strike from Gracie.
Gracie throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Villalobos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Villalobos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Villalobos wants it to stay on the feet.
Villalobos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Villalobos tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Gracie takes the fight into the clinch.
Thanks Gracie has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villalobos wants to break free but Gracie has control.
Villalobos missing with knees to the body.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Villalobos is blocking nicely.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but Villalobos blocks with his arms.
Villalobos blocks an elbow strike.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Villalobos is blocking nicely.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but Villalobos blocks it.
Villalobos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gracie smiles and moves away.
Gracie takes a swing at Villalobos's ribcage but misses.
Gracie leaves Villalobos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Villalobos wants to clinch.
Villalobos swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Gracie pushes off an throws an elbow but Villalobos leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thanks Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Villalobos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Villalobos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Villalobos wants to break the clinch but can't.

Villalobos breaks the clinch.

Gracie darts in and clinches Villalobos up against the cage.
Gracie wants to stall.
Villalobos can't break the clinch.
Villalobos dodges an elbow strike from Gracie.
Villalobos wants a takedown.
Villalobos looking for a takedown.
Villalobos is trying to break the clinch but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Villalobos can't break the clinch.
Villalobos tries to score a body lock takedown but Gracie shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gracie lands an elbow inside that Villalobos shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villalobos working hard to break the clinch.
Villalobos tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gracie lands a knee to the head.
Gracie keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Villalobos's efforts to push away.
Villalobos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gracie prevents it.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Villalobos is blocking nicely.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Villalobos gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gracie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santiago Villalobos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Villalobos has had enough of the clinch but Gracie keeps him there for the moment.
Gracie prevents the takedown attempt.
Gracie keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Villalobos's efforts to push away.
Villalobos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
The referee calls for Gracie to work.
Gracie keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Villalobos's efforts to push away.
Villalobos blocks an elbow strike from Gracie.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Villalobos tries for a takedown but Gracie manages to get underhooks.

Gracie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Villalobos wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thanks Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thanks Gracie!