PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie JR (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Bernardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Gracie JR
vs
Bernardo

187 cm
24
213 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

199 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Royce Gracie JR!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jose Bernardo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie JR shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bernardo defends it nicely.
Gracie JR blocks a leg kick.
Gracie JR shoots for a takedown but Bernardo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bernardo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Gracie JR closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie JR lands in his opponent's guard.
Bernardo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie JR.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie JR would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gracie JR with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie JR wants to pass the guard but Bernardo is keeping the position.
Bernardo is trying to keep Gracie JR in close.
Bernardo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bernardo trying to advance position but Gracie JR counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie JR wants to stand but Bernardo is controlling the position.
Bernardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie JR is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie JR is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two 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.
Bernardo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie JR swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bernardo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie JR. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gracie JR keeping moving, preventing Bernardo from controlling successfully.
Gracie JR wants to get back to his feet but Bernardo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jose Bernardo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gracie JR blocks a head kick by Bernardo.
Gracie JR keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bernardo.

Gracie JR shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bernardo's guard.

Gracie JR drops back looking for a leg! Bernardo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bernardo manages to kick Gracie JR off! Gracie JR jumps back into Bernardo's guard.
Bernardo pulls Gracie JR in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie JR is looking to work some ground and pound but Bernardo has wrist control.

Gracie JR drops back looking for a leg! Bernardo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bernardo manages to kick Gracie JR off! Gracie JR jumps back into Bernardo's guard.
Gracie JR wants to stand but Bernardo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gracie JR might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie JR cracks Bernardo with a solid left hand.

Gracie JR gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Bernardo misses the shot to the body.

Gracie JR shoots in and bounces Bernardo off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Gracie JR wants to stand but Bernardo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gracie JR tries to free his leg and advance position but Bernardo is retaining full guard.
Bernardo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie JR is one step ahead there.
Gracie JR working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bernardo's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie JR dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie JR fails with a takedown attempt.
Bernardo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie JR was well out of range. Poor timing from Bernardo.
Horrible takedown by Gracie JR or perhaps it was just good defense by Bernardo which made him look bad.
Bernardo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bernardo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie JR closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bernardo circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Gracie JR. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernardo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Gracie JR throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bernardo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gracie JR is in Bernardo's guard.
Bernardo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie JR accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie JR prevents Bernardo from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie JR in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gracie JR working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie JR stopping the sweep attempt from Bernardo.
Gracie JR has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gracie JR throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bernardo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bernardo wants to sweep but no luck.
Bernardo is breathing heavily.
Gracie JR in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bernardo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie JR is controlling him.

Gracie JR decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Gracie JR moves into the clinch.
Bernardo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie JR.

Bernardo jumps guard and drags Gracie JR to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie JR makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bernardo has a closed guard, preventing Gracie JR from standing up.
Gracie JR with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bernardo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie JR is controlling him.
Gracie JR passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Gracie JR stands up and beckons Bernardo to his feet.
Gracie JR fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie JR shoots for a double leg takedown but Bernardo sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie JR's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gracie JR ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo misses with a shot to the body

and Gracie JR counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gracie JR is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bernardo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie JR stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bernardo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gracie JR wants to stand but Bernardo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gracie JR stands and throws Bernardo's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Gracie JR thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bernardo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gracie JR.
Gracie JR in side control lands a decent elbow.
Bernardo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Bernardo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie JR working the ground and pound.
Gracie JR in side control lands a decent elbow.

Gracie JR looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie JR cracks Bernardo with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Gracie JR tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Check out the look on Gracie JR's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie JR scores with punches from side control.

Gracie JR tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bernardo is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Gracie JR has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie JR dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gracie JR throws a sloppy head kick and Bernardo moves out of range easily.
Bernardo avoids the head kick by Gracie JR.
A head kick misses from Bernardo.

Gracie JR gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie JR throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Royce Gracie JR overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie JR throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bernardo tries to get to full guard but Gracie JR has control of the leg.
Gracie JR throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bernardo taking some punishment here, with Gracie JR in his half guard.
Bernardo moves into full guard.
Gracie JR landing some decent shots from guard.
Bernardo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bernardo is trying to control the position but Gracie JR postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernardo looking for a sweep. Not yet Bernardo, not yet.
Gracie JR is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gracie JR working some strikes from top position.
Gracie JR working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Gracie JR drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie JR jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie JR thows a big elbow that misses.
Gracie JR preventing the sweep.
Gracie JR with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gracie JR pushing down on Bernardo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gracie JR seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gracie JR working Bernardo over with strikes.
Bernardo is looking to control Gracie JR's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bernardo avoid being mounted?
Gracie JR lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gracie JR passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Bernardo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie JR lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bernardo hang on?
Bernardo is bucking up trying to escape but Gracie JR cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gracie JR scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bernardo?
Bernardo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie JR lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gracie JR has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Bernardo is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Royce Gracie JR!