PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Don Geronimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakuraba Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Geronimo comes to the cage accompanied by "War," by Edwin Starr. Gracie has chosen Gimme Shelter as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Geronimo
vs
Gracie

178 cm
28
189 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

180 cm
28
194 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Geronimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sakuraba Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Geronimo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gracie manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Gracie has his foot on Geronimo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Geronimo works his way back into a safe position though.

Geronimo 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.
Geronimo won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Geronimo defends easily.
Geronimo wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Geronimo is aware though and is defending well.
Geronimo wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Geronimo controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Geronimo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.

Geronimo stands up and waves to Gracie to follow him.

Geronimo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Geronimo tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Geronimo defends it easily.

Geronimo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Geronimo from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Geronimo wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Geronimo trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie looks gassed!

Geronimo 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 Geronimo has Gracie in his guard.
Gracie stops Geronimo from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Geronimo 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.

Geronimo wriggles free and stands up.

Geronimo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Geronimo 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.
Geronimo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Geronimo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Geronimo has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.

Geronimo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Geronimo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Geronimo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Geronimo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Geronimo tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Geronimo from standing up.

Geronimo 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.

Geronimo stands up from Gracie's guard - Geronimo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Geronimo pinned against the cage. Geronimo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Geronimo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Geronimo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Geronimo is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Geronimo seems to be looking for submissions.
Geronimo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Geronimo is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.

Geronimo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Geronimo seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Geronimo is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Geronimo tries to stand but can't do so whilst Gracie controls his leg.

Gracie has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Geronimo. Oh but Gracie has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Geronimo goes limp - he's gone! Gracie jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sakuraba Gracie!