PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grigor Borisov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ren Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Grigor Borisov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Borisov
vs
Gracie

185 cm
24
200 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

188 cm
24
194 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Good kicks
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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grigor Borisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ren Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Borisov swings widly with a right hand

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Borisov's guard now.
Borisov has momentary wrist control but Gracie slips an elbow through the middle.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Borisov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Borisov is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Gracie trying to control but Borisov is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Borisov is retaining full guard.
Gracie pushing down on Borisov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gracie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Borisov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Borisov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is working for a guillotine from mount but Borisov frees his head quite easily.
Gracie postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Borisov looks a forlorn figure.
BOOM! Gracie connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gracie avoids the attempt from Borisov to control.
Gracie with good strikes from the mount here!
BOOM! Gracie connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gracie lands a heavy elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Gracie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a big shot there that rocks Borisov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gracie looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gracie has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Borisov's face.

Gracie is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Borisov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Borisov!
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has Borisov pulled in close to control his posture.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gracie keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Borisov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gracie looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie wants to control but Borisov is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borisov is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Borisov avoid being mounted?
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gracie passes the guard and advances to mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gracie cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gracie cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Borisov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Gracie has hold of Borisov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Borisov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Borisov is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie wants to control but Borisov has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ren Gracie dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Borisov. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Borisov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Borisov sprawls well.
Borisov throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Borisov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Grigor Borisov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ren Gracie.
Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A shot to the body from Borisov misses
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Borisov.
Borisov throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Borisov throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Borisov thuds his right hand into Gracie's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Borisov pinned against the cage. Borisov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Borisov is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Borisov circles away and we're back to standing.
Borisov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Borisov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Borisov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Borisov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Ren Gracie has been cut.
Borisov throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Borisov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
Borisov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie. Gracie circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gracie lands with a right hand.
Borisov scores with a body shot.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Borisov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Borisov looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Borisov.
Borisov throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Borisov.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on Borisov's shoulder, as Borisov tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borisov throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Borisov throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Gracie shoots in and bounces Borisov off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Borisov looking for a sweep. Not yet Borisov, not yet.
Gracie is in close to Borisov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Borisov keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Borisov's head.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Borisov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is pushing down on Borisov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Borisov is fighting to maintain full guard but Gracie has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Borisov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gracie scores with a couple of nice shots.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gracie connects with a nice short shot to Borisov's temple.

Borisov is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.

Gracie is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Borisov to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Borisov working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Borisov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Borisov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Grigor Borisov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ren Gracie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Borisov is trying to defend but Gracie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gracie moves into full mount! Borisov won't be happy about that!
Gracie connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Borisov is trying to escape the mount.
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
Gracie looking to control but Borisov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
Ren Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Borisov taking shots to the head.
Gracie lands a big shot there that rocks Borisov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gracie fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Borisov taking shots to the head.
Borisov is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
BOOM! Gracie connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Borisov is working to get back to half guard.
Gracie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to finish Borisov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Borisov!
Gracie punishing his opponent with strikes.

Gracie is working for a guillotine from mount but Borisov frees his head quite easily.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
Gracie is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Borisov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Gracie raining down shots from the mount!
Gracie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but Borisov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Borisov hang on?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gracie cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Gracie is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ren Gracie!