PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ken Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gracie
vs
Riley

185 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ken Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Riley!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
letting Riley counter with a right hand.

Riley closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gracie quickly recovers to half guard.
Riley trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.
Riley throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Riley not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Riley tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Riley missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Riley with the ground and pound but Gracie uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riley.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riley trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Riley is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Riley has escaped and now he's on top!
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riley.
Riley throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Riley is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Riley won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Riley trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Riley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Riley content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Riley stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Riley is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Riley throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Riley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Riley scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Riley postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Riley tries to pass.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Riley dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Riley rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Riley leaning his opponent against the cage.
Gracie looking for a takedown.

Riley gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Riley thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Riley is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Riley.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice strikes from Riley there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Riley seems content to control.
Riley takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Riley not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Riley wants to get back to his feet.
Riley throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Riley lands strikes from half guard.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Riley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Riley sits in half guard.
Riley thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Riley thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.
Riley tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Riley seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
Riley is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Riley seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.

Riley stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gracie enables Riley to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gracie manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gracie looking to control.
Riley throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Riley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Riley decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!

Riley has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Riley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Riley scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Riley counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Max Riley has got the better of the ground game so far.

Riley decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Riley connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Riley looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riley trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riley won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Riley is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Gracie is working an open guard so Riley takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Riley scores with a three punch combo!
Ken Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Riley lands a jab-cross combination.
Riley displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riley shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Riley finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Riley is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.
Riley missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Riley passes the guard and advances to mount!
Riley working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Riley looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ken Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riley is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Riley looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
Max Riley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Riley dominating with strikes here.
Riley looking to control and managing it successfully.
Riley lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riley content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Riley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Riley has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Riley!