PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abu Al Zarqawi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Roger Gracie has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Gracie
vs
Al Zarqawi

188 cm
24
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
195 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roger Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abu Al Zarqawi!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gracie throws a low kick but it's checked well by Al Zarqawi.
Gracie walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Al Zarqawi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Zarqawi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Al Zarqawi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Al Zarqawi keeps it at a distance.
Al Zarqawi throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Roger Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Al Zarqawi counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
An elbow from Al Zarqawi crashes against the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Zarqawi cracks Gracie with a big right hand but Gracie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Al Zarqawi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Check out the look on Al Zarqawi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Al Zarqawi in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Al Zarqawi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Al Zarqawi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi slows the pace down.
Gracie is working to avoid the ground and pound but Al Zarqawi connects with a decent elbow.

Al Zarqawi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Al Zarqawi is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Al Zarqawi wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.
Al Zarqawi lands with a punch from half guard.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Al Zarqawi sits in half guard.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Al Zarqawi pulls his head out easily.
Al Zarqawi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Al Zarqawi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Al Zarqawi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Al Zarqawi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Al Zarqawi.
Al Zarqawi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Al Zarqawi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Al Zarqawi counters with a takedown into side control.
Al Zarqawi wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie parries the strikes from Al Zarqawi easily there. Al Zarqawi is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gracie to escape.
Gracie gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Al Zarqawi looking for a guillotine from mount but Gracie is having none of it.
Al Zarqawi trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Zarqawi swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Gracie is now in Al Zarqawi's guard. A big mistake from Al Zarqawi there, giving up the dominant position!
Al Zarqawi working a defensive guard here.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Al Zarqawi is retaining full guard.
Al Zarqawi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.
Al Zarqawi trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Al Zarqawi looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Al Zarqawi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Al Zarqawi looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Al Zarqawi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Al Zarqawi is looking for the choke from the back position but Gracie is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie can't escape the position.
A lull in the action here.

Al Zarqawi working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Gracie is in a bad position with Al Zarqawi working for a choke. Gracie manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Al Zarqawi wants to sweep but no luck.
Al Zarqawi keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

Al Zarqawi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Al Zarqawi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gracie chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Al Zarqawi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Al Zarqawi wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie tries to roll over but Al Zarqawi keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.

Al Zarqawi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.

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 Al Zarqawi. Oh but Gracie has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Al Zarqawi goes limp - he's gone! Gracie jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Roger Gracie!