PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raymondo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Gregory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregory has chosen Chumbawamba - English Rebel Songs as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Gracie
vs
Gregory

186 cm
27
209 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

192 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Wolfpack Blood Labs

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raymondo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Gregory!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gregory wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Gracie throws a jab when Gregory was well out of range.
Gregory defending well as Gracie loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Gregory gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gregory pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Gregory won't allow it.
Gregory tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gregory tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Gregory.
Gregory prevents a body shot from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stalling in the clinch but Gregory improves position.

Gregory pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raymondo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie misses with a hook

and Gregory moves into the clinch.

Gregory's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie throws an off balance right hand

and Gregory counters by moving into the clinch.
Gregory misses with a punch to the body.
Gregory lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A shot in the inside from Gregory.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The referee is keeping an eye on Gregory - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory lands a shoulder strike.

Gregory breaks from the clinch.
Gracie misses with a hook. Gregory ducked under it nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Gregory is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Gregory is looking to slow Gracie down with leg kicks.
Gregory tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie looks to land a right hand but Gregory moved out of range.
Gregory blocks the body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Gregory against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to control Gregory's arms but Gregory gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gracie has his back to the cage.
Gregory just leaning against Gracie, taking a breather.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Gregory breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gregory fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.
Gregory's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gracie looking to slow down the pace here.
Gregory scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory has Gracie pushed against the cage.
Gregory lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Gregory stalling in the clinch.

Gregory's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gregory on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Gregory, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Gregory against the cage but Gregory circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie misses the body punch
and Gregory counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gregory moves out of range of the leg kick from Gracie.
Gregory tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Gregory.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Gregory 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.

Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice jab there from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a left hand

and Gregory counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gregory.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gregory is keeping busy.
Gregory lands with a short shot to the head.
Gregory is leaning against Gracie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Come on Gregory - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gregory is leaning against Gracie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Gregory.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gregory just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gracie looking to slow down the pace here.
Gracie is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gracie stalling in the clinch but Gregory improves position.
Gregory tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Gregory struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Gregory will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gracie up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Gregory manages to break the clinch.
Gracie rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Gregory counters by clinching up.
Paul Gregory seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Gregory breaks from the clinch.
Gregory tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gregory staying out of range there.
Gregory tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gregory moves out of range of the body kick from Gracie.

Gregory gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Gregory breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gregory gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gregory just leaning against Gracie, taking a breather.
Gracie misses with a punch on the inside.

Gregory pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gregory slips under a jab.
Gregory wants to clinch.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Gregory dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory slips under a jab from Gracie.
Gracie thows a leg kick but Gregory checks it

and Gregory holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gregory taking a breather.
Gracie stalling in the clinch.

Gracie pulls guard successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gregory thows a big elbow that misses.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gregory manages to get himself to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gregory's guard.
Gracie is stalling here. Gregory is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gracie seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gregory has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paul Gregory will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gregory doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gregory plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gracie throws a hook to the side of Gregory's head but Gregory sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gracie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gregory tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gracie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie throws a right hand that misses

and Gregory counters by clinching up.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Gregory's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Gregory saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Raymondo 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.
Gregory stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raymondo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gregory bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gregory slips a straight right by Gracie.

Gregory moves into the clinch.
Gracie taking a breather.
Gregory is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Gracie trying to control the position but instead, Gregory has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gracie into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Still in the clinch, Gregory scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gracie is trying to stall.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gregory lands a nice uppercut.

Gregory breaks the clinch.
Gracie throws a poor cross that misses

and Gregory counters by moving into the clinch.
Gregory lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gregory just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gregory goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gregory tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gregory pressing his opponent against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gregory creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gregory walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gregory is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Gregory circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gregory.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gregory counters with a left to the body.

Gregory has managed to clinch.
Gracie has Gregory pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gregory manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gregory is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Gregory escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Raymondo Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gregory keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Gregory comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gregory winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Gregory!