PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Drexler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Gracie
vs
Drexler

220 cm
18
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Drexler!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gracie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gracie wants to stand but Drexler is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Drexler keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie wanted to stand there but Drexler had control of the position.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sam Gracie.
Drexler tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Drexler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Drexler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to avoid it but Drexler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gracie to the ground. Gracie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Gracie rushes Drexler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Drexler manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Drexler wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Drexler looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drexler trying to control the position.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sam Gracie.

Drexler gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Sam Gracie wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Drexler avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drexler closes the distance and clinches up with Gracie, looking for a takedown. Drexler pushes Gracie against the cage but Gracie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sam Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Drexler.

Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drexler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gracie working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Drexler's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck for Drexler with that takedown attempt.
Drexler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Drexler tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.

Gracie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Drexler's half guard.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drexler is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Drexler for as long as he can get away with.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sam Gracie just wasn't active enough.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Drexler was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Sam Gracie has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Drexler circles away.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Drexler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

We're going to have a standup here because Sam Gracie wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Drexler's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Drexler is retaining full guard.
Drexler working a defensive guard here.
Drexler keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie wanted to stand there but Drexler had control of the position.
Sam Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Drexler enables Gracie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Drexler manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Gracie dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie dives in and grabs Drexler's left leg, looking for a takedown. Drexler pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Drexler as he jumps to the side.
Drexler doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Drexler is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Drexler fails with the takedown.

Gracie takes the fight into the clinch.

Gracie drags the fight down to the ground.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Drexler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie has his hands on Drexler's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet but Drexler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Drexler trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gracie holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam Gracie wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gracie swinging wildly here.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drexler keeps the fight on the outside.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracie showed some decent athleticism there.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Drexler tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Drexler won't allow it.
Drexler trying to control here.
Gracie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Sam Gracie wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drexler on the ground.
Gracie is pressing down on Drexler's thigh, looking to free his foot. Drexler is holding on for now.
Drexler tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
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 Drexler's temple.
Gracie lands with a punch from half guard.
Gracie is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Drexler is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gracie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Gracie!