PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Dexter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Gracia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dexter comes to the cage accompanied by The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter. Gracia has chosen The Last Fight as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Jose Gracia will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Dexter
vs
Gracia

186 cm
26
203 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
28
212 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite 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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Dexter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jose Gracia!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dexter fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracia tries to clinch there but Dexter circles away.
Gracia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dexter circles away from the clinch attempt

and Dexter counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dexter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracia is in trouble now - Dexter has advanced to mount!
Dexter throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Dexter is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gracia to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gracia shrugs it off.
Dexter trying to control but he's not successful this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dexter scoring with strikes but Gracia is staying in there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dexter landing strikes from the mount.
Dexter tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Dexter can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracia is looking to escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gracia can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dexter throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Gracia is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Gracia is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Dexter looking to ground and pound but Gracia is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dexter thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Dexter fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dexter throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gracia because Dexter loaded up on that one.
Dexter dominating with strikes here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dexter can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracia is looking to escape.

Dexter has hold of Gracia's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gracia manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dexter misses with a head shot.
Dexter sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Dexter wants to finish this one by submission but Gracia is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Dexter.
Dexter throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dexter punching from mount but Gracia doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Dexter misses with a head shot.

Dexter looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracia blocking the ground and pound.
Gracia really wants to buck Dexter off and get back to his feet.
Dexter throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Dexter throwing strikes here but Gracia is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Dexter raining down hammerfists from mount.
Gracia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dexter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dexter jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gracia manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Dexter misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Dexter 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.

Gracia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dexter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dexter will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gracia doesn't manage to clinch there - Dexter circles away.
Gracia lands with a straight right. Dexter didn't see that one coming.
Gracia tries to clinch but Dexter is having none of it.
Dexter swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracia.
Gracia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracia lands a high kick!
Gracia checks a low kick from Dexter.
Gracia scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gracia tries to clinch there but Dexter circles away.
Dexter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Dexter fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracia sprawls well initially but Dexter persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Dexter is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dexter.
Dexter has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracia is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Dexter has control of Gracia's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gracia regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Dexter looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dexter jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gracia manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Dexter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracia has escaped the position, nice work there.

Dexter working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dexter is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracia is defending well.
Gracia managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dexter.
Dexter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracia keeps working.
An elbow from Dexter crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dexter looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gracia is avoiding damage well.
The strikes coming from Dexter are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dexter working the ground and pound but Gracia is defending the strikes.

Dexter tries for a kimura but Gracia is defending well.

Dexter is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracia is defending well.
Dexter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracia keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Dexter dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gracia tries to clinch but Dexter is having none of it.
Gracia tries to clinch up.
Gracia scores with a head kick. Dexter tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gracia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracia fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Dexter.
Gracia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dexter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jose Gracia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dexter closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gracia did well to prevent Dexter getting side control.
Matt Dexter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dexter stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Dexter swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracia.
Gracia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dexter.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dexter.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Gracia. No joy for Dexter on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Dexter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dexter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dexter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dexter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Dexter misses its intended target.
Gracia is looking to clinch but Dexter is avoiding it.
Dexter keeps the fight on the outside.
Dexter throws a nice looking combination but Gracia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracia tries to clinch there but Dexter circles away.
Gracia throws a head kick that Dexter semi-blocks.
Gracia throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dexter's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dexter fails with a takedown attempt.
Dexter thows a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracia is looking to clinch.
Gracia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jose Gracia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dexter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracia throws a head kick that Dexter semi-blocks.
Gracia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gracia wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracia moves in looking to clinch but Dexter pushes him off.
Gracia tries to clinch but Dexter moves out of range.

Gracia has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracia with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dexter blocks it with crossed arms.
Dexter wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gracia pushes off an throws an elbow but Dexter leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gracia keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dexter's efforts to push away.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gracia throws an elbow but misses.
Gracia connects with a knee to the head.
Dexter is trying to force a seperation but Gracia has the dominant position.
Gracia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dexter wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jose Gracia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracia misses with a knee strike.
Dexter is trying to push Gracia away but Gracia has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Dexter dodges an elbow strike from Gracia.
Dexter takes an elbow to the temple.

Dexter is rocked!
Dexter is pressed against the cage. Gracia pushes back and unleashes a big elbow that really hurts Dexter! Two more big strikes from Gracia and Dexter crumples to the mat and taps out furiously due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Jose Gracia!