PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Roberts's choice of entrance music: Go to Sleep. This should be fireworks!

Gracie
vs
Roberts

160 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
28
183 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rickson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jake Roberts!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roberts closes the distance and clinches.

Roberts manages to break the clinch.
Roberts throws a combination. Gracie tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Roberts defends it nicely.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Roberts gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Roberts has Gracie pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Roberts pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gracie tumbling to the mat - Roberts dives into Gracie's guard.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Roberts tries to pass.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roberts gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie controls Roberts momentarily but Roberts frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts cracks Gracie with a solid left hand.
Roberts postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Roberts slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Roberts advances position into side control!

Roberts working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts scoring with punches and elbows.
Gracie is trying to control Roberts's posture but Roberts avoids it.
Roberts trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Roberts off and has taken his back!
Roberts controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Roberts trying to control the hands but Gracie won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roberts manages to stand up with Gracie still on his back. Eventually Gracie drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Roberts keeps it at a distance.
Roberts lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Jake Roberts is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Roberts scores with a head kick.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Roberts as he jumps to the side.
Roberts circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Roberts moves away and avoids it.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Roberts sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Roberts takes the fight into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Roberts.

Roberts's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roberts lands with a thumping leg kick.
Roberts throws a head kick that half lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roberts stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Roberts wants it to stay on the feet.

Roberts moves into the clinch.
Roberts is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Roberts tightens his grip and picks Gracie up, before dumping him to the ground. Gracie manages to land in guard.
Roberts trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Roberts trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Roberts passes into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Roberts is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Roberts throws a one two combo.
Jake Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Left hook, right uppercut from Roberts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Roberts sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Roberts sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Roberts scores with a kick to the midsection.
Roberts lands with a slapping head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Roberts closes the distance and clinches.

Gracie is fighting off a takedown attempt but Roberts is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gracie to the mat. Gracie regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Roberts chips away with some ground and pound.
Roberts 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.
Roberts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Roberts might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jake Roberts was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nice takedown defense from Roberts. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Roberts connects with a high kick.
Gracie on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Roberts ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Roberts.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Roberts stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Roberts lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Roberts steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Roberts lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gracie looks for a takedown but Roberts sprawls well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Roberts throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Roberts lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Roberts swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Roberts closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Roberts smiles and moves away.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Roberts lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Roberts.
Roberts takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gracie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Roberts thumps Gracie with a low kick.
Roberts looks to land a combination. Gracie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Roberts is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Roberts circles away and we're back to standing.

Roberts fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.

Roberts is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gracie can't fight it off and eventually Roberts manages to take the fight to the floor. Gracie looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Roberts trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie working for a triangle but Roberts defends it easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Roberts slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts slips nicely into half guard.
Roberts scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Roberts throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Roberts is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Roberts eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Roberts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Roberts which made him look bad.

Roberts moves into the clinch.

Roberts manages to break the clinch.
Gracie is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Roberts's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Roberts clinches with his opponent.
Roberts has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Roberts works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roberts is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie looking to control.
Roberts thows a big elbow that misses.
Roberts working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Roberts trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie wants to control the position but Roberts says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roberts throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Roberts has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Roberts looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Roberts sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Roberts in particular looking to stall.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roberts pulls his head out easily.
Roberts working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Roberts wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie is not content to let Roberts control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Roberts is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Roberts is pushing down on Gracie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gracie is fighting to maintain full guard but Roberts has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gracie trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Gracie regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.

Roberts is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Roberts content to control rather than advance.
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. Roberts connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Jake Roberts is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to roll over but Roberts keeps him under control.
Roberts takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Roberts is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.
Jake Roberts has got the better of the ground game so far.

Roberts is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Roberts is tapping! Great win for Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rickson Gracie!