PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Beauvais (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Beauvais will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Gracie
vs
Beauvais

175 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

186 cm
19
195 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hugo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Beauvais!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Beauvais on his heels. He'll look to pass Beauvais's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Beauvais can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Beauvais looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Beauvais is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Beauvais defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is pressing down on Beauvais's thigh, looking to free his foot. Beauvais is holding on for now.
Beauvais has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Beauvais has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Beauvais is defending well.
Beauvais slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Beauvais looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Beauvais looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Beauvais!
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Beauvais is chipping away with strikes.
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Beauvais working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Beauvais trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Beauvais tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Beauvais wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Beauvais wants to stand up but Gracie has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Gracie is not content to let Beauvais control the position.
Beauvais thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Beauvais pulls his head out easily.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beauvais is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.

Beauvais is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.
Gracie has a hand on Beauvais's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Beauvais takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Beauvais lands a nice shot to the head.
Gracie stops Beauvais from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Beauvais with a couple of short strikes.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Beauvais's attempts to control the action.
Gracie is trying to reverse the position but instead Beauvais has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to break free.

Beauvais looking for the choke but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Beauvais wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.

Beauvais is persistently looking for the submission but Gracie is defending it well.
Gracie is really stuck here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Beauvais looking for the RNC.
Gracie is trying to get back to his feet but Beauvais has full control of the position and if anything, Gracie has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Beauvais 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.

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Beauvais!

It looks like Hugo Gracie has been cut.
Beauvais is looking to clinch.
Beauvais throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Beauvais looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Beauvais persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Beauvais defends it nicely.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Beauvais counters with a stiff right hand.
Beauvais tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Beauvais closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Beauvais wants to take the fight to the mat but Gracie manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Gracie ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gracie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Beauvais trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Beauvais trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Beauvais tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Beauvais gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Beauvais trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James Beauvais has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

James Beauvais has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Beauvais shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gracie defends it nicely.
Hugo Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Beauvais.
Beauvais pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beauvais tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Beauvais sprawls well.
Beauvais fails with a takedown attempt.
Beauvais shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Beauvais sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Beauvais tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Beauvais throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gracie's waist but Gracie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Beauvais off to one side.
Beauvais throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beauvais shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gracie pinned against the cage. Gracie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hugo Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Beauvais shoots in looking for a takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl out of it but Beauvais keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gracie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Beauvais as Gracie shoots in.
Gracie takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Beauvais.
Beauvais shoots for a takedown but Gracie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Beauvais tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Beauvais tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Beauvais lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Beauvais scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Beauvais digs a good hook to Gracie's body.
Beauvais shoots in but no luck this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Beauvais misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Beauvais shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gracie eats them both and turns towards Beauvais to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Beauvais showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hugo Gracie's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Beauvais shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Beauvais's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
James Beauvais seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Beauvais fails with a takedown attempt.
Beauvais is looking to clinch.
Beauvais throws a series of strikes that have Gracie backpedaling.
Beauvais throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Beauvais closes the distance and clinches up with Gracie, looking for a takedown. Beauvais pushes Gracie against the cage but Gracie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hugo Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Beauvais.
A combination from Beauvais does no damage.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Beauvais keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Beauvais is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Beauvais uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Beauvais!

Beauvais drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Beauvais off! Beauvais jumps back into Gracie's guard.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Beauvais doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Beauvais manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Beauvais content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Beauvais trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Beauvais must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Beauvais trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Beauvais lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Beauvais pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beauvais trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

James Beauvais has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Beauvais wants to clinch.
Beauvais shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gracie as he jumps to the side.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beauvais shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Beauvais shoots in but no luck this time.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Beauvais shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Beauvais tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Danga de danga de dang - Beauvais scores with a four punch combination!
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Beauvais. Beauvais gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Beauvais. Beauvais gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Beauvais comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Beauvais has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Beauvais!
A relieved looking James Beauvais thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.