PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Hawking (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawking has chosen Shady Lane as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. On his way into the cage it seems that Ralph Gracie has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Ralph Gracie seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Gracie
vs
Hawking

181 cm
25
145 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

168 cm
27
156 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bushido Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ralph Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stephen Hawking!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Ralph Gracie has been cut.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawking is just out of range.
Gracie keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gracie tests Hawking's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Hawking throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gracie counters with a left to the body.
Hawking throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab from Gracie.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawking looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hawking gets a clinch.
Gracie is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hawking tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hawking's elbow.
Hawking 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 one minute gone in the round.
Hawking can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Hawking stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hawking is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hawking misses with a punch to the body.
Hawking lands with a short shot to the head.
Gracie misses with a punch to the body.

Gracie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie slips a straight right by Hawking.
Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hawking.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Hawking wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawking looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A swing and a miss from Gracie.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawking looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawking lands a body shot.
Gracie lands a jab to Hawking's midsection.
Hawking tries to clinch up
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawking throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
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.
Hawking lands a head kick. Gracie smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gracie misses with a lunging right hand
and Hawking counters with a stiff right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Hawking does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hawking throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hawking tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hawking moves out of range of the strikes.
Stephen Hawking is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Hawking's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Hawking.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking looking to control.
Gracie stands and throws Hawking's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Gracie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hawking has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gracie but great work by Hawking.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gracie slips a nice elbow through Hawking's hands, connecting with Hawking's forehead.
Hawking moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hawking 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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie works over Hawking with some ground and pound from guard.
Hawking manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A nice elbow there by Hawking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Hawking dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ralph Gracie's cut.
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 head kick by Hawking.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Hawking sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
A big left from Gracie misses.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hawking is on top in guard.
Gracie 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.
Gracie has Hawking pulled in close to control his posture.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Hawking tries to pass.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hawking gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hawking throws an elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hawking's guard. Nice move by Gracie!
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Hawking controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hawking looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Hawking blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Hawking manages to get to full guard.
Ralph Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Hawking keeps moving.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hawking is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawking frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hawking postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gracie looks a forlorn figure.
Hawking takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Hawking maintains control.
Hawking with shots to the head and body - Gracie looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hawking tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hawking working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hawking lands with some strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawking can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.
Hawking landing shots from mount.

Ralph Gracie's cut is getting worse.
Gracie tries to hold on but Hawking postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hawking cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Hawking isn't that keen on the idea.
Gracie is bucking up trying to escape but Hawking cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hawking trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie regains half guard.
Hawking looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hawking trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Hawking showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ralph Gracie's cut.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hawking takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gracie throws a hook to the side of Hawking's head but Hawking sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hawking throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Hawking misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gracie cracks a nice hook into Hawking's ribs.
A lazy left from Gracie finds it's target.
Gracie throws a lazy uppercut
and Hawking counters with a left and a right that stings Gracie.
Hawking swinging wildly here.
Hawking takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hawking scores with a sloppy right hand. Gracie should have avoided that one.
Hawking lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Ralph Gracie's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gracie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hawking's hands.
Hawking misses with a double jab.
Hawking takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hawking tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick by Hawking misses
enabling Gracie to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Hawking.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gracie.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawking looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hawking on the side of the head.
Gracie connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hawking. Hawking circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hawking throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie lands a glancing blow to the side of Hawking's head.
Hawking throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gracie throws a body punch but Hawking moves out of range.
Gracie connects with a right hand. Hawking shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie swings for the body but Hawking moves out of range.
Hawking takes one on the button.
Stephen Hawking is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Hawking does no damage.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Good standup being displayed there by Gracie as he connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hawking manages to avoid it.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Gracie throws a body punch but Hawking moves out of range.
Gracie scoring well with a low kick there.
Hawking throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Hawking wants to clinch
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
Stephen Hawking seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hawking sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Ralph Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
A left lands for Gracie.
Hawking looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hawking slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawking misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gracie is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
That kick from Gracie tenderised Hawking's leg. Hawking is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gracie misses with a right hand
and Hawking counters with a two punch combo.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hawking.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hawking as he jumps to the side.
Hawking bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hawking tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hawking prevents a body shot from Gracie.
Hawking keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gracie's efforts to push away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ralph Gracie.
Well Hawking 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Hawking!
Stephen Hawking gave a mention to Bushido Clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).