PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey O Neil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
O Neil

187 cm
31
185 lbs
15 - 17 - 0

187 cm
29
177 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rickson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey O Neil!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Neil keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
O Neil scores with a punch to the head.
O Neil uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
Gracie looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
O Neil scores with a hook to the body. Gracie takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
O Neil throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
O Neil fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Donk. Gracie catches O Neil right on the button with a cross.
O Neil scores with a one two! Gracie had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by O Neil.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Gracie throws a sloppy body shot
enabling O Neil to counter with a crisp jab.
O Neil waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Rickson Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Neil misses with a hook.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Neil throws a big shot that misses.
O Neil rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and O Neil takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
O Neil misses the shot to the body.
A jab from O Neil misses.
O Neil misses with a right hand
and Gracie makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
O Neil displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie lands a really nice looking cross but O Neil seems unphased.
Gracie comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sloppy strikes from O Neil. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
Mickey O Neil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but O Neil keeps moving.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as O Neil works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
O Neil wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed O Neil's guard.
O Neil is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can O Neil avoid being mounted?
Gracie is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for O Neil!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Poor strikes thrown by Gracie there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey O Neil dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

O Neil misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gracie misses with a hook. O Neil ducked under it nicely.
O Neil circles away from the clinch attempt
and O Neil counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mickey O Neil seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie moves to clinch but O Neil breaks away
letting O Neil counter with a right hand.
O Neil pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rickson Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Gracie misses.
Gracie throws a hook but O Neil avoids it easily.
O Neil scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gracie doesn't seem bothered though.
O Neil misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but O Neil swivels and escapes.
O Neil moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a straight left.
Gracie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
O Neil ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
O Neil fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gracie scores with a decent looking hook.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
O Neil is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. O Neil knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
O Neil keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
O Neil really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to take a breather but O Neil is having none of it.
Still in half guard, Gracie seems content to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Rickson Gracie wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
O Neil ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Gracie misses with an uppercut
and O Neil counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
O Neil displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie throws a head kick but O Neil moves out of range.
O Neil takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Neil lands with a good body shot.
O Neil misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey O Neil showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

O Neil looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
O Neil avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Gracie throws a series of punches but O Neil moves out of range.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to bum rush O Neil with a series of wild strikes but O Neil uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie throws a right and a left that O Neil avoids nicely.
O Neil misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Gracie scores with a nice right hand.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from O Neil.
O Neil throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from O Neil. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
Rickson Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mickey O Neil is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
O Neil fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
O Neil throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and O Neil counters with a straight right hand.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and O Neil counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie throws a lazy uppercut
and O Neil makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gracie looks to land a combination but O Neil avoids it well.
Gracie takes one to the chin there.
O Neil will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
O Neil throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil lands a really nice looking cross but Gracie seems unphased.
O Neil thuds a left hand into Gracie's body.
O Neil moves out of range of the leg kick from Gracie.
Sloppy strikes from Gracie. Those never looked like landing.
O Neil's corner calls for a 1-2. O Neil obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from O Neil.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Neil scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey O Neil comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got O Neil winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey O Neil!
A victorious Mickey O Neil thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.