PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Adam Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Le Tank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Le Tank has chosen The Trooper as his entrance music. Hank Le Tank will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gracie
vs
Le Tank

175 cm
23
143 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

169 cm
33
141 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Adam Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hank Le Tank!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie scores with a jab to the head.
Le Tank tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Le Tank.
Gracie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gracie misses with a looping left.

Le Tank gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Le Tank lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Le Tank wants a takedown but no success here.
Gracie misses with a punch on the inside.

Le Tank lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Le Tank throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Le Tank thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Le Tank lands a nice short elbow.
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!
Le Tank misses with a head shot. Gracie uses the momentum to regain guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Le Tank trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Le Tank from controlling successfully.
Le Tank loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le Tank working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Le Tank postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Le Tank loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gracie working for a triangle but Le Tank defends it easily.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Le Tank.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Le Tank tries to pass.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Le Tank looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le Tank has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.
Gracie is pushing down on Le Tank's leg trying to pass to half guard. Le Tank is fighting to maintain full guard but Gracie has managed to sneak the leg through.
Le Tank moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Le Tank is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Le Tank has his hands on Gracie's head, controlling the position.
Le Tank can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le Tank is looking to improve his position.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Le Tank manages to get to full guard.
Le Tank managing to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Le Tank keeps moving.
Le Tank is looking to stand back up but Gracie counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Le Tank.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hank Le Tank will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie misses with a hook. Le Tank ducked under it nicely.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into Le Tank's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Le Tank tries to strike from the bottom.

Le Tank is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Le Tank controlling the position.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Le Tank swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Le Tank blocks nicely.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hank Le Tank.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hank Le Tank seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Gracie. Beautiful body shot.
Le Tank doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Le Tank tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Le Tank is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gracie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hank Le Tank is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie throws a sloppy body shot
and Le Tank counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Le Tank misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Le Tank on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Le Tank keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Le Tank ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Gracie scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gracie stuns Le Tank with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie throws a body punch but Le Tank moves out of range.
Le Tank lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Le Tank walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Le Tank keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Le Tank trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Le Tank keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Le Tank trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie throwing shots but Le Tank is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gracie drops an elbow to the side of Le Tank's head.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Le Tank still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Le Tank has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Le Tank postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hank Le Tank has got the better of the ground game so far.
Le Tank postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Le Tank throws an elbow but Gracie slips to the side and avoids it well.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie wants to control but Le Tank postures up.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Le Tank not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Le Tank scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Le Tank missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Le Tank throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le Tank is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Le Tank trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.
Gracie trying to control here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Le Tank not landing any meaningful shots this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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. Le Tank connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Le Tank is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Le Tank thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hank Le Tank will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Le Tank walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Le Tank avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Le Tank.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Le Tank. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.

Le Tank throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gracie was covering up waiting for the punch and Le Tank finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gracie trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Le Tank is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Le Tank is keeping the position.
Le Tank is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Le Tank looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Le Tank controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hank Le Tank was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Le Tank moves away.
Le Tank thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Le Tank sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Le Tank gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Le Tank has control of the leg.
Le Tank thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gracie is looking to control Le Tank's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Le Tank is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Le Tank scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Le Tank prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Le Tank.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Le Tank is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le Tank wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Le Tank thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Le Tank throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Le Tank postures up.

Gracie has his foot on Le Tank's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Le Tank works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Le Tank missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Le Tank throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Le Tank with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie is striking off his back. Le Tank thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Adam Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie keeping control of the position.
Le Tank missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie missing with punches from the bottom.
Le Tank working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Le Tank thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Hank Le Tank is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Le Tank is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Le Tank comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Le Tank 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Le Tank!
Hank Le Tank seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.