PBP Commentary

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

Gracie
vs
Blau

170 cm
18
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

183 cm
21
176 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, Sean Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Winston Blau!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gracie could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gracie won't allow Blau to sweep him here.
Gracie stops Blau from standing up.
Gracie wants to stand but Blau has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Blau.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Blau keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Blau is keeping the position.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Blau looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Blau wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blau is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Blau is trying to get back to half guard.

Gracie decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A head kick misses from Blau.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Blau sprawls well.
Blau showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Blau.
A head kick misses from Blau.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.

Gracie decides to stand up, so the ref orders Blau to his feet.
Blau throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Winston Blau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blau is looking to get back to his feet here but Gracie is keeping cool and he's managed to take Blau's back.
Blau looks gassed!
Blau manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gracie's guard. Nice work there by Blau.
Gracie controls Blau momentarily but Blau frees himself.
Blau trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie misses with a wild combination.

Gracie gets the takedown into side control.
Gracie moves into full mount!
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Blau is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blau wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Blau holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gracie tries to control but Blau wriggling away.

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Blau can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Blau is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Blau seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie controls Blau momentarily but Blau frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling Blau's posture.
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 working an open guard so Blau takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Blau throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Blau moves out of range easily.
Winston Blau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A head kick misses from Blau.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Blau.
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Blau sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blau misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Blau pushes him off.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blau as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Blau circles away and keeps his distance.
Blau throws a body kick that misses.

Blau gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Blau keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie won't allow Blau to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Gracie dominated that second round.
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.

Blau misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Blau pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Blau.
Blau tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie wants to slow Blau down by chopping away at his legs.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Blau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blau takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blau utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Blau is retaining full guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Blau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie trying to control but Blau is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Blau.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Blau is trying to get back to half guard.
Sean Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blau is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Blau wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Blau's shoulder. That is not cool.
Gracie looking to control but instead Blau has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blau keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Winston Blau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blau is trying to stand.

Gracie stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Gracie!