PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Damian Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gonzalez comes to the cage accompanied by Paranoia. The key to victory for Damian Gonzalez has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Gonzalez
vs
Gracie

186 cm
25
193 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Damian Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hugo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzalez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gonzalez is looking for a sweep.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gonzalez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie tries to advance to mount but can't.
Gonzalez is trying to escape the position but Gracie is controlling the position.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Gonzalez sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.

Gonzalez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gonzalez has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Gonzalez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
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!
Gonzalez chips away with some ground and pound.
Gonzalez won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gonzalez defends it easily.
Gonzalez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Gonzalez from standing up.
Gonzalez wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Damian Gonzalez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Gonzalez. Gracie shrugs it off though.

Gonzalez clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gonzalez smiles and moves away.

Gonzalez drives through and clinches with Gracie against the cage.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Gonzalez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gonzalez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Damian Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo Gracie.
Gonzalez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.

Gonzalez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gonzalez as he jumps to the side.
Gracie looks gassed!

Gonzalez moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Gonzalez pressing his opponent against the cage.

Gonzalez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Gonzalez closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gonzalez's guard.
Gonzalez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gonzalez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gonzalez pulls his head out easily.
Gonzalez lands strikes from half guard.
Gonzalez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Gonzalez wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gonzalez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie trying to control here.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonzalez lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonzalez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Gracie has one foot on Gonzalez's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Gonzalez is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
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!
Gonzalez is looking to clinch.
Gonzalez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Gonzalez sprawls well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gonzalez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gonzalez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Damian Gonzalez 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.

Gonzalez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gonzalez tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gonzalez moves into the clinch successfully.
Gonzalez tries to circle away but Gracie has him pinned against the cage.
Gracie jumps guard but Gonzalez stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gonzalez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gonzalez lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie jumps guard but Gonzalez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gonzalez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Gonzalez won't allow it.
Damian Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo Gracie.
Gonzalez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Gracie decides to pull guard.
Gonzalez tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Gonzalez connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gonzalez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Gonzalez wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Gonzalez tries to pass.
Gonzalez stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gonzalez wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.

Gonzalez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Gonzalez tries to clinch but Gracie moves away

and Gracie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gonzalez!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.
Gonzalez is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gonzalez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Gonzalez is defending well.
Gracie prevents Gonzalez from standing back up.
Gonzalez is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Gonzalez moves into full guard.
Gonzalez working a defensive guard here.
Gracie stands and throws Gonzalez's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is trying to improve his position.
Gonzalez wants to get back to his feet but Gracie drags him back down.
Gracie moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Gonzalez dodges the ground and pound from Gracie.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gonzalez, who protects the arm well.
Gonzalez tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gonzalez controls the position for a moment.
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gonzalez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Gonzalez is defending the position.
Gonzalez is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gonzalez is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gonzalez!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Gonzalez turns into him and now he's in Gracie's guard.
Gonzalez trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Damian Gonzalez will probably get the nod.
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!

Gonzalez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gonzalez wants it to stay on the feet.
Gonzalez fails to land with a series of punches.

Gonzalez clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie jumps guard but Gonzalez stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gonzalez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Gonzalez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Damian Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo Gracie.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Gonzalez holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A head punch on the inside from Gonzalez fails to land.
Gracie is looking for a takedown.
Gracie jumps guard but Gonzalez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Gonzalez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie dives in and grabs Gonzalez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gonzalez pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Gonzalez. Gonzalez maintains the clinch.
Gonzalez lands a left hand.

Gonzalez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gonzalez clinches with his opponent.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gonzalez to keep the fight standing.
Gonzalez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gonzalez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.
Gonzalez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gonzalez lands with a right to the head.

Gonzalez breaks from the clinch.
Gonzalez bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Gonzalez.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gonzalez!
Gonzalez fails in his attempt to clinch.

Gonzalez moves into the clinch.
Gonzalez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gonzalez lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie jumps guard but Gonzalez stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gracies head.
Gonzalez stalling in the clinch but Gracie improves position.
Gonzalez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Gonzalez manages to break the clinch.
Gonzalez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gonzalez doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Gonzalez as Gracie shoots in.
Gonzalez tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gonzalez tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gonzalez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gonzalez scores with a kick to the midsection.
Damian Gonzalez is winning the standup battle so far.

Gonzalez has Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.
Gonzalez lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Hugo Gracie has been cut.
Gracie jumps guard but Gonzalez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gonzalez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gonzalez pushes Gracie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Gonzalez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gonzalez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gracie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzalez lands with a straight right. Gracie didn't see that one coming.
Gonzalez is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice shot lands for Gonzalez.
Gonzalez tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Hugo Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gonzalez throws a one two combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Gonzalez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gonzalez, 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Gonzalez!
Damian Gonzalez decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.