PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wandy Claus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rigan Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rigan Gracie is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Claus
vs
Gracie

165 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
166 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

RMC - $ 11 Shorts!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wandy Claus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rigan Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Gracie moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gracie lands a nice shot to the body.

Gracie tightens his grip and picks Claus up, before dumping him to the ground. Claus manages to land in guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Claus trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Claus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Claus won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Claus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie preventing the sweep.

Claus working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie stays in close to Claus's body and controls the position.
Gracie trying to control but Claus is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rigan Gracie was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Claus!
Claus can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claus tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Gracie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Claus can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Claus in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Claus tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Gracie in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Claus is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Claus tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Claus bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Claus tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Claus working some strikes from top position.
Claus lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claus is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Claus postures up.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Claus is trying to get back to full guard.
Claus wants to get back to full guard but Gracie has passed into side control.
Claus tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Claus throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie lands an elbow.
Claus wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Claus is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands some shots froms side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Claus throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Claus manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Gracie.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Claus has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Claus's legs - danger averted.
Gracie scoring with some ground and pound.
Claus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

Claus is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Claus's guard.
Claus trying to control the position.
Claus throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Claus striking from his own guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Claus keeps moving.
Gracie works over Claus with some ground and pound from guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Claus throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Claus throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rigan Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Claus looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claus 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.
Claus will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Gracie controlling from the top position.

Claus looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Claus is on top in guard.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie pulls Claus in close to his closed guard and prevents Claus from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claus throws a strike but Gracie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gracie distracts Claus with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Claus looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Claus working a defensive guard here.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Claus is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Claus is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Claus looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie 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.
Gracie passes into side control, despite Claus's attempt to control the position.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Claus blocks the move with his legs.
Claus tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gracie takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Claus to pass into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the pace for now.

Gracie with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Claus 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.
Claus trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Claus is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is keen to just control but Claus is a slippery customer.
Claus is trying to control but Gracie passes into side control!
Claus tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rigan Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gracie lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Claus backwards.

Gracie has picked Claus up - he's going for a ride! Gracie dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Claus sees it coming and defends easily.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Claus is defending the position.
Gracie landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Claus is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Claus doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Claus moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie passes Claus's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Claus trying to control from the bottom.
Claus is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Claus is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Claus gets back to half guard.

Claus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie slips a nice elbow through Claus's hands, connecting with Claus's forehead.
Gracie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Claus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claus is trying to get back to full guard.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Claus makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Claus.
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!
Gracie trying to control but Claus is working from the bottom.
Gracie postures up and lands a big shot to Claus's brow.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Claus keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Claus 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Claus looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Gracie has picked Claus up and slammed him! Claus can't keep hold of the triangle and Gracie manages to pass to side control!
Claus tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Claus tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Claus is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Rigan Gracie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Claus is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Claus takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Claus wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie content just to control the position here.
Gracie fails to move to back control.
Gracie controlling the pace for now.
Gracie lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Claus is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rigan Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gracie 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rigan Gracie!
In his post fight interview, Rigan Gracie started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.