PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holden James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Total War - The Shogun II. James comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Aerials kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
James

180 cm
28
200 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

178 cm
28
187 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

RMC - $ 11 Shorts!
Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Holden James!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. James did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
James controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Gracie with the ground and pound but James uses the opportunity to regain guard.
James pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but James manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has James in his guard.

James stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as James sprawls well. James wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for James!

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but James is in no mood to give up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Gracie throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
James blocking the ground and pound.
James gets back to half guard.
Gracie is figuring out what he wants to do next.

James is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, James has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.
James makes his way to full guard. A much better position for James.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie is looking to advance position but James has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around James's waist but James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Gracie closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
James leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie is just content to waste time from the top position. James takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James is pulling down on Gracie's head to control his posture.
Gracie trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James working a defensive guard here.

Holden James has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from James enables Gracie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. James manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Carlos Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James is looking to stand back up but Gracie counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by James.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but James still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, James has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
Gracie tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Holden James.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
James lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
James displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by James.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Holden James will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Holden James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie wants to clinch.

Gracie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. James is trying to defend but Gracie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
James has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.
Gracie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
James is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Gracie dives into side control.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. James knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
James is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, James has escaped the position, nice work there.
James tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, James has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
Gracie laying and praying for a moment but James takes advantage and regains half guard.
James moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Gracie is now in half guard.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
James pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. James doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie trying to control from James's half guard. James has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Gracie!
Carlos Gracie was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.