PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Jos Ricci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rickson Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Jos Ricci

160 cm
26
200 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
213 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rickson Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carlos Jos Ricci!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jos Ricci closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jos Ricci lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Jos Ricci trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Jos Ricci must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jos Ricci landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jos Ricci has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.

Jos Ricci decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
A lazy left from Gracie finds it's target.

Gracie gets caught napping as Jos Ricci dives in and scores a takedown. Gracie manages to retain guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jos Ricci gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jos Ricci landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jos Ricci throws an elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jos Ricci's guard. Nice move by Gracie!
Jos Ricci throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Jos Ricci trying to control the position.

Jos Ricci uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Jos Ricci wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jos Ricci is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Jos Ricci is trying to improve his position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jos Ricci keeps working.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jos Ricci wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Jos Ricci is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jos Ricci 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.
Jos Ricci is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gracie works his way into side control.
Gracie is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Jos Ricci will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Jos Ricci is defending well.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jos Ricci keeps working.
Jos Ricci struggling a bit here.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Jos Ricci is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jos Ricci really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jos Ricci keeping his opponent close.
Jos Ricci wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jos Ricci keeps working.
Jos Ricci 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.
Jos Ricci is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie wants to control but Jos Ricci is keeping him busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Jos Ricci shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Jos Ricci finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carlos Jos Ricci will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie trying to control the action but Jos Ricci is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jos Ricci is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jos Ricci manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jos Ricci is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jos Ricci pulls his head out easily.
Jos Ricci not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Jos Ricci is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Jos Ricci sits in half guard.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jos Ricci.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jos Ricci is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Jos Ricci is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Jos Ricci is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jos Ricci.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Jos Ricci.
Ground and pound from Jos Ricci.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jos Ricci missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jos Ricci landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Jos Ricci is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Jos Ricci wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Gracie uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.
Jos Ricci trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jos Ricci postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Jos Ricci wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Gracie's closed guard. He's half up but Gracie has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Gracie pivots and extends the arm, Jos Ricci falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Gracie! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rickson Gracie!
Rickson Gracie retains his light heavyweight title!
A relieved looking Rickson Gracie thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.