PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeffson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolai Grigorev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's entrance music is Cliff Richard - Summer Holiday. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Grigorev

160 cm
31
155 lbs
17 - 13 - 1

168 cm
26
155 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jeffson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nicolai Grigorev!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Grigorev sprawls well.
Grigorev throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
Gracie works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Grigorev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Grigorev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Grigorev's guard now.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Grigorev keeps moving.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grigorev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie trying to control but Grigorev is working from the bottom.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Grigorev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Grigorev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Grigorev!
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
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!
Grigorev not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigorev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Grigorev.
Gracie is looking to control Grigorev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Grigorev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Grigorev connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Grigorev tries to stand and escape but Gracie is controlling the position.
Grigorev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Grigorev is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigorev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gracie regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Grigorev.
Grigorev wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Grigorev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Grigorev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grigorev is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Grigorev 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.

Grigorev is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Grigorev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Grigorev. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Grigorev.
Grigorev punishes Gracie with strikes from the back mount.

Grigorev is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Gracie defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Grigorev lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Grigorev scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Grigorev is landing with strikes. Gracie can't take much more of this.

Grigorev looking for the RNC.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grigorev is landing with strikes from the back.
Gracie tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Grigorev lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gracie hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigorev lands a big shot there that rocks Gracie but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Grigorev connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Grigorev breaks from Gracie's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Grigorev lands a big elbow.
Grigorev lands with some strikes.
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Grigorev maintains control.
Grigorev controlling from the full mount.
Grigorev lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Grigorev isn't that keen on the idea.
Grigorev with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolai Grigorev dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Grigorev takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Grigorev throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.
Jeffson Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grigorev misses with a double jab

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie wants to advance to full mount but Grigorev doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie trying to control but Grigorev is working from the bottom.
Grigorev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Grigorev is keeping the position.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Grigorev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Jeffson Gracie wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gracie scores with a punch to the head.
Gracie with a jab.
Grigorev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Grigorev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grigorev avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Grigorev throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.

Grigorev gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gracie to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Grigorev is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling from the top position.

Grigorev uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Grigorev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Grigorev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Grigorev circles away.
Gracie checks a leg kick nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Grigorev.
Grigorev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Grigorev throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Gracie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie thuds his right hand into Grigorev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A punch combination from Grigorev misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Grigorev lands a head shot.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Grigorev can't do much from the bottom here.
Grigorev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gracie prevents Grigorev from improving his position.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Grigorev defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie is keen to just control but Grigorev is a slippery customer.
Grigorev regains full guard. Nicely done.

Grigorev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Grigorev is retaining full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grigorev wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.

Grigorev pushes Gracie off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grigorev swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffson Gracie dominated that second round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gracie lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Grigorev tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grigorev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Grigorev shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Grigorev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gracie throws a shot to the body.
Gracie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Grigorev avoids it really well and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Grigorev.

Grigorev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gracie to the mat! Gracie manages to get full guard.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Grigorev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Grigorev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gracie wants to stand up but Grigorev is controlling him.
Nicolai Grigorev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Grigorev tries to pass.

Grigorev stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A combination from Grigorev does no damage.
Nice uppercut lands for Gracie. That snapped Grigorev's head back.
Grigorev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Grigorev swinging wildly here.
Grigorev misses with a wild combination.
Grigorev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Grigorev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigorev slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
Gracie feints a jab promting Grigorev to slip. Gracie then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Grigorev slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Grigorev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeffson Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Grigorev.
Nicolai Grigorev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grigorev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Grigorev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Grigorev tries to sprawl but Gracie drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Grigorev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Grigorev is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie prevents Grigorev from improving his position.
Gracie controlling the action here.
Grigorev wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Grigorev trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jeffson Gracie just wasn't active enough.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Grigorev shoots in but no luck this time.
Gracie lands a head shot.
Gracie scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Grigorev.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice uppercut lands for Gracie. That snapped Grigorev's head back.
Grigorev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grigorev throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
Grigorev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.
Grigorev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jeffson Gracie.
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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeffson Gracie!
A relieved looking Jeffson 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.