PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Holden Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Rivaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Metallica Enter Sandman. Rivaldi has chosen Joker's Wild as his entrance music. Holden Gracie could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Dominick Rivaldi's chin.

Gracie
vs
Rivaldi

190 cm
26
179 lbs
14 - 5 - 1

180 cm
32
178 lbs
19 - 6 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Holden Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dominick Rivaldi!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rivaldi.
Rivaldi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rivaldi lands with an uppercut that bounces Gracie off the cage and back into range.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rivaldi digs a good hook to Gracie's body.

Rivaldi moves into the clinch.
Rivaldi throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Rivaldi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Rivaldi.
Stalling in the clinch from Rivaldi.
Rivaldi can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Rivaldi just leaning against Gracie, taking a breather.
Rivaldi is trying to break free.
Rivaldi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivaldi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rivaldi is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rivaldi down to the mat. Rivaldi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rivaldi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gracie throws a body kick that misses.
Rivaldi tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Rivaldi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gracie throws out the jab.
A lazy body kick from Gracie
and Rivaldi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rivaldi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Holden Gracie has been cut.
Dominick Rivaldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rivaldi misses with a hook.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters circling - Rivaldi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie slips a straight right by Rivaldi.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Rivaldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivaldi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rivaldi thumps Gracie with a low kick.
Rivaldi jabs Gracie right on the nose. Gracie blinks but takes it well.
Rivaldi throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
Gracie's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rivaldi under the eye.
Rivaldi thows a body kick. Gracie tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rivaldi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Gracie counters with a nice uppercut.

Rivaldi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rivaldi breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Rivaldi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gracie misses with a lunging right hand
and Rivaldi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rivaldi tries to clinch up.
Rivaldi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Rivaldi scores with a leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Gracie there.
Gracie is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivaldi.
Rivaldi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi digs a good hook to Gracie's body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gracie lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rivaldi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rivaldi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rivaldi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rivaldi throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Gracie makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivaldi lands with a shot to the body.
Rivaldi looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Rivaldi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gracie misses the body punch
and Rivaldi counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rivaldi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Rivaldi moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Rivaldi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Holden Gracie's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gracie misses with a body kick.
Rivaldi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dominick Rivaldi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
Gracie has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Gracie closes the distance and pushes Rivaldi back into the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gracie is pushing Rivaldi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rivaldi tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie stalls.
Rivaldi lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Gracie on the inside.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rivaldi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short right from Rivaldi on the inside.
Rivaldi lands a shot to the body.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rivaldi's elbow.
Gracie blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Rivaldi - that landed with a thud.
A right hand to the body from Rivaldi.
Rivaldi throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Rivaldi gets through Gracie's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rivaldi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivaldi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rivaldi throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivaldi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivaldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie keeps control of Rivaldi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rivaldi takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rivaldi throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Rivaldi prevents a body shot from Gracie.
Gracie slowing the pace effectively.
Gracie lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rivaldi is trying to break free.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rivaldi is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gracie has Rivaldi pressed against the cage, preventing Rivaldi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gracie is trying to drag Rivaldi to the mat but Rivaldi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gracie slows down the pace here.
Rivaldi lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rivaldi is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Holden Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivaldi digs a right hand into Gracie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gracie's gas tank.
Rivaldi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Gracie prevents Rivaldi from breaking the clinch.
Rivaldi lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi tries to break free but Gracie pushes him back against the cage.
Rivaldi prevents the takedown attempt.
Rivaldi scores with a shot to the side of Gracie's head.

Rivaldi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivaldi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rivaldi has Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Rivaldi slowing the pace effectively.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rivaldi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gracie blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivaldi lands with a short shot to the head.
Gracie lands a nice elbow.
Rivaldi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Rivaldi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Rivaldi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Holden Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rivaldi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gracie looks to land a body kick but Rivaldi moved away.
Gracie lands a lovely overhand right.
Rivaldi avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Rivaldi throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie keeps Rivaldi at a distance using the push kick.
Rivaldi throws a good cross that connects.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rivaldi throws out the jab.
Rivaldi tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivaldi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie throws a head kick but Rivaldi moves out of range.
Rivaldi throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Rivaldi tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie misses with an uppercut. Rivaldi saw that one coming.
Rivaldi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rivaldi just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Rivaldi moved out of range nicely.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Rivaldi.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Dominick Rivaldi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a body shot.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a kick to the body.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.
Rivaldi tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie tries to land a front kick but Rivaldi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rivaldi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Rivaldi ducks down to avoid it.
Gracie looks for the body kick but Rivaldi saw that one coming.
A lazy left from Rivaldi finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws the kick towards the body but Rivaldi avoids it.
Rivaldi misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rivaldi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gracie looks for the body kick but Rivaldi saw that one coming.
Gracie misses with a body shot
and Rivaldi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rivaldi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gracie's hands.
Holden Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivaldi lands a slapping body shot.
Gracie throws a hook but Rivaldi avoids it easily.

Gracie has closed the distance and engaged Rivaldi in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rivaldi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Rivaldi holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Rivaldi misses with a punch on the inside.
Gracie misses with a body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivaldi prevents Gracie from breaking the clinch.
Rivaldi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Holden Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rivaldi 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominick Rivaldi!
After the fight, Dominick Rivaldi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.