PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the ring accompanied by cult of personality. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Gracie
vs
Alves

181 cm
29
174 lbs
13 - 19 - 0

178 cm
19
169 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 13 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matt Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Alves!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alves avoids a kick to the body.
Alves shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie digs a good body shot into Alves's ribs.
Alves is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Alves taking a bit of punishment here - Gracie scoring with strikes.
Alves is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gracie stands up.
Alves tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Alves tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Alves defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alves shoots and misses

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Matt Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Alves.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.
Alves has a closed guard, preventing Gracie from standing up.
Alves is controlling Gracie's posture.
Gracie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matt Gracie has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Alves manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Matt Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gracie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Alves is controlling Gracie's trapped leg to prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gracie prevents Alves from improving his position.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alves keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gracie trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Gracie wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Alves takes the fight into the clinch.
Alves struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Gracie fails to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alves tries to pull guard but Gracie holds him up against the ropes and eventually Alves drops back down to his feet.
Gracie lands a left hand that snaps the head of Alves backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alves clinches.
Alves drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gracie gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Alves misses with a body punch.

Gracie manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Alves trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Alves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nick Alves hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Alves fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gracie to the ground. Alves is now in Gracie's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves looking to pass the guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alves defends well.
Alves is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gracie trying to strike off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

Gracie moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Alves is controlling him.
Alves looking to stall.
Alves swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alves is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Alves gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Alves on the inside.

Gracie decides to pull guard.
Alves sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nick Alves wasn't active enough on the ground.
Alves looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves avoids the head kick by Gracie.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alves fails with the takedown.
Matt Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Alves.
Alves shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Alves's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gracie misses with a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie leaves Alves with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alves sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alves is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Gracie dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Alves tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gracie is in Alves's guard.
Alves controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Alves dives on top into guard.
Alves trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nick Alves.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Alves manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Alves fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Alves shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Gracie stalling the fight.
Alves throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Alves moves into the clinch.
Alves tries to pull guard but Gracie holds him up against the ropes and eventually Alves drops back down to his feet.
Matt Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Alves.

Gracie pulls Alves into guard.
Alves 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.
Alves sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Matt Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.

Gracie working for a triangle but Alves defends it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alves is looking to advance position but Gracie has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alves is looking to escape.

Gracie moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Alves has worked his arm free - good work by Alves!

Gracie has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alves swivels and escapes.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Gracie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alves keeps working.
Nick Alves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Alves is defending the position.
Matt Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alves is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Gracie!
Matt Gracie decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.