PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Roberto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raphael Roberto is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gracie
vs
Roberto

175 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
27
176 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Roberto!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Roberto manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Roberto throws a head kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Roberto. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Roberto. Roberto maintains the clinch.
Roberto is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Roberto down to the mat. Roberto avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Roberto should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Gracie shoots in but Roberto avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Roberto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Roberto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roberto is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

Roberto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Roberto wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Roberto is trying to stand.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Roberto is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Roberto is defending well.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Roberto defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Roberto wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Roberto is defending well.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Roberto is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Roberto swivels and escapes.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Roberto sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roberto pushes Gracie away with a front kick.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Roberto. Roberto maintains the clinch.

Roberto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Roberto has taken the fight to the clinch.

Roberto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Roberto closes the distance and clinches.
Roberto lands a knee to the head.
Roberto lands an elbow just above Gracie 's eye.
Roberto holding his opponent close, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Roberto pulls Gracie into guard.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberto wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Roberto is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Roberto manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Roberto's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Roberto can do anything to dispel that myth.

Gracie has gone for a leg lock! Roberto slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roberto stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A punch combination from Roberto misses.
Nice sprawl there from Roberto as Gracie shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Roberto looking to score a takedown here. Gracie is defending well but Roberto drives through and ends up in Gracie's guard.
Roberto won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Roberto defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Roberto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberto won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roberto is aware though and is defending well.

Roberto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Roberto has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Roberto wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.

Gracie working for a triangle but Roberto defends it easily.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Roberto passes into side control.
Roberto 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.
Roberto wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his arm.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back 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!
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roberto tries to stand and escape but Gracie is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Royce Gracie will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Roberto closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gracie did well to prevent Roberto getting side control.
Gracie gets full guard.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Roberto controlling him for the moment.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Roberto from standing up.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roberto defends it easily.
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!
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roberto is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Roberto passes into side control.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Roberto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Roberto's back!

Gracie working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Gracie looking for the choke but no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Roberto can do to turn this around?

Gracie is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Roberto knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Roberto for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberto trying to get back to his feet but Gracie is in full control for now.

Gracie looking to break Roberto's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Roberto remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Gracie is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Roberto has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Gracie tightening his grip on Roberto, looking for the choke.
Roberto is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Gracie off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gracie is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roberto defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gracie's arms.
Roberto wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Roberto with him. Roberto is trying to defend but Gracie has an arm under the chin now! Roberto grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Royce Gracie!