PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Pembelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pembelton has chosen Hail Mary by Tupac as his entrance music. Frank Pembelton is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Gracie
vs
Pembelton

191 cm
31
186 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

177 cm
35
179 lbs
27 - 22 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

DoofenshmirtzDoofenshmirtz All 160 Supplements Inc

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 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Pembelton!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie moves forwards but Pembelton connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pembelton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a combination
and Pembelton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gracie throws a combination that misses
and Pembelton counters with a nice body shot.
Pembelton misses with a body shot.
Ryan Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pembelton moves away.
Pembelton shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pembelton tests Gracie's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gracie moves into range and connects with a jab.
Pembelton drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pembelton punishes Gracie's body with a nice straight punch.
Pembelton takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pembelton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pembelton.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pembelton postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Pembelton trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pembelton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pembelton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pembelton.
Gracie seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pembelton controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton prevents Gracie from getting back to his feet.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pembelton landing with the ground and pound.
Pembelton pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pembelton throws a strike but Gracie avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Pembelton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pembelton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pembelton looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton passes into half guard.
Pembelton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gracie keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Pembelton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Pembelton is trying to work for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Pembelton thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.
Pembelton looks to land a strike but Gracie avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pembelton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Pembelton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Pembelton dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pembelton ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie throws a right and a left that Pembelton avoids nicely.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
A lazy left from Gracie finds it's target.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie dips to his left and cracks Pembelton with an uppercut!
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.

Pembelton fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracie sprawls well initially but Pembelton persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Pembelton.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pembelton postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Pembelton isn't so interested in that idea.

Pembelton drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!
Frank Pembelton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pembelton manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Pembelton wants to get back to full guard.

Pembelton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Pembelton is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Pembelton has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gracie is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Pembelton.
Pembelton tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Pembelton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie working away.
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 Ryan Gracie will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pembelton takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gracie is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Pembelton moved out of range nicely.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Pembelton is just out of range.
Ryan Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie misses with a right hand
and Pembelton counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gracie bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Pembelton's head.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Pembelton keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie tries to bum rush Pembelton with a series of wild strikes but Pembelton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pembelton throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie lands with a nice body punch.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Pembelton throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pembelton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pembelton throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pembelton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Pembelton sizes up Gracie with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Pembelton circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie takes a swing at Pembelton's ribcage but misses.
Gracie's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pembelton connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gracie scrambles back to his feet.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie slips under a jab from Pembelton.
Gracie takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Pembelton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gracie on his heels. He'll look to pass Gracie's guard now, I'm sure.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Pembelton throws a strike but Gracie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pembelton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Pembelton is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pembelton working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie trying to control but Pembelton is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pembelton wants to sweep but no luck.

We're going to have a standup here because Ryan Gracie wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gracie jabs Pembelton right on the nose. Pembelton blinks but takes it well.
Ryan Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pembelton swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck for Pembelton with that takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gracie.
Pembelton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gracie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Frank Pembelton.
I think Pembelton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!