PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mateus Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rourke has chosen Rolling Stones - Paint it black as his entrance music. 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
Rourke

180 cm
29
197 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

182 cm
32
196 lbs
25 - 13 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mateus Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Mikko Rourke!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rourke's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Gracie connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rourke scrambles back to his feet.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gracie throws a leg kick
and Rourke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gracie checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gracie connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rourke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rourke throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on Rourke's shoulder, as Rourke tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gracie takes one on the button.
Gracie ducks right into an uppercut from Rourke.
Gracie throws a head kick but Rourke moves out of range.
Rourke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rourke throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Rourke throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Rourke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Rourke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to chop away at Rourke's legs.
Gracie misses with a straight left.
Gracie shoots in but Rourke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rourke takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A low kick from Rourke misses

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rourke blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rourke!
Gracie raining down shots from the mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rourke is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gracie throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rourke because Gracie loaded up on that one.
Rourke is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie cracks Rourke with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Gracie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gracie cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gracie prevents Rourke from getting the reversal.
Gracie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke gets back to half guard.
Gracie lands with a punch from half guard.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Rourke's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rourke is holding on for now.
Rourke is trying to control but can't.
Rourke blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Rourke tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nice strikes from Gracie there.
Rourke is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Rourke is defending well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie passes to side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rourke is avoiding damage well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateus Gracie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rourke.
Donk. Gracie catches Rourke right on the button with a cross.
Rourke fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gracie on the side of the head.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Rourke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rourke loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rourke lands a jab.
Gracie motions for Rourke to come forward. Gracie throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rourke.
Gracie misses the jab.
Gracie scores with a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie gets a double leg takedown into Rourke's guard.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Rourke is looking for a triangle here but Gracie uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie works his way into side control.
Gracie slows the pace down.
Mateus 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.
Rourke avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gracie.
Rourke sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rourke regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Rourke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rourke does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gracie is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie drops an elbow to the side of Rourke's head.
Gracie landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rourke wants to get back to full guard.

Rourke looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Rourke is defending well.
Gracie is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looks to land a strike but Rourke avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rourke keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rourke is trying to keep Gracie in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateus Gracie dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rourke motions for Gracie to come forward. Rourke throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rourke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Rourke throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Rourke throws a low kick but Gracie moves out of range easily.
Rourke looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.

Rourke throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gracie was covering up waiting for the punch and Rourke finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie landing punches.
Rourke tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rourke is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.
Gracie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rourke can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gracie scoring with strikes but Rourke is staying in there.

Rourke is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rourke taking shots to the head.
Rourke is still in real trouble! Can Gracie finish him?
Gracie postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Rourke badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Gracie around the waist but Gracie pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Gracie is the winner by TKO! Gracie jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mateus Gracie!
A relieved looking Mateus 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.