PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Azad Naja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haxon Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Naja
vs
Gracie

185 cm
23
175 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
177 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Pandora
Slaughterhouse Nutrition

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Azad Naja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Haxon Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Naja on that attempt.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Naja is on top in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gracie holds on and takes a little breather.

Naja drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Naja jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Naja controlling him for the moment.
Gracie controls Naja momentarily but Naja frees himself.

Naja drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Naja jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Naja trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Naja is one step ahead there.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A left lands for Naja.
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Naja. Naja gets slowly back to his feet.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Naja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Naja is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

Naja looking for submissions off his back.
Naja has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naja lands a couple of sideways elbows.

Naja is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Naja is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Naja is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Naja circles away and we're back to standing.

Naja clinches with his opponent.
Naja tries for a takedown but Gracie manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azad Naja. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Naja gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gracie regains guard.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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.
Gracie tries to control but Naja wriggling away.
Naja is working to get back to half guard.

Gracie with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Naja is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Naja regains half guard.
Naja is trying to get back to full guard.
Naja is looking to get back to full guard here but Gracie has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Naja is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Naja is looking to escape.
Naja is in all sorts of trouble here.

Gracie working for a submission but Naja is keeping him at bay.
Naja is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haxon Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Naja shoots for a double leg takedown but Gracie sprawls well. He's pushed Naja's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Naja closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gracie circles away.

Naja shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gracie's guard.

Naja drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Naja off! Naja jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Naja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie looking to control.
Naja preventing the sweep.
Naja wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Gracie working for a triangle but Naja defends it easily.
Gracie is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
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.
Naja looking to pass the guard.
Gracie is trying to keep Naja in close.
Naja wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Naja is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Naja shoots in looking for a takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl out of it but Naja keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Gracie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azad Naja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naja looks to land a body kick but Gracie moved away.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Naja circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Naja on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Naja on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Naja actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.
Naja is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Naja saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Naja looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Naja feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Naja keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naja has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gracie has passed into side control.
Naja takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Naja is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie is chipping away with strikes.
Gracie looks up at the clock and then as Naja takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Gracie smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Gracie taking a breather here.
Naja looking for a sweep but Gracie has passed into full mount! Oh no!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haxon Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Naja fails with a takedown attempt.
Haxon Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Naja shoots in but no luck this time.
Naja tries for a takedown but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azad Naja. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Naja scores with a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Naja is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Naja postures up.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Naja is one step ahead there.
Gracie trying to control the position here.
Naja wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Naja controlling him for the moment.
Naja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Naja on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Naja fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the ropes.

Gracie lands a takedown into guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Naja keeps moving.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Naja is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Naja tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working over Naja with some ground and pound. Naja looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Naja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Naja trying to control from the bottom.
Naja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Haxon Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Naja defends it well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Naja feints and as Gracie raises his hands in defense, Naja changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Naja is one step ahead there.
Naja advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Naja wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.

Naja tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Naja wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Naja's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Naja has control of the leg.
Gracie flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Naja is looking for a kimura but Gracie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Naja to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
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.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Naja is working away.
Naja is looking to improve his position.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Naja's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Naja.
Naja tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Haxon Gracie.
I've got Gracie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight for Haxon Gracie!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Haxon Gracie!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Haxon Gracie!

Haxon Gracie wins by unanimous decision!