PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Helson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Zerra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's entrance music is My Life. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Zerra

175 cm
21
182 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

168 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Helson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Zerra!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zerra is trying to defend but Gracie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zerra is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Zerra is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zerra wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie prevents Zerra from getting the reversal.
Gracie throws some wild stikes that Zerra manages to avoid easily.
Gracie throws some wild stikes that Zerra manages to avoid easily.
Gracie content just to control the position here.
Zerra is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie looking to finish with strikes here!
Gracie sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie fails to move to back control.
Zerra can't escape the position.
Zerra is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zerra has given up his back here. Will Gracie look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Zerra defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gracie's arms.
Gracie trying to control momentarily.
Gracie struggling to land strikes to the head as Zerra covers up.
Zerra 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.
You can see the frustration on Zerra's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Gracie avoiding Zerra 's attempts to control his hands.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Gracie working for a choke but Zerra is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zerra can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Zerra trying to control the hands but Gracie breaks the grip.
Gracie is trying to stick to Zerra's back but Zerra is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Zerra.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zerra manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zerra has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Zerra's legs - danger averted.
Zerra has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gracie has passed into side control.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Zerra manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Gracie.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Zerra is retaining full guard.
Zerra looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zerra keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zerra trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie passes Zerra's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Zerra tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zerra keeps working.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie wants to control but Zerra is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zerra fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zerra moves away from the strike by Gracie.
Zerra tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zerra tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zerra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zerra wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helson Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie throws a front kick aimed at Zerra's knee but Zerra avoids it well.
Matt Zerra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zerra doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie throws the left hand but Zerra avoids the punch easily.
Zerra tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zerra tries to clinch up.
Zerra doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zerra looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.

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

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zerra, who protects the arm well.
Zerra prevents Gracie from improving position.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zerra is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position but Zerra is working away.
Zerra is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Zerra is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie controls the position.
Zerra wants to get back to his feet.
Zerra tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Gracie throws an elbow but Zerra slips to the side and avoids it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zerra tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerra stops Gracie from passing to mount.
Gracie taking a break here but Zerra is having none of it and regains half guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Zerra defends the submission attempt.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Zerra is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Zerra defending well.
Zerra tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

Gracie is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Zerra to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

Zerra scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie clinches up with Zerra and pushes him back against the cage.

Gracie pulls Zerra into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Zerra got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zerra has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helson Gracie dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zerra to score with a decent uppercut.
Zerra will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zerra throws a leg kick but Gracie moved away.
Zerra throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zerra throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zerra circles away.
Zerra lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Zerra works over Gracie's head and body with a nice combination.
Zerra tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Zerra fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gracie looks to land a right hand but Zerra moved out of range.
Zerra tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Zerra doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Zerra slips the punch.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
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!
A jab from Gracie misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zerra looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zerra digs a good hook to Gracie's body.
Matt Zerra is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zerra is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zerra tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Matt Zerra seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie trying to control but Zerra is working from the bottom.
Zerra wants to control but Gracie passes easily into half guard.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zerra tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Gracie has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Zerra keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Helson Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zerra bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie has his foot on Zerra's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zerra works his way back into a safe position though.
Zerra throws an elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zerra's guard. Nice move by Gracie!

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Helson Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerra can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.
Zerra wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Matt Zerra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zerra is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zerra is looking to stand back up but Gracie counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Zerra.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Zerra defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zerra is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Zerra looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Zerra.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helson Gracie!
Helson Gracie decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.