PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mateus Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kid rock - Cowboy. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
James

180 cm
30
192 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

186 cm
34
190 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 16 - 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 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ron James!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James throws a leg kick

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gracie throwing shots but missing, from side control.
James is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
James is not content to let Gracie control the position.
James is trying to improve his position.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James taking a bit of punishment here - Gracie scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Gracie creates some space and throws a big elbow, but James sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gracie throwing strikes but James manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
James controlling the position from side mount.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom here.
Sloppy strikes there by James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.
James working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
James throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie tries to roll over but James keeps him under control.
James stalling.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gracie trying to control from the bottom.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of James's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take James's back!
James turns into Gracie and is now in his guard.
James scoring with some ground and pound.
James wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James chips away with some ground and pound.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James advances position into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mateus Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James throws a body kick that misses.
James throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
James thows a body shot but no joy.
James connects with a body shot that sends Gracie's belly button to the back.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
James lands a leg kick that knocks Gracie off balance momentarily.
Gracie checks a leg kick.
Gracie takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Gracie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
James throws a leg kick but Gracie moved away.
Gracie misses with a body punch
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ron James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gracie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling James to score with a decent uppercut.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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.
Gracie wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mateus Gracie has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gracie.
James avoids the body shot from Gracie.
James scores with a push kick.
Gracie attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Gracie - that will leave a mark!
James throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
A jab lands there for Gracie.
James tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by James.
James tries to land a leg kick but Gracie saw it coming and moves away.
Gracie is looking to slow James down with leg kicks.
James connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A left lands for Gracie.
Gracie looks to land a body kick but James moved away.
James keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.
Gracie throws a leg kick but James checks it.
James shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. James sees it coming and avoids it easily.
James lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
James throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James thows a leg kick but Gracie checks it

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for James!
The referee asks Gracie politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gracie prefers to stall for the moment though.
James trying to control but Gracie flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Gracie missing with strikes from the back.
James is trapped and Gracie is scoring with shots to the head and body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.
James looking very determined here, making life difficult for Gracie.
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 Mateus Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

James takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gracie throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
James misses with a low kick.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie connects with a crisp jab.
James misses the shot to the body.
Gracie blocks a jab.
James is looking to score with low kicks.
James fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
James lands with a thumping leg kick.
James slips under a jab.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie. Gracie circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gracie missing with a left hand there. James was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gracie swings away with a leg kick that misses.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gracie as he avoids it easily.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie moves into range and connects with a jab.
James buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
James misses with a low kick.
Gracie throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
Gracie walks into a straight right hand from James.
Gracie checks a low kick from James.
Some bone on bone action there as Gracie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
James checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Gracie.
James goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gracie lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and James has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from James and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A chopping leg kick lands by James.
Ron James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping James at a distance.
James attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie feints a jab promting James to slip. Gracie then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. James slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
James moves out of range as Gracie strikes.
A solid body kick from James.
James lands a front kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James moves out of range of the strikes.
James throws out a leg kick but Gracie moves out of range and James only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
James throws a leg kick that is checked

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
James manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.
James trying to control but Gracie postures up.
James tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but James defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gracie lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
James tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Mateus Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. James knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mateus Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James trying to control but Gracie postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.

James looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ron James.
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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mateus Gracie!
Mateus Gracie seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.