PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kesigan Weidman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Kesigan Weidman has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Weidman
vs
Gracie

188 cm
25
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kesigan Weidman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chael Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weidman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Gracie wants to stand up but Weidman is controlling the position.
Gracie trying to control the pace.
Weidman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Weidman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie postures up in Weidman's guard and throws a big left but Weidman blocks it.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Weidman is keeping the position.
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.
It looks like Gracie might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chael Gracie was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Weidman tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch.

Gracie has hold of one of Weidman's legs. Weidman is fighting the takedown attempt but Gracie gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Weidman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie is pushing down on Weidman's leg trying to pass to half guard. Weidman is fighting to maintain full guard but Gracie has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Gracie has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chael Gracie hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Weidman tries to clinch up

and Gracie moves into the clinch.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Weidman fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Weidman tries to clinch up
and Gracie finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Weidman moves to clinch but Gracie breaks away

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Weidman prevents it.
Kesigan Weidman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Gracie.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.

Gracie is trying to trip Weidman. He has hold of a leg but Weidman is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gracie persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Weidman keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Gracie dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Weidman with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gracie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Weidman prevents the takedown attempt.

Gracie decides to pull guard.
Gracie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weidman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Weidman.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Weidman from controlling successfully.
Weidman is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.
Gracie is pulling down on Weidman's head to control his posture.

Gracie has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Weidman doesn't defend quickly enough and Gracie has managed to lock this one up! Can Weidman escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Gracie on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Chael Gracie!
A relieved looking Chael 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.