PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matt Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabriel Gracie looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Garcia
vs
Gracie

166 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matt Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Gabriel Gracie!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Garcia persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.
Garcia throws a head kick that misses.
Garcia tries to land a leg kick but Gracie saw it coming and moves away.
Garcia shoots in and drives through. Gracie sprawls well.
Garcia tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Garcia is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Garcia displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Garcia fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Garcia avoids them all with ease.
Gracie wants to clinch
and Garcia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Garcia saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Garcia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Garcia wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Garcia.
Gracie tries to clinch up.

Garcia changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie looks winded!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Garcia's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Garcia performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gracie tries to roll over but Garcia keeps him under control.
Garcia thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Garcia stalling.
Garcia is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Garcia slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Garcia wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Garcia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Garcia wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Garcia.
Nice sprawl there from Garcia as Gracie shoots in.
Garcia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gracie's waist but Gracie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Garcia off to one side.
A head kick by Garcia misses
and Gracie counters with a right hand to the body.

Gracie takes the fight into the clinch.
Garcia lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Garcia or perhaps it was just good defense by Gracie which made him look bad.
Garcia throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gracie on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Garcia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Garcia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Garcia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.

Gracie moves into range and clinches up with Garcia.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Garcia gets the underhooks and prevents it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garcia wants to get back to striking at distance but Gracie won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Garcia dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gracie pushes Garcia up against the cage in a clinch.
Garcia is trying to pull guard but Gracie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Gracie pulls Garcia into guard.

Gracie has his feet on Garcia's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Garcia shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
Garcia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Gracie moves into range and clinches up with Garcia.

Gracie breaks the clinch.
Garcia fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Garcia circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gracie sprawls well. Gracie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Garcia gets slowly back to his feet.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Garcia looking to slow down the pace here.
Gracie has Garcia pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Garcia manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Garcia jumps guard.

Garcia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Garcia 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but instead Garcia has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Garcia postures up.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garcia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Garcia is pushing down on Gracie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gracie is fighting to maintain full guard but Garcia has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Garcia tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Garcia controlling from the top position.
Garcia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Garcia off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Garcia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
Garcia on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gracie. Gracie obviously looking to wear him down.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Garcia sprawls well.
Garcia swinging wildly here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gabriel Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Garcia stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Garcia or perhaps it was just good defense by Gracie which made him look bad.
Garcia is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Garcia is defended easily by Gracie.
Garcia tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Garcia sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Matt Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Gracie.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gracie sprawls well. Gracie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Garcia gets slowly back to his feet.
Garcia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Garcia circles away and keeps his distance.
Garcia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
Garcia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Garcia sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Garcia. Garcia gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Garcia sprawls well. Garcia wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Garcia looks for a takedown but Gracie sprawls well.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie throws a head kick that Garcia semi-blocks.
Garcia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Garcia persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Garcia dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Garcia's head and hops out.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense.
Garcia chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gracie can pounce on him.
Garcia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gracie's waist but Gracie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Garcia off to one side.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Garcia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Garcia has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gracie is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Gracie pulls guard successfully.
Garcia looking to pass the guard.
Garcia trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Garcia is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matt Garcia.
I think Garcia 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Garcia!