PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Dean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Dean has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Dean
vs
Gracie

166 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

163 cm
25
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, James Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie gets the takedown into side control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dean is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dean being controlled for a moment.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dean is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie just content to control the position.
Dean tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Dean's shoulder. That is not cool.
Dean is looking for a sweep.
Gracie controlling from side mount.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dean, who protects the arm well.
Dean tries to improve position but can't.
Dean is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Dean is looking to improve his position.
Gracie keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Gracie gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Dean fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Dean gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gracie to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Dean manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dean looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Dean jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gracie manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dean off and has taken his back!
Gracie controls the position.
Gracie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is hanging on to Dean's back as he tries to escape.
Gracie just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Antonio Gracie wasn't active enough on the ground.
Dean stalks Gracie and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gracie's face. Gracie staggers backwards, shaken.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dean's half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dean looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Dean is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dean.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
Gracie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.

Dean with the active half guard here but Gracie passes nicely into side control.
Dean prevents Gracie from improving position.
Dean is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean trying to remain calm as Gracie controls from the top position.
Dean gets back to half guard.
Dean is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Antonio Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dean is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Dean is trying to get back to full guard.

Dean is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.

Dean actively working from the bottom here.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Dean wants to get back to full guard but Gracie has passed into side control.
Dean looks to move to half guard but instead Gracie has passed into mount! Damn!
Gracie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dean is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Dean won't allow it.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dean is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Gracie jumps into side control!
Dean is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie stands up.
Dean scores with a nice right hand.
James Dean seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dean pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Gracie back to the cage. Dean follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dean.
Dean loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
A shot to the body from Dean misses

and Gracie moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dean throws a head punch that misses.
Dean is trying to force a seperation but Gracie has the dominant position.
Gracie stalling against the cage.

Gracie has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dean uses from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dean drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dean jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Antonio Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie clinches up against the cage.
Gracie's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Dean looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A left hand lands to the body for Gracie.
Gracie scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gracie lands with a light punch inside.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.

Gracie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Gracie.
Gracie lands with a right to the head.
Gracie lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dean.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gracie takes one on the button.
Nice uppercut there from Dean.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dean was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Dean working for submissions but it's allowed Gracie to get to half guard.
Dean is looking to improve his position.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Dean is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Gracie stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dean.
The fighters circle momentarily. Dean darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Gracie looking to score a takedown here. Dean is defending well but Gracie drives through and ends up in Dean's guard.
James Dean has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dean looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gracie is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Dean has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Gracie is looking to defend but Dean has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Gracie! Dean pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Gracie taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). James Dean!