PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zoran Hribar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hribar
vs
Gracie

170 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
179 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zoran Hribar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie goes for a double leg but Hribar avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hribar continues to drive forward.
Hribar tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Hribar won't allow it.
Gracie avoiding damage as Hribar throws knees to the body.
Hribar is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hribar ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hribar no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hribar 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.

Hribar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hribar 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hribar can't do much from the bottom here.
The ground and pound from Gracie seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gracie working the ground and pound but Hribar is defending the strikes.
Gracie misses with the ground and pound.
Hribar is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gracie trying to control the action but Hribar is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hribar haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hribar wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Hribar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hribar isn't going anywhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hribar is defended easily by Gracie.

Hribar has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stalling in the clinch from Hribar.

Hribar manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hribar 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.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
Hribar keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Matt Gracie has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hribar lands with a shot to the body.
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 Zoran Hribar 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.

Hribar shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hribar's waist but Hribar gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Hribar misses with a few strikes there.
Nice takedown defense from Hribar. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Hribar throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Hribar lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Matt Gracie has been cut.
Hribar wants to clinch.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Hribar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zoran Hribar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Gracie.

Hribar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hribar jumps guard but Gracie stands there with Hribar around his waist. Hribar gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hribar slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to break free of the clinch but Hribar has double underhooks.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hribar walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hribar shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gracie eats them both and turns towards Hribar to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Gracie misses with a body shot.

Hribar fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.
Hribar is trying to force a seperation but Gracie has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hribar prevents the takedown attempt.
Hribar is trying to break the clinch but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie is trying to force a seperation but Hribar has the dominant position.
Hribar jumps guard but Gracie turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.
Hribar throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hribar wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Hribar stalks Gracie and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gracie's face. Gracie staggers backwards, shaken.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Hribar sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Hribar. Hribar maintains the clinch.
Gracie jumps guard but Hribar turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hribar is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A frustrated look appears on Hribar's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Hribar pulls Gracie into guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Hribar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hribar pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie pushes down on Hribar's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hribar controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hribar has a hand on Gracie's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Gracie takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie prevents Hribar from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoran Hribar dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Gracie's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gracie looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Hribar fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.

Hribar manages to break the clinch.

Gracie gets caught napping as Hribar dives in and scores a takedown. Gracie manages to retain guard.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Gracie.
Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hribar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hribar moves into the clinch successfully.
Hribar has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hribar wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Hribar manages to get underhooks.
Gracie jumps guard but Hribar turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie prevents Hribar from breaking the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Gracie.
Hribar tries to circle away but Gracie has him pinned against the cage.
Hribar is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
Gracie prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to push Hribar away but Hribar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Hribar gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Hribar turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Zoran Hribar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Gracie.
Hribar leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hribar blocks a body shot from Gracie.
Hribar jumps guard but Gracie stands there with Hribar around his waist. Hribar gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gracie is looking to break free of the clinch but Hribar has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hribar tries to pull guard but Gracie holds him up against the cage and eventually Hribar drops back down to his feet.
Hribar scores with a hook to the body.
Gracie stalling in the clinch but Hribar improves position.
Hribar slowing the pace effectively.

Hribar decides to pull guard.
Hribar controlling Gracie's posture.
Hribar 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hribar is pulling down on Gracie's head to control his posture.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Hribar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Zoran Hribar.
Hribar wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie leaves Hribar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hribar could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Hribar moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zoran Hribar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hribar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zoran Hribar!
An out of breath Zoran Hribar thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.