PBP Commentary

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

Gracie
vs
Manakain

180 cm
33
201 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

186 cm
26
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zelios Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Verush Manakain!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manakain looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Manakain misses with a straight left.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Manakain is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Manakain avoid being mounted?
Manakain is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Manakain is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Manakain really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Manakain is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've been hearing that Gracie has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manakain trying to control here.
Manakain is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Manakain won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gracie working Manakain over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Manakain defending well though.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Manakain tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant 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.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manakain trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Manakain is defending well.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manakain keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gracie scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An elbow from Gracie crashes against the mat.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Manakain is defending well.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Manakain is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zelios Gracie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Manakain.

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Manakain did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Manakain keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Manakain wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manakain is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Manakain avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Manakain dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Manakain is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Manakain avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Gracie throwing shots but Manakain is blocking nicely.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Manakain defends it well.
Manakain keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Manakain is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Manakain avoid being mounted?

Gracie is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Manakain is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zelios Gracie!