PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Galaxy Nexus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Nexus
vs
Gracie

182 cm
23
170 lbs
11 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
167 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ice Nutrition
Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Galaxy Nexus!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronaldo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nexus.
Nexus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Nexus moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Nexus won't allow it.

Gracie manages to pull guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nexus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nexus doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nexus manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Nexus from controlling successfully.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nexus is aware though and is defending well.
Nexus throwing strikes but missing.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Nexus pushes his legs off easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nexus is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nexus landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nexus with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gracie controls Nexus momentarily but Nexus frees himself.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nexus has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nexus postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nexus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nexus sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Nexus avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gracie throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nexus escapes and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nexus's best efforts.
Nexus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ground and pound from Nexus.
Nexus working the head and body with strikes.
Nexus lands with a punch from half guard.
Nexus working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Nexus trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nexus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nexus with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nexus defends well.
Nexus is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nexus keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nexus wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie controls Nexus momentarily but Nexus frees himself.
Nexus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nexus is aware though and is defending well.
Nexus trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nexus avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Nexus from controlling successfully.
Nexus looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
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 Galaxy Nexus will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie tries to move into range but Nexus moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nexus swings away with a body shot that misses

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Nexus blocks the move with his legs.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nexus, who protects the arm well.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nexus keeps working.
Nexus tries to improve position but can't.
Nexus is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nexus is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Nexus!
Nexus really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Gracie moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Nexus has worked his arm free - good work by Nexus!
Nexus is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Nexus still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Nexus has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Nexus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nexus working the ground and pound.
Gracie is not content to let Nexus control the position.
Nexus in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nexus controlling the action here.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nexus defends it easily.

Gracie has his foot on Nexus's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nexus works his way back into a safe position though.
Nexus lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nexus with a nice head shot there.
Nexus trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nexus lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Nexus from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nexus landing with the ground and pound.

Gracie has his foot on Nexus's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nexus works his way back into a safe position though.
Nexus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

Gracie looking for subs off his back but Nexus has passed one foot through into half guard.
Nexus trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nexus frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Galaxy Nexus will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nexus rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nexus slows down the pace here.
Nexus lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Nexus turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Nexus tries to move to mount but Gracie blocks the move with his legs.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nexus wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Gracie prevents Nexus from moving into mount.
Nexus is chipping away with strikes.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nexus wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nexus passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Galaxy Nexus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Nexus has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Nexus landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nexus lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nexus wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Nexus working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Gracie is rocked!
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie is still in real trouble! Can Nexus finish him?
Gracie preventing the sweep.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Gracie working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Nexus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie seems to have recovered his senses.
Nexus keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie passes Nexus's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Nexus wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Nexus is defending the position.
Nexus trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Nexus wants to get back to full guard but Gracie has mounted him!
Nexus is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nexus is now in Gracie's guard. A big mistake from Gracie there, giving up the dominant position!
Nexus landing with the ground and pound.

Nexus is sitting in close to Gracie's body. Gracie has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Nexus is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Nexus is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Gracie.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ronaldo Gracie!
Ronaldo Gracie is the new welterweight champion!
Ronaldo Gracie decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.