PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phillip Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mario Gracie has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Phillip Gardner's chin.

Gardner
vs
Gracie

191 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
204 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Phillip Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mario Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Damien Edna and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries for a takedown but Gardner circles away easily

and Gardner counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Gardner is controlling well.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gardner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Gracie is trying to keep Gardner in close.
Gracie is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Gardner wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Gardner isn't so interested in that idea.
Gardner wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Gardner.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gracie throws a lazy head kick

and Gardner counters with a single leg into guard. Gracie didn't expect that.
Gardner will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gardner is one step ahead there.
Gardner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Gardner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Gardner postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mario Gracie wasn't active enough on the ground.

Gardner looking to score a takedown here. Gracie is defending well but Gardner drives through and ends up in Gracie's guard.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gardner wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.
Gardner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mario Gracie wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gardner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Gardner sprawls well.
Phillip Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Gracie.
Gracie looks winded!
Gracie tries to clinch
and Gardner counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Gardner.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Gardner. Gardner maintains the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
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!
Gracie has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gardner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip Gardner dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie shoots and misses

and Gardner decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gracie's guard.
Gracie wants to stand but Gardner is controlling the position.
Gardner wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gardner is one step ahead there.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gardner manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Gardner is keeping the position.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Gardner looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gardner throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gardner will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Gardner punching from the bottom - just letting Gracie know he's still in a fight.
Gardner trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Gardner looking to control.
Gracie pushing down on Gardner's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gardner lands with a few short shots to the body.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gardner is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gardner doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gardner trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.
Gardner is looking to improve his position.

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! Gardner is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mario Gracie!