PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damon Acevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Graice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Acevedo
vs
Graice

183 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Damon Acevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcelo Graice!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Acevedo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Acevedo really is a fat lump.

Acevedo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Acevedo jumps into guard, dragging Graice to the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Graice trying to control the position from guard on top but Acevedo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graice has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Acevedo is proving hard to escape from.
Acevedo controlling Graice's posture.
Acevedo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Acevedo has a closed guard, preventing Graice from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Graice drives through and clinches with Acevedo against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acevedo successfully pulls guard.
Acevedo trying to control the position.
Acevedo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Graice on the ground.
Graice looking to pass the guard.
Graice is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Graice lands a couple of digs.
Graice works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Graice.
Graice slips a nice elbow through Acevedo's hands, connecting with Acevedo's forehead.
Graice takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Graice 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.
Graice trying to control the action but Acevedo is working from the bottom.
Graice lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graice wants to take a breather but Acevedo is having none of it.
Graice scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ground and pound from Graice.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Graice is pressing down on Acevedo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Acevedo is holding on for now.
Acevedo tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Graice manages to move to mount!
Graice trying to control but Acevedo is having none of it.
Graice content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo wants to hold on but Graice pushes him away.
Graice can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Acevedo is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Graice controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Graice closes this distance looking for a takedown but Acevedo circles away.
Graice throws a head kick that misses
enabling Acevedo to counter with a crisp jab.
Acevedo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Graice avoids it really well and circles away.
Graice throws a lazy head kick
and Acevedo counters with a nice uppercut.

Acevedo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Graice did well to prevent Acevedo getting side control.
Graice keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Graice wants to control but Acevedo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Graice tries to get to full guard but Acevedo has control of the leg.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Graice. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Graice is pressing down on Acevedo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graice has Acevedo pulled in close to control his posture.
Marcelo Graice has got the better of the ground game so far.
Acevedo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Graice works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Graice wants to sweep here but Acevedo controlling him for the moment.

Graice looking for a guillotine here but Acevedo defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graice seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Graice looking to hit a scissor sweep but Acevedo is one step ahead there.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graice working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Acevedo.
Graice is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Graice seems keen to control Acevedo's posture.

Marcelo Graice has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Acevedo scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Acevedo dives in and scores a takedown into Graice's guard.
Graice working a defensive guard here.
Graice pulls Acevedo in close to prevent any damage.
Acevedo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Acevedo is in close to Graice's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Graice is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Acevedo is aware though and is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Acevedo trying to control but Graice is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Graice showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Graice steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Acevedo. That one must have hurt.

Graice gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Graice is trying to maintain a safe position but Acevedo gets an underhook and turns Graice into the cage.
Acevedo is struggling to control the position.
Graice is working for takedown but Acevedo is calmly controlling the position for now.

Acevedo jumps guard and drags Graice to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Graice pushing down on Acevedo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Acevedo is trying to control but can't.

Graice stands up out of the half guard.

Graice moves into range and clinches up with Acevedo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graice wants to break free but Acevedo has control.

Acevedo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Graice preventing the sweep.
Graice throws a big elbow that misses.

Graice stands and steps away. Acevedo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Acevedo shoots in and drives through. Graice sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A lazy body kick from Graice
and Acevedo counters with a leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Acevedo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Graice is defended easily by Acevedo.
Acevedo tries to clinch up but Graice circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graice has closed the distance and engaged Acevedo in a clinch.
Graice drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Damon Acevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Graice.
Acevedo tries to pull guard but Graice won't allow it.
Graice wants a takedown but no success here.
Acevedo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Graice walks away with a smile on his face. Acevedo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Graice throws a combination that misses
letting Acevedo counter with a right hand.

Graice clinches up with Acevedo and pushes him back against the cage.

Acevedo drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Acevedo isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Graice stacks Acevedo on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Graice!
Graice wants to control but Acevedo is keeping him busy.
Graice might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Acevedo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Graice working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graice decides to stand back up.
Acevedo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Graice has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Graice tries a low kick but Acevedo avoids it.
Graice throws a series of punches but Acevedo moves out of range.
Graice fails with the takedown.
A lazy body kick from Graice

and Acevedo moves into the clinch.
Graice misses with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Acevedo has Graice pressed against the cage, preventing Graice from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graice throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Damon Acevedo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcelo Graice is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Acevedo lands a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcelo Graice comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Graice winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelo Graice!