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). This should be fireworks!

Gracie
vs
Manakain

180 cm
34
201 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

186 cm
28
190 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Solid boxing
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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zelios Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Verush Manakain!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gracie prevents Manakain from standing back up.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Manakain wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Manakain defends it well.

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 wants to work for an arm triangle but Manakain is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Manakain is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Manakain defends the submission attempt.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

Manakain is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control. Manakain wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manakain wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Manakain sees it coming and defends easily.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Manakain defends the submission attempt.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.

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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Manakain is defending it quite comfortably.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Manakain fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Manakain swivels and escapes.

Gracie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Manakain on his heels. He'll look to pass Manakain's guard now, I'm sure.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Manakain keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Manakain is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Manakain is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manakain keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

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.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Manakain sees it coming and defends easily.
Manakain is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Manakain defends the submission attempt.

Manakain is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Manakain tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Manakain doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Manakain is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

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.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Manakain defending well.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Manakain is working away.
Manakain is looking to escape.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Manakain is defending well.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Manakain doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Manakain is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zelios Gracie dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Manakain, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Manakain against the cage but Manakain circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Manakain sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Manakain wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manakain is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Manakain defending well.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Manakain is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Manakain is trying to stand.
Verush Manakain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manakain trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.
Manakain is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!

Gracie is working for a guillotine from mount but Manakain frees his head quite easily.
Manakain bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie controls Manakain momentarily but Manakain frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manakain got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Manakain has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Gracie has his foot on Manakain's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Manakain works his way back into a safe position though.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
You get the feeling that Manakain really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Manakain is on top in guard.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Manakain pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zelios Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gracie 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zelios Gracie!