PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Roper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Roper's choice of entrance music: Mr.Roper, Mr.Roper by Irish Terry Conklin. Jim Roper will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gracie
vs
Roper

178 cm
29
220 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

187 cm
19
206 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Robert Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim Roper!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Francis DeMontford and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie slips under a jab.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Roper listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gracie looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Roper throws a low kick, looking for Gracie's leg but Gracie calmly moves out of range.
We've been informed that Roper has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Roper lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gracie checks a leg kick.
Roper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Jim Roper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Roper looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Roper moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roper fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie prevents Roper from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roper keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Roper has hold of Gracie's hands but Gracie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie is pressing down on Roper's thigh, looking to free his foot. Roper is holding on for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Roper with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Roper is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Roper taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie unloading with bombs!

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Roper can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie raining down hammerfists from mount.
Roper is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
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 breaks from Roper's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roper is in a horrible position here. Gracie smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Gracie lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Roper is bucking up trying to escape but Gracie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gracie is landing with some decent strikes but Roper is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gracie lands a heavy shot. That's hurt Roper! Gracie sees the opportunity and turns up the heat - strike after strike land to the defenseless Roper and the ref dives in to save him! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Robert Gracie!