PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zelios Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tien Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Jaa

180 cm
35
201 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

190 cm
29
190 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zelios Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tien Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Jaa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gracie goes for a double leg but Jaa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jaa continues to drive forward.
Jaa prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zelios Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jaa tries to stall but Gracie uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jaa displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gracie up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Jaa.
Jaa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jaa controlling the action here for a moment.
Jaa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Jaa is trying to maintain a safe position but Gracie gets an underhook and turns Jaa into the cage.
Jaa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jaa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tien Jaa.
Jaa misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.

Jaa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jaa is struggling to control the position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Gracie lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

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

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

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

Jaa makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tien Jaa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jaa tries a head kick but it misses.
Jaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jaa misses with a head kick.
Jaa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jaa leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jaa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Jaa gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gracie working the head with strikes.
Jaa tries to escape but Gracie is in control.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jaa keeps working.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jaa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Jaa parries the strikes from Gracie easily there. Gracie is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Jaa to escape.
Jaa dodges the ground and pound from Gracie.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Jaa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jaa has escaped the position, nice work there.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Jaa, who protects the arm well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jaa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Gracie has an Americana. Jaa didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Gracie is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Gracie hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Zelios Gracie!