PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoel Eleazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Apaga Nao Bate. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gracie
vs
Eleazar

188 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

182 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Syndicate Drugs
Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Yoel Eleazar!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eleazar looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Eleazar persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Eleazar gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Eleazar avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.

Gracie has clasped his hands together around Eleazar's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Eleazar controls the position for a moment.
Eleazar is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Eleazar wants to get back to full guard.

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

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Eleazar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Eleazar is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eleazar is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Eleazar is defending well.
Eleazar is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Eleazar avoid being mounted?

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Eleazar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

so Eleazar counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Eleazar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Eleazar is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Eleazar's back instead.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eleazar wants to escape the position.
Eleazar breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Eleazar drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Eleazar off! Eleazar jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Eleazar is stalling in the full guard.
Eleazar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Gracie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Eleazar has picked Gracie up and slammed him! Gracie can't keep hold of the triangle and Eleazar manages to pass to side control!
Gracie prevents Eleazar from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eleazar is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Eleazar trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.

Eleazar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Eleazar tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.

Eleazar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Eleazar connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eleazar stays in close to Gracie's body and controls the position.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Eleazar is one step ahead there.
Eleazar trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eleazar passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Eleazar dominated that round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Eleazar drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.

Eleazar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.

Gracie with the active half guard here but Eleazar passes nicely into side control.
Eleazar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to bench press Eleazar off him but Eleazar keeps the position.

Eleazar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Eleazar advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Eleazar works his way into full mount!

Eleazar jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gracie manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Eleazar off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to stick to Eleazar's back but Eleazar is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Eleazar.
Yoel Eleazar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Eleazar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gracie is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Gracie is working for takedown but Eleazar is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gracie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Eleazar wants to break the clinch but can't.
Eleazar has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gracie avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Eleazar wants a takedown but no success here.
Eleazar is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
Eleazar wants to break free but Gracie has control.

Gracie jumps into guard, dragging Eleazar to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Eleazar stays in close to Gracie's body and controls the position.

Eleazar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Eleazar tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Eleazar trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

Gracie gets to his feet. Eleazar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gracie misses with a takedown

and Eleazar counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gracie's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Eleazar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Eleazar is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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

Eleazar looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Eleazar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Eleazar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Eleazar defends it.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Eleazar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Eleazar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Eleazar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eleazar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Eleazar is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Eleazar has escaped and now he's on top!
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Eleazar is one step ahead there.
Eleazar controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie is looking to sweep but instead, Eleazar has passed into half guard.
Eleazar passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gracie!
Eleazar fails to move to back control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Eleazar trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.

Eleazar stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Rob Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Eleazar with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Eleazar is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Eleazar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Eleazar wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Eleazar shoots and misses

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Eleazar fights it but they end up in guard.
Rob Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Eleazar.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Eleazar wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Eleazar controlling the position.
Gracie passes Eleazar's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Eleazar defends it.
Eleazar is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Eleazar moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Eleazar is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Eleazar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Eleazar has a closed guard, preventing Gracie from standing up.
Eleazar pulls Gracie in to control the position.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Gracie clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Eleazar with a poor takedown

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Eleazar looking to control.
Gracie trying to control but Eleazar is working from the bottom.
Gracie pushes down on Eleazar's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are battling for position here. Eleazar manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Eleazar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Eleazar is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Eleazar is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Eleazar manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Eleazar's guard.
Gracie wanted to stand there but Eleazar had control of the position.

Eleazar is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eleazar is keeping the position for now.

That's two 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 wants to stand and escape but instead Eleazar has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Eleazar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Eleazar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Eleazar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Eleazar tries to pass.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Eleazar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eleazar slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Eleazar works to advance to full mount. Gracie defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Eleazar with good strikes from the mount here!
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Eleazar is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Gracie is in real trouble.
Eleazar biding his time, controlling Gracie.
Eleazar doesn't have the hooks in and Gracie manages to turn into his guard.
Eleazar wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.

Eleazar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Gracie gets to his feet. Eleazar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Eleazar counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Yoel Eleazar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Eleazar gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Eleazar lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Eleazar's attempts to control the action.
Eleazar fails to move to back control.
Eleazar blocks Gracie's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Eleazar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gracie is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eleazar sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Eleazar has a good base and remains in mount.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Eleazar controlling the pace for now.
Gracie tries to improve his position but instead Eleazar has taken his back!
Eleazar tries to get the hooks in deep but Gracie pushed the leg off.
Gracie tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Eleazar landing strikes from the mount and Gracie is in trouble!
Gracie regains half guard.
Eleazar wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Eleazar works his way into full mount!
Gracie regains half guard.
Eleazar uses his free foot to push down on Gracie's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gracie.
Gracie is in a horrible position here. Eleazar smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eleazar looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Eleazar throws some wild stikes that Gracie manages to avoid easily.
Eleazar wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Eleazar trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Eleazar avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
Gracie can't escape the position.

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.

Eleazar looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Eleazar isn't that keen on the idea.
Eleazar tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Rob Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Eleazar sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eleazar wants to take Gracie's back but he can't do it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rob Gracie.
I think Eleazar has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 46:49
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 47:48
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoel Eleazar!
Yoel Eleazar is the new lightweight champion!