PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruan Pott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pott comes to the cage accompanied by Winter Rose. Helio Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pott
vs
Gracie

180 cm
26
208 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ruan Pott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Helio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pott with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pott circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pott lands a leg kick that knocks Gracie off balance momentarily.
Nice straight punches there by Pott. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Pott.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pott. That's going to slow Gracie down.
Gracie looks to clinch

and Pott counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Pott lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Pott defends easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Pott is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pott missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pott stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Pott loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pott keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Pott is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pott is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pott working the head and body with strikes.
Pott lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pott winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Pott thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Pott missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pott is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Pott has control of the leg.
Pott is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
BOOM! Pott connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pott cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pott lands a couple of good shots and Gracie has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Gracie tries to break free.
Pott is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Gracie. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Gracie tries to roll but Pott sticks to his back.
Pott has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie trying to control but Pott postures up.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Pott there.
Pott is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Pott has control of the leg.
Pott tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Pott knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Pott moves into full mount! Gracie won't be happy about that!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pott prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Pott putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gracie sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Pott lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gracie tries to roll over but Pott keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruan Pott dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Pott counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Gracie has an active guard here but Pott has managed to pass into half guard.
Gracie is trying to stand.
Gracie has hold of Pott's hands but Pott slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pott thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pott working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pott lands strikes from half guard.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pott's guard.

Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Pott.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pott is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Pott is looking to reverse the position.
Pott is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pott tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie throws an elbow but Pott slips to the side and avoids it well.
Pott is looking for a sweep.
Sloppy strikes there by Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Pott's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pott managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gracie.
Gracie working the head with strikes.
Gracie tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Pott manages to get back to half guard.
Pott is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Pott blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Pott is defending well.
Pott tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Gracie has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie breaks from Pott's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gracie lands a couple of good shots and Pott has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Pott is in bad spot here.

Gracie is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Pott grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Gracie has Pott flattened out and is raining down punches.

Gracie looking to break Pott's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Pott remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Gracie controlling well, preventing Pott from escaping the position.
The referee is taking a good look at Pott as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Gracie!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pott tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pott is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Gracie gets his way!
Pott wants to escape the position.
Pott is working hard here to advance position.
Well, with Gracie on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Pott is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Gracie has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Pott.
Gracie is landing with strikes. Pott can't take much more of this.
Gracie somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Pott tries to roll but Gracie sticks to his back.
Pott breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
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.

Pott tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Pott is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A solid body kick from Pott.
Gracie closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pott counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Ruan Pott overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pott stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie pulls Pott in close to prevent any damage.
Pott scoring with some ground and pound.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pott can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Pott slips an elbow through the middle.
Pott landing with the ground and pound.
Pott is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pott throws an elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pott's guard. Nice move by Gracie!

Pott looking for a sweep. Not yet Pott, not yet.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Pott on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pott tries to get out of the position.
Pott makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pott.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pott works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Pott blocks nicely.
Pott wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pott wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie is working Pott over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Pott blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Pott keeps moving.
Pott is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pott's guard.
Pott is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie is trying to control. Pott wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pott with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pott on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pott manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gracie passes Pott's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Pott defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pott gets full guard.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gracie scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pott wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie postures up and lands a big shot to Pott's brow.
Pott is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gracie pushes down on Pott's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie prevents Pott from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pott blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Helio Gracie.
I think Gracie 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helio Gracie!
Ruan Pott was interviewed post fight and said 'I'm sorry my dear country, I'm sorry my dear fans, I promise you I'll do more in my next fight.'.