PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dorsey Kline (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dorsey Kline has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kline
vs
Gracie

197 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dorsey Kline!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kline instigates a clinch.

Kline turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Gracie parries the strikes from Kline easily there. Kline is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gracie to escape.
Gracie tries to bench press Kline off him but Kline keeps the position.
Gracie defending against the ground and pound.
Kline postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kline controlling the position from side mount.
Kline is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kline sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gracie is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kline tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kline will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Kline working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Kline sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
Gracie looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie goes for a double leg but Kline avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kline continues to drive forward.
Dorsey Kline has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Gracie.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Kline shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kline.

Kline shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Kline finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kline not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kline throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kline is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Kline trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kline throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.
Kline showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.
Kline appears to be looking for a big counter.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Kline tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kline manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kline counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kline.
Gracie prevents the takedown attempt.

Kline ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kline no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kline has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kline has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Kline's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dorsey Kline dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Kline's guard.
Kline is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kline is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Kline is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kline doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Kline is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Kline attempts a counter takedown but Gracie avoids it well and moves away.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Kline leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kline seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Dorsey Kline has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Gracie.

Kline closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kline lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kline throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kline is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Kline is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Gracie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kline wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kline throws a big right hand that misses.
Kline in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Kline sprawls well.

Gracie feints and as Kline raises his hands in defense, Gracie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Kline keeps moving.

Kline looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kline looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dorsey Kline will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

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

Kline looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kline keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kline is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie trying to control but Kline is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kline is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kline has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Kline's legs - danger averted.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Gracie dives in and scores a takedown into Kline's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Gracie has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Dorsey Kline overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie trying to control but Kline is working from the bottom.

Kline escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie postures up.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Kline sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kline is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Kline saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kline went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Kline bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kline is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Rio inform us that Gracie has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Kline throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kline accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kline throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Rafael Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dorsey Kline is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dorsey Kline has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Gracie.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kline throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kline is in Gracie's guard.

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 Dorsey Kline.
Well Kline 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dorsey Kline!