PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Armen Tanzarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanzarian comes to the cage accompanied by Steve Winwood - Higher Love. Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Matanza - Meio Psicopata kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Armen Tanzarian could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Chuck Gracie's chin.

Tanzarian
vs
Gracie

190 cm
23
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

192 cm
23
225 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Armen Tanzarian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chuck Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie clinches up with Tanzarian and pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie misses with the head strike.

Tanzarian is trying to trip Gracie. He has hold of a leg but Gracie is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Tanzarian persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Tanzarian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tanzarian is controlling him.
Tanzarian thows a big elbow that misses.
Tanzarian scoring with some ground and pound.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Tanzarian tries to pass.
Tanzarian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tanzarian is one step ahead there.
Gracie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tanzarian. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but Tanzarian is having none of it.
Tanzarian with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tanzarian throws a big right hand that misses.
Tanzarian wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Tanzarian is breathing heavily.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie jabs Tanzarian right on the nose. Tanzarian blinks but takes it well.

Gracie rushes Tanzarian and presses him up against the cage.
Gracie scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gracie connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tanzarian's face.
Gracie scores with a knee to the head.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.
Gracie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gracie scores with a knee to the head.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but Tanzarian blocks it.
Gracie holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Tanzarian is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Gracie lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tanzarian is working for takedown but Gracie is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gracie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tanzarian blocks it with crossed arms.
Gracie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanzarian wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armen Tanzarian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanzarian has Gracie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gracie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie pressing his opponent against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gracie creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tanzarian takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gracie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tanzarian tries to score a body lock takedown but Gracie shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nice body punch from Gracie.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tanzarian as Gracie tries to tie him up.
Gracie landing knees to the head.
Tanzarian dodges an elbow strike from Gracie.
Tanzarian letting Gracie take a breather here.
Gracie looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Gracie dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tanzarian takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tanzarian looks for a takedown but Gracie sprawls well.

Gracie darts in and clinches Tanzarian up against the cage.
Gracie manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gracie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie slowing the pace effectively.
Tanzarian goes for a takedown attempt but Gracie pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Tanzarian gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Tanzarian is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie lands a knee to the body.
The is referee keeping an eye on Gracie - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short right from Gracie on the inside.
Gracie's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Chuck Gracie.
Tanzarian takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gracie lands with a kick to the temple. Tanzarian shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Chuck Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gracie scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Nice body kick from Gracie.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Gracie - that will leave a mark!
Gracie lands with a hook. Tanzarian tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gracie lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gracie!
Gracie uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tanzarian takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Tanzarian takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gracie lands a jab-cross combination.
Gracie is looking to clinch but Tanzarian is avoiding it.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanzarian takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tanzarian takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Tanzarian steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Gracie. That one must have hurt.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Gracie stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but Tanzarian blocks with his arms.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tanzarian as Gracie tries to tie him up.
Tanzarian blocks the elbow strike.
Tanzarian wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armen Tanzarian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie lands with a right to the head.
Still in the clinch, Gracie scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gracie lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gracie lands an elbow inside that Tanzarian shrugs off.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but Tanzarian blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Gracie pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie with a knee to the head.
Tanzarian wants a takedown.
Gracie lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tanzarian backwards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tanzarian.

Tanzarian has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gracie is trying to keep an underhook but Tanzarian manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Tanzarian throws a strike but Gracie avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Tanzarian's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gracie drives through and clinches with Tanzarian against the cage.
Gracie digs a right hand into Tanzarian's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tanzarian's gas tank.
Gracie is stalling here.
Gracie connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tanzarian's face.
Gracie stalling the fight.
A short left from Gracie.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but Tanzarian blocks it.
Gracie looking to stall.
Gracie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tanzarian.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanzarian has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gracie is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gracie lands a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Gracie scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gracie stops a takedown attempt from Tanzarian.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armen Tanzarian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie trying to stall but Tanzarian improves his position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Chuck Gracie.
Gracie connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gracie lands a jab to the head.
Gracie lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Tanzarian keeps it at a distance.
Gracie plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gracie throws a head kick that half lands.

Gracie has managed to clinch.
Gracie with a knee to the head.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Tanzarian uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie misses with a knee to the head.
Tanzarian goes for a takedown attempt but Gracie pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tanzarian fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie throws a head kick that half lands.
Tanzarian takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gracie takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanzarian shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gracie pinned against the cage. Gracie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A solid body kick from Gracie.
Tanzarian takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Armen Tanzarian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie lands the left hand.
Gracie scores with a head kick.
Tanzarian throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gracie's waist but Gracie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tanzarian off to one side.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Tanzarian against the cage.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gracie stalling in the clinch but Tanzarian improves position.
Tanzarian is trying to drag Gracie to the mat but Gracie just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.
Tanzarian is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gracie pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gracie effectively controlling the action here.
Gracie gets underhooks to prevent Tanzarian's takedown attempt.
Gracie misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Armen Tanzarian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanzarian drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gracie gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tanzarian takes an elbow to the temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gracie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Gracie!