PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Vegata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeffson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cliff Richard - Summer Holiday kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jeffson Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vegata
vs
Gracie

175 cm
39
165 lbs
25 - 24 - 0

160 cm
43
155 lbs
34 - 32 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Vegata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 32 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jeffson Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie looking to score a takedown here. Vegata is defending well but Gracie drives through and ends up in Vegata's guard.
Vegata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie pushing down on Vegata's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Vegata keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Vegata is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vegata makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vegata.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vegata keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Gracie wants to advance to full mount but Vegata doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vegata wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Vegata keeps moving.
Vegata keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Vegata keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vegata holds on and takes a little breather.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vegata keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vegata avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Vegata has wrist control.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vegata works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vegata keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vegata tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Vegata. Vegata maintains the clinch.
Vegata with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but Vegata blocks it.
Gracie is trying to force a seperation but Vegata has the dominant position.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vegata stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Vegata won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vegata stuffs the takedown.
Antonio Vegata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeffson Gracie.
Vegata lands a two punch combo.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vegata sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.

Vegata moves into the clinch successfully.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gracie obliges.
Vegata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Vegata.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gracie.
Vegata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vegata trying to land knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gracie as Vegata tries to tie him up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gracie connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Antonio Vegata has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie shoots in but Vegata avoids the takedown attempt easily.
It looked like Vegata wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Vegata is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Vegata, which made it look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jeffson Gracie will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Antonio Vegata's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie checks a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Vegata.
Antonio Vegata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vegata misses with the body kick
and Gracie counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vegata thinking.

Vegata instigates a clinch.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gracie throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie jumps guard but Vegata stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Vegata holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Vegata gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Antonio Vegata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeffson Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Vegata missing with knees to the body.
Gracie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vegata looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie landing knees to the body.
Vegata missing with knees to the body.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Vegata.
Gracie using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vegata missing with knees to the body.
Gracie misses with a knee strike.
Vegata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vegata misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Vegata gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie scores with a shot to the side of Vegata's head.

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vegata fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vegata is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Vegata is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vegata wants to clinch.
Vegata tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vegata moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Vegata cracks Gracie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a hook to the side of Vegata's head but Vegata sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vegata tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Gracie to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vegata jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Gracie darts in looking for a takedown but Vegata gets double underhooks and turns Gracie into the cage.
Vegata feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gracie's calf.
A jab from Gracie misses.
Vegata scores with a sloppy right hand. Gracie should have avoided that one.

Vegata clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vegata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vegata looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.

Gracie tightens his grip and picks Vegata up, before dumping him to the ground. Vegata manages to land in guard.
Vegata is pulling down on Gracie's head to control his posture.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.
My spies in The Warehouse inform me that Gracie has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vegata utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Vegata's guard.
Gracie stalling away here and it's allowed Vegata to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Vegata manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.

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 Antonio Vegata will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Antonio Vegata's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Vegata against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gracie as Vegata tries to tie him up.
Gracie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vegata is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.

Gracie breaks the clinch.
Vegata tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vegata looks to clinch
and Vegata takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vegata moves to clinch but Gracie breaks away

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Vegata!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vegata manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vegata does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gracie passes to side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

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.
Vegata sneaks back into half guard.
Vegata is positioning himself well to prevent Gracie advancing to mount.
Gracie passes to full mount!
Gracie pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Vegata really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie looking to control but Vegata is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vegata manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Vegata is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Vegata still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Vegata has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

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.
Vegata controls the position from side control.
Vegata tries to stand but Gracie is controlling his head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Vegata prevents Gracie from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeffson Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!