PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mustafiq Rana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riley Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rana comes to the cage accompanied by Spaceman. Mustafiq Rana has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rana
vs
Gracie

179 cm
27
179 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

205 cm
20
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mustafiq Rana!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Riley Gracie !
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rana sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Gracie has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rana sprawls well. Rana wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Mustafiq Rana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riley Gracie .
Rana stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rana wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rana counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Rana sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
It looked like Rana was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Gracie tries to get set, Rana tries to push him back and clinch up but Gracie manages to avoid the attempt.
Rana stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rana wants it to stay on the feet.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rana to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rana passes Gracie 's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rana looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Rana sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rana tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Rana pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rana defends well.
Rana postures up.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rana is one step ahead there.
Rana has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Rana from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Rana is now in half guard.

Rana is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracie trying to control but Rana postures up.
Rana trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rana looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Rana shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rana seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rana sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafiq Rana dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie tries to sprawl but Rana drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mustafiq Rana overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rana sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie 's guard.
Gracie is staying active underneath Rana, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie tries to roll over but Rana keeps him under control.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rana is one step ahead there.
Rana might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie wants to hit a switch here but Rana passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gracie there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rana controlling the position easily from mount.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
Rana controlling his opponent.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Rana's attempts to control the action.
Gracie can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rana takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Rana has a good base and remains in mount.
Gracie keeps trying to improve his position.
Rana looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rana will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rana is keeping the position for now.
Rana trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Rana is retaining full guard.
Rana is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Rana is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Rana looking for a sweep. Not yet Rana, not yet.
Rana is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie advances to mount.
Gracie fails to advance to Rana's back.
Gracie prevents Rana from getting the reversal.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Rana is squirming around nicely.
Gracie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rana prevents Gracie from taking his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rana is desperately trying to get back to half 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 Mustafiq Rana will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie drives through with a takedown into Rana's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rana looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Rana slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie trying to control but Rana is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rana trying to control the position.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rana is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Rana keeps moving.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rana is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Rana is retaining full guard.
Rana looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rana swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Rana sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rana as he jumps to the side.

Rana changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Rana seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to roll over but Rana keeps him under control.
Gracie is not content to let Rana control the position.
Rana is stalling here. Gracie is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rana seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gracie has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rana struggling a bit here.
Rana is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rana has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gracie but great work by Rana.
Rana advances nicely into full mount.
Rana wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Rana manages to capitalize on a mistake by Gracie to take his back!
Rana is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Gracie is really stuck here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rana controls the position.

Rana has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Gracie is in real trouble here. Rana gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Gracie is tapping out! Rana wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mustafiq Rana!
Mustafiq Rana retains his middleweight title!
Mustafiq Rana thanked the fans post fight for their support.