PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damien Sandow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sandow comes to the cage accompanied by Aint No Grave . The key to victory for Damien Sandow has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sandow
vs
Gracie

185 cm
27
202 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
29
197 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Kemists ↑ 5x160Q - $149-199

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damien Sandow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Renato Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sandow darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sandow looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie trying to control from the bottom.

Sandow is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sandow pulls his head out easily.
Sandow has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sandow is looking to work his way around to Gracie's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Sandow fails to move to back control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandow is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Gracie is in real trouble.

Sandow is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gracie knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gracie for a finish.
Gracie looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Sandow seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Gracie breaks Sandow's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Sandow looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sandow can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Sandow actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie wants to control but Sandow is keeping him 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.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sandow is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sandow doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Sandow tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Sandow looking for a kimura from the bottom but Gracie passes into side control!
Sandow gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandow is trying to get back to full guard.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sandow doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.

Sandow looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie works his way into full mount!
Sandow tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sandow tries to improve his position but instead Gracie has taken his back!

Gracie has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Sandow has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Sandow defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gracie's arms.

Gracie is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Sandow defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Sandow is controlling his hands well.
Sandow tries to escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie working for a choke but Sandow is defending well.
Sandow tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Renato Gracie will probably get the nod.
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.

Sandow looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Gracie is trying to improve his position.

Sandow swings around for an armbar but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sandow's guard.

Sandow throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gracie escapes and throws Sandow's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sandow is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Sandow is defending it quite comfortably.
Sandow is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandow is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Gracie tries to control but Sandow wriggling away.
Damien Sandow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sandow is working to get back to half guard.
Gracie looking to control but Sandow is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sandow gets back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie passes to side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Sandow is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sandow is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sandow does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sandow manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Sandow looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie stands and throws Sandow's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Sandow is defending well.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sandow regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Sandow is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Sandow looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Sandow looking for submissions off his back.
Sandow is looking to improve his position.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sandow sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four 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.

Sandow looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Sandow is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!
Sandow doesn't have the hooks in and Gracie manages to turn into his guard.

Sandow has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sandow looking for subs off his back but Gracie has passed one foot through into half guard.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sandow does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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 Damien Sandow will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sandow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sandow defends it well.
Sandow tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Sandow fights it but they end up in guard.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Sandow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sandow can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sandow is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sandow looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Sandow is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Sandow is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!

Sandow is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gracie has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Gracie defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Sandow's arms.

That's two 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.
Sandow doesn't have the hooks in and Gracie manages to turn into his guard.
Gracie trying to control but Sandow is working from the bottom.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sandow looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Sandow keeps moving.

Sandow is looking for a triangle here but Gracie uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sandow has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sandow, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Sandow is defending well.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sandow knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sandow is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Sandow is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Sandow is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sandow gets back to half guard.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Sandow is defending it quite comfortably.

Sandow is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Sandow defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Gracie!
Renato Gracie took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.
In defeat, Damien Sandow stepped up to the mic, saying 'One of the best i have ever fought congratualtions to him he is the real deal '.