PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luis Gracia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deni Mukhtar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracia comes to the cage accompanied by Cucurucucu Paloma. Mukhtar is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Goyang Dumang. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Gracia
vs
Mukhtar

225 cm
28
207 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

225 cm
23
225 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luis Gracia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Deni Mukhtar!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mukhtar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracia.
Gracia tries a low kick but Mukhtar avoids it.
Mukhtar looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A combination from Mukhtar does no damage.
Mukhtar looks to throw the jab but Gracia is out of range.
Gracia lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mukhtar backs up against the cage.

Gracia shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracia showed some decent athleticism there.
Mukhtar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mukhtar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracia.
Mukhtar is looking to control Gracia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mukhtar avoid being mounted?
Gracia scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracia has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gracia thows a huge punch but Mukhtar dodges it nicely.
Mukhtar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracia.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Gracia is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mukhtar defends it well.
Gracia has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Gracia landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracia is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mukhtar sees it coming and defends easily.
Mukhtar wants to control but Gracia is keeping busy.
Gracia seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gracia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracia prevents Mukhtar from improving his position.
Gracia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mukhtar defending well though.

Gracia is working for a kimura but Mukhtar is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracia throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mukhtar is looking to escape.

Gracia is working for a kimura but Mukhtar is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mukhtar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracia.
Gracia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mukhtar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gracia throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracia takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gracia is keen to just control but Mukhtar is a slippery customer.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gracia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mukhtar defending well though.
Gracia thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mukhtar's head.
Gracia throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mukhtar is looking to improve his position.
Gracia really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracia lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mukhtar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracia is trying to control. Mukhtar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracia is thwarting Mukhtar's attempts to control the position.
Gracia trying to control the action but Mukhtar is working from the bottom.
Gracia working over Mukhtar with some ground and pound. Mukhtar looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Gracia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mukhtar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracia.
Mukhtar on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Gracia there.

Gracia is looking for a kimura but Mukhtar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracia to get the leverage.
Gracia not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mukhtar wants to improve his position but Gracia is controlling well.
Gracia thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gracia landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mukhtar tries to get to full guard but Gracia has control of the leg.

Gracia is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mukhtar defends it well.
Mukhtar trying to hold on to Gracia's head to control him but Gracia postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Gracia dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mukhtar was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracia.
Mukhtar goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gracia keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gracia throws a poor cross that misses
and Mukhtar connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mukhtar does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gracia keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracia swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mukhtar counters with a nice uppercut.
Mukhtar clobbers Gracia with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mukhtar tries a low kick but Gracia avoids it.
Mukhtar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracia.
Gracia slips a jab and a cross from Mukhtar.
Mukhtar misses with a looping left.
Gracia moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gracia misses with a body shot.
Gracia throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracia takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracia throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mukhtar's head.
Gracia misses with a shot to the body
enabling Mukhtar to counter with a crisp jab.
Mukhtar fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mukhtar lands with a nice body punch.
Gracia throws a head kick that Mukhtar semi-blocks.
Mukhtar scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gracia throws a jab but it's blocked by Mukhtar.
Mukhtar works the jab nicely.
Mukhtar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracia feints and as Mukhtar raises his hands in defense, Gracia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mukhtar is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracia is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracia with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracia is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mukhtar can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracia postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mukhtar pulls Gracia in close to prevent any damage.
Mukhtar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracia throwing strikes from guard but Mukhtar blocks nicely.
Mukhtar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gracia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Luis Gracia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracia scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gracia throwing strikes from guard but Mukhtar blocks nicely.
Gracia postures up and lands a big shot to Mukhtar's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mukhtar controls Gracia momentarily but Gracia frees himself.
Gracia throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracia postures up in Mukhtar's guard and throws a big left but Mukhtar blocks it.
Gracia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mukhtar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gracia with a flurry of punches that miss.

Gracia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mukhtar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracia distracts Mukhtar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mukhtar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracia scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mukhtar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mukhtar keeping moving, preventing Gracia from controlling successfully.
Mukhtar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mukhtar trying to keep a closed guard but Gracia is proving a slippery customer.
Mukhtar wants to sweep but no luck.
Mukhtar keeping moving, preventing Gracia from controlling successfully.
Gracia throws a big elbow that misses.
Gracia stopping the sweep attempt from Mukhtar.
Mukhtar wants to stand up but Gracia is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracia throwing strikes from guard but Mukhtar blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Deni Mukhtar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gracia moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracia goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gracia ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gracia moves out of range of the strikes.
Mukhtar throws a lazy uppercut

and Gracia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracia throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mukhtar has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracia is working away from the top position though.
Gracia lands strikes from half guard.

Gracia 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.
Mukhtar is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracia is working for a kimura but Mukhtar is defending it quite comfortably.
Mukhtar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mukhtar is trying to control but can't.
Mukhtar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracia.
Gracia working Mukhtar over with strikes.
Gracia scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Gracia wants to work for an arm triangle but Mukhtar is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracia missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Gracia is working for a kimura but Mukhtar is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracia is trying to control the action in half guard but Mukhtar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mukhtar wants to improve his position but Gracia is controlling well.
Gracia slips a nice elbow through Mukhtar's hands, connecting with Mukhtar's forehead.

Gracia is working for a kimura but Mukhtar is defending it quite comfortably.

Gracia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mukhtar is looking to control Gracia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mukhtar avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mukhtar tries to get to full guard but Gracia has control of the leg.
Gracia missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mukhtar on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mukhtar on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gracia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mukhtar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracia.
Gracia scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gracia working over Mukhtar with some ground and pound. Mukhtar looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mukhtar is looking to control Gracia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mukhtar avoid being mounted?
Gracia lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Mukhtar is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracia lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Mukhtar! More strikes land and this one is all over! Gracia jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Luis Gracia!
Luis Gracia seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.