PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ephraim Baraka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Gragula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baraka comes to the cage accompanied by Loyal - Chris Brown Ft Lil Wayne & Tyga. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baraka
vs
Gragula

183 cm
30
195 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

188 cm
32
218 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ephraim Baraka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Viktor Gragula!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baraka misses with the combination.
Baraka looks to land a combination but Gragula avoids it well.
Gragula feints the counter takedown.

Gragula gets caught flat footed, as Baraka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gragula wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Baraka manages to pass to side control.

We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gragula is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gragula is defending against the submission attempts here by Baraka.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gragula is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Baraka pulls his head out easily.
Baraka stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gragula is staying active underneath Baraka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gragula is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Baraka winds up and cracks Gragula with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Baraka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gragula does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Baraka trying to control the pace.

Baraka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gragula defends it well.
Baraka is looking to advance position but Gragula won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gragula wants to get back to full guard.
Gragula is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gragula is in trouble now - Baraka has advanced to mount!
Baraka prevents Gragula from getting the reversal.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Baraka scoring with strikes but Gragula is staying in there.
Baraka with a couple of short strikes.
Gragula working to try and regain half guard.
Baraka wants to control the pace but Gragula is squirming around nicely.
Gragula wants to control but Baraka is having none of it.

Baraka is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gragula to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gragula shrugs it off.
Baraka looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gragula is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baraka looking for a guillotine from mount but Gragula is having none of it.
Gragula regains half guard.
Baraka slows the pace down in half guard.
Gragula is staying active underneath Baraka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gragula is trying to control but Baraka passes into side control!

Baraka is trying to get an arm triangle but Gragula is defending well.
Gragula tries to improve position but can't.
Gragula is being controlled here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baraka is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gragula is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gragula is trying to control Baraka's posture but Baraka avoids it.

Baraka is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gragula knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gragula manages to work his way to half guard, despite Baraka's best efforts.

Gragula looking for submissions off his back.
Baraka trying to control from half guard but Gragula is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gragula moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ephraim Baraka 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.

Nice shot by Baraka.
Baraka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gragula with the counter takedown but Baraka avoids it easily.
Baraka works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Gragula.

Baraka moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gragula.
Gragula's coach down at The Iron Palace was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Gragula's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Baraka swings wildly with an uppercut but Gragula uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baraka stalls.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baraka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraka working aggressively here.
Gragula prevents a takedown attempt there.
Baraka misses with the head strike.
Gragula jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Baraka walks away with a smile on his face. Gragula gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gragula looks for a takedown but Baraka sprawls well.
Baraka throws a right hand that Gragula ducks under and follows up with a left that Gragula also avoids with ease.
Gragula drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Baraka defends it well.
Baraka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Baraka wants it to stay on the feet.
Ephraim Baraka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Gragula.
Baraka lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Baraka.

Baraka rushes Gragula and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gragula pulls Baraka into guard.
Baraka content to stall in guard here.

Gragula is looking for a triangle but Baraka pushes his legs off easily.
Baraka works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ephraim Baraka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gragula tries to roll over but Baraka keeps him under control.
Gragula wants to control but Baraka is keeping busy.
Baraka trying to control the action but Gragula is working from the bottom.
Baraka lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baraka wants to free his trapped foot but Gragula is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Gragula looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baraka is pressing down on Gragula's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gragula is holding on for now.
Baraka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gragula can do to turn this around?

Baraka is trying to work for a kimura but Gragula is defending well.

Gragula looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Baraka is looking for a kimura but Gragula is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Baraka to get the leverage.

Gragula actively working from the bottom here.
Baraka wants to pass to mount but Gragula is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Baraka seems to be looking for submissions.
Baraka working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gragula gets back to full guard.

Gragula looking for a triangle here. Baraka is fighting it but it looks tight! Gragula pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Baraka is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Viktor Gragula!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Viktor Gragula waved his t-shirt featuring Sin City Allstars's logo in front of the cameras.