PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ceaser Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Ponjev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Ponjev

185 cm
35
180 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

185 cm
35
180 lbs
25 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ceaser Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Ponjev!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie lands with an overhand left.
Sloppy strikes from Gracie. Those never looked like landing.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ponjev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Ponjev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gracie will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Ponjev wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie regains half guard.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ponjev with a nice head shot there.

Ponjev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ponjev has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ponjev working some strikes from top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ponjev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Ponjev is proving a slippery customer.
Ponjev postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Ponjev stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.

Ponjev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ponjev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ponjev wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ponjev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ponjev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ponjev is looking to improve his position.
Ponjev is controlling Gracie's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Gracie trying to control the action but Ponjev is working from the bottom.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ponjev sees it coming and defends easily.
Ponjev is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ponjev avoid being mounted?
Ponjev is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev scores with a few weak punches.
Gracie stalling away here and it's allowed Ponjev to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie trying to move into half guard but instead Ponjev has managed to sweep!

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gracie working for a triangle but Ponjev defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ponjev connects with a couple of short punches.
Ponjev working some strikes from top position.

Ponjev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ponjev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ponjev trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ponjev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ponjev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ponjev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sam Ponjev will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ponjev scores with a jab.
Gracie clobbers Ponjev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie lands with a right hand.
Ponjev throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gracie on the side of the head.

It looks like Ceaser Gracie has been cut.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ponjev's waist but Ponjev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Gracie tries to clinch up

and Ponjev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ponjev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Ponjev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ponjev is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ponjev prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Ponjev working Gracie over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to roll over but Ponjev keeps him under control.
Ponjev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sam Ponjev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ponjev has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ponjev lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gracie hang on?
Gracie can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to hold on but Ponjev pushes him away.
Ponjev scoring with strikes but Gracie is staying in there.
Ponjev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ponjev looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ponjev landing strikes from the mount and Gracie is in trouble!
Ponjev working Gracie over with strikes here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ponjev content just to control the position here.
Ponjev avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ponjev with a couple of short strikes.
Ponjev scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gracie?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Ponjev with good strikes from the mount here!
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie is in a horrible position here. Ponjev smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ponjev with the ground and pound from mount.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Ponjev has a good base and remains in mount.

Ponjev swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Gracie is now in Ponjev's guard. A big mistake from Ponjev there, giving up the dominant position!
Ponjev keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ponjev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ponjev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie is stalling in the full guard.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Ponjev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ceaser Gracie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ponjev counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Ponjev working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ponjev scores with a couple of short elbows.

Ponjev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ponjev off and has taken his back!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ponjev is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Gracie is not going to allow Ponjev to sit and survive in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking to break Ponjev's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Ponjev remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Ponjev tries to escape but he's let his defenses down in doing so and Gracie has slipped in the rear naked choke! Oh, that's tiiiiiiiiight! Ponjev is tapping! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ceaser Gracie!
A very excited looking Ceaser Gracie made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.