PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luke Durant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJJ Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). BJJ Gracie will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Durant
vs
Gracie

169 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luke Durant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, BJJ Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Durant shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gracie's guard.

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

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Durant loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gracie wants to stand up but Durant is controlling him.
Gracie controlling Durant's posture.
Durant might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Durant drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Durant off! Durant jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Durant postures up.
Durant throws and elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Durant's guard. Nice move by Gracie!
Durant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Durant 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 tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Durant tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie misses with a strike from the bottom.
Gracie throws a few strikes from the bottom but Durant takes advantage and mounts!

Durant moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Gracie has worked his arm free - good work by Gracie!
Durant prevents Gracie from escaping the position.
Durant tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Durant's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durant is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie looks gassed!

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Durant.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Durant is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Durant fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracie sprawls well initially but Durant persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Durant is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Durant pushes his legs off easily.

Durant drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Durant jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Durant has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Durant working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Durant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Durant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Durant wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Durant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Durant pushes his legs off easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Durant is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Durant's back instead.
Gracie controlling well, preventing Durant from escaping the position.

Gracie is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Durant defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Durant is keeping busy.
Durant trying to get back to his feet but Gracie is in full control for now.
Durant has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Gracie.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Durant trying to control the hands but Gracie breaks the grip.
Durant covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Durant has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJJ Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Durant closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Durant looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
BJJ Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Durant is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie is looking to control Durant's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Durant.
Gracie wants to control but Durant is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Durant pulls his head out easily.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Durant is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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

That's two 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.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Durant prevents Gracie from standing back up.
Durant knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

Durant is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Durant pulls his head out easily.
Durant seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Durant gets the takedown into side control.

Durant goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gracie rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Durant's guard! Nice work there by Gracie!

Durant working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Durant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Durant is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Durant drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gracie manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Durant has Gracie in his guard.

Durant is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gracie 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.

Durant working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Durant escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Durant dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Durant counters with a single leg into guard. Gracie didn't expect that.
Durant in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Gracie working for a triangle but Durant defends it easily.
Durant wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

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

Durant 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.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Durant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Durant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durant seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Durant tries to pass.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Durant pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Durant tries to pass.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

Durant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Durant tries to pass.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Durant postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gracie is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Durant, into his guard.

Durant escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Durant looking for subs off his back but Gracie has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is tying to control. Durant wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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

Durant looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie trying to control the action but Durant is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Durant looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gracie is trying to keep Durant in close.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Durant manages to get himself to full guard.

Durant is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

Durant throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to BJJ Gracie.
Well Gracie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... BJJ Gracie!