PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manus Dinapoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dinapoli kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cavo - Thick As Thieves. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dinapoli
vs
Gracie

185 cm
25
200 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
191 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manus Dinapoli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rickson Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Dinapoli lands a slapping body shot.
Dinapoli cracks Gracie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dinapoli did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Dinapoli defends the submission attempt.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Dinapoli is trying is best to control the position here.
Dinapoli regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Dinapoli won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dinapoli trying to control here.
Gracie throwing shots but Dinapoli is blocking nicely.
Dinapoli tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie trying to control the action but Dinapoli is working from the bottom.
Dinapoli trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dinapoli defends it well.
Gracie trying to control the pace.
Gracie is trying to control. Dinapoli wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dinapoli is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Dinapoli is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Roosters Coop that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Dinapoli is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dinapoli trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dinapoli is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dinapoli sees it coming and defends easily.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Dinapoli's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Dinapoli.
Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but Dinapoli doesn't allow it.

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Dinapoli manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dinapoli can't do much from the bottom here.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dinapoli struggling a bit here.
Dinapoli is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dinapoli is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dinapoli is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie throws a strike aimed at the side of Dinapoli's head but Dinapoli avoids it well.
You can see the frustration on Dinapoli's face as Gracie controls the position.
Dinapoli is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Dinapoli tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Dinapoli is defending well.
Dinapoli is looking for a sweep.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dinapoli, who protects the arm well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dinapoli knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dinapoli avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dinapoli did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Dinapoli is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gracie throwing shots but Dinapoli is blocking nicely.
Dinapoli 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!
Gracie wants to control his opponent's hands but Dinapoli gets his hands free.
Dinapoli keeps control of the position as Gracie tries to break free.
Gracie has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Gracie tries to break free.
Gracie trying to control the action but Dinapoli just sinks the hooks in.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to break free.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie breaks Dinapoli's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Gracie won't allow Dinapoli to sweep him here.
Dinapoli working a defensive guard here.
Dinapoli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Dinapoli keeps moving.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dinapoli is keeping the position for now.
Dinapoli controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Dinapoli controlling Gracie's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Dinapoli keeps moving.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Dinapoli is retaining full guard.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dinapoli's guard.
Dinapoli is positioning himself well to prevent Gracie advancing to mount.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Dinapoli won't allow it.
Dinapoli wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dinapoli defends it well.
Dinapoli preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dinapoli is looking to improve his position.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Dinapoli is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Dinapoli is having none of it.
Dinapoli is trying to control but can't.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Dinapoli is having none of it.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Dinapoli won't allow it.
Dinapoli wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

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.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dinapoli doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Dinapoli is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gracie advances position into side control!
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dinapoli is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rickson Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dinapoli is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dinapoli can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dinapoli punishes Gracie's body with a nice straight punch.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Dinapoli sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dinapoli misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dinapoli leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Dinapoli scores with a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Dinapoli controlling him for the moment.
Dinapoli is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dinapoli won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Dinapoli content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dinapoli's guard.

Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Dinapoli.
Gracie postures up in Dinapoli's guard and throws a big left but Dinapoli blocks it.
Dinapoli seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dinapoli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Dinapoli keeps moving.
Dinapoli is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Manus Dinapoli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dinapoli is keeping the position for now.
Dinapoli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie is in close to Dinapoli's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dinapoli looking for a sweep. Not yet Dinapoli, not yet.
Dinapoli keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Dinapoli looking to control.
Gracie trying to control but Dinapoli 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.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Dinapoli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dinapoli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dinapoli working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Manus Dinapoli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Gracie.
Dinapoli tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dinapoli connects with a high kick.
Rickson Gracie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The fighters circling - Dinapoli throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Dinapoli sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dinapoli tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Dinapoli misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dinapoli sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dinapoli sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dinapoli throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Dinapoli tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dinapoli manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dinapoli fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dinapoli to the mat! Dinapoli manages to get full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie postures up.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Dinapoli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dinapoli can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracie stalling.
Dinapoli is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gracie in particular looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manus Dinapoli showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

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