PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evangelos Ergazakis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolas Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ergazakis
vs
Gracie

187 cm
23
220 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

189 cm
24
216 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good knees
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evangelos Ergazakis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nicolas Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ergazakis wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Ergazakis definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Ergazakis closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.
Ergazakis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ergazakis taking a breather.
Ergazakis tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Ergazakis back against the cage.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ergazakis avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gracie blocking some punches.
Ergazakis lands an uppercut.
Ergazakis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Ergazakis.
Ergazakis holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ergazakis lands with a right to the head.
Ergazakis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ergazakis lands a knee to the head.
Ergazakis with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ergazakis swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.

Gracie manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ergazakis throws a big elbow that misses.
Ergazakis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ergazakis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ergazakis works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Still in half guard, Ergazakis seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Ergazakis has control of the leg.

Ergazakis stands up from half guard.
Gracie throws a right hand that Ergazakis ducks under and follows up with a left that Ergazakis also avoids with ease.
Gracie cracks Ergazakis with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ergazakis tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Ergazakis clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ergazakis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Evangelos Ergazakis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicolas Gracie.
Ergazakis lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ergazakis smiles and moves away.

Ergazakis darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ergazakis pushes Gracie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gracie has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ergazakis uses from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

Gracie trying to control but Ergazakis is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ergazakis tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Ergazakis wants to control but Gracie postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Ergazakis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ergazakis is looking for a sweep.
Gracie fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Gracie prevents Ergazakis from escaping the position.
Ergazakis is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Ergazakis sneaks back into half guard.
Ergazakis trying to control from the bottom.
Ergazakis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evangelos Ergazakis dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ergazakis clinches up against the cage.

Ergazakis lands a takedown into guard.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ergazakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ergazakis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ergazakis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nicolas Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Ergazakis from controlling successfully.
Ergazakis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ergazakis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ergazakis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.

Ergazakis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie is not content to let Ergazakis control the position.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
The ground and pound from Ergazakis seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ergazakis in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Gracie struggling a bit here.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.

Ergazakis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie tries to buck Ergazakis off but Ergazakis is having none of it.

Ergazakis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ergazakis working away.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Ergazakis lands a nice forearm strike.

Ergazakis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Ergazakis keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ergazakis trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Ergazakis works his way into side control.
Ergazakis landing strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Ergazakis.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie wants to control but Ergazakis postures up.
Gracie tries to buck Ergazakis off but Ergazakis is having none of it.
Ergazakis sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gracie is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Ergazakis lands a few punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ergazakis creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gracie sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ergazakis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Ergazakis keeps moving and retains side control.

Ergazakis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ergazakis is working Gracie over with some ground and pound from side control.

Ergazakis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ergazakis postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Ergazakis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ergazakis off and has taken his back!

Gracie has his arm under Ergazakis's chin here. Game over son! Gracie squeezes tightly and Ergazakis is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nicolas Gracie!
Nicolas Gracie bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.