PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Kristian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rollo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kristian might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Light It Up. Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Jiu Jitsu: Apaga Mas Não Bate kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rollo Gracie acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kristian
vs
Gracie

167 cm
22
153 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

171 cm
30
154 lbs
11 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

HGH Nutrients Q160 Tycoons Best Quality supps
M.O. Fight Wear

M.O. Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Kristian!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rollo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.

Gracie clinches up with Kristian and pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.
Gracie working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gracie blocks the elbow strike.
Gracie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Kristian turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kristian lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie taking a breather.
Kristian can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.

Gracie gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie won't allow Kristian to get back to his feet.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Kristian is retaining full guard.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sloppy strikes there by Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Gracie politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gracie prefers to stall for the moment though.
Gracie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Kristian blocks the move with his legs.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Kristian manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Gracie.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie won't allow Kristian to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kristian is on top in guard.

Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kristian manages to get himself to full guard.

Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Kristian is keeping the position.
Kristian wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Kristian gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gracie controls Kristian momentarily but Kristian frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pulls Kristian in close to prevent any damage.
Kristian with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie working a defensive guard but Kristian manages to pass into side control anyway.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Kristian's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gracie is looking to sweep but instead, Kristian has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kristian wants to stand but Gracie has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kristian connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Kristian trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.
Kristian throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ground and pound from Kristian.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rollo Gracie will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kristian is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Kristian is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Kristian defending well.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Kristian is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Kristian is defending the position.

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

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

That's two 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.
Kristian is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kristian wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice shot by Kristian.
Michael Kristian is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Kristian misses.
Kristian avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kristian manages to avoid it.
Kristian throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A jab from Kristian misses.

Gracie forces Kristian back against the cage and clinches.

Kristian breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Kristian.
Gracie dives in and grabs Kristian's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kristian pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Gracie wants to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Kristian on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Michael Kristian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kristian throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Kristian.
And Gracie tries to counter it with a takedown but Kristian pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kristian throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Nice straight punches there by Gracie. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Kristian.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kristian swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
A big right from Kristian misses.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kristian.
Kristian misses with a straight left.
Good work by Gracie as he checks the leg kick.
Kristian walks into a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kristian connects with a body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Kristian cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kristian dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kristian just misses with a punch to the body.
A big left from Kristian misses.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Kristian is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie slips a straight right by Kristian.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
A short uppercut from Kristian.
Gracie throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Kristian breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kristian throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kristian counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kristian ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kristian enables Gracie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kristian manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kristian looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Kristian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kristian holds on and takes a little breather.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracie is pressing down on Kristian's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kristian is holding on for now.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kristian does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Still in half guard, Gracie seems content to control.
Kristian is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Gracie is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Kristian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kristian controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kristian keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A shot to the body from Kristian misses

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kristian!
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kristian keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kristian is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie advances to full mount.
Gracie tries to control but Kristian wriggling away.

Gracie is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kristian to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kristian shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Kristian tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Gracie tries to control but Kristian wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Rollo Gracie just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kristian takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Gracie drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kristian defends it well.
Kristian will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Gracie lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kristian working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kristian stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kristian stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rollo Gracie seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kristian throws an elbow that misses.
Kristian gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Michael Kristian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rollo Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Gracie has clasped his hands together around Kristian's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kristian can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kristian holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Gracie prevents Kristian from escaping the position.
Kristian prevents Gracie from moving into mount.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kristian!
Gracie looking to control but Kristian is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kristian wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie trying to control but Kristian is having none of it.
Gracie takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Gracie working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kristian is defending well though. Gracie let's go of the attempt for now.
Kristian is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Gracie working for the choke.
Gracie controlling the position well here. Kristian rolled but Gracie kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Kristian staying busy and making it hard for Gracie to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Gracie working for a choke but Kristian is defending well.

Kristian defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gracie's arms.
Gracie throwing wild punches that miss their target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rollo Gracie dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kristian.
Kristian looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.
Kristian wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Gracie is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kristian jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gracie tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kristian waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Gracie steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Kristian.
Gracie slips a jab from Kristian.
Gracie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gracie throws a body kick that misses.
Kristian fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Michael Kristian is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kristian throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gracie tries to clinch but Kristian is having none of it.
Kristian misses with an uppercut. Gracie saw that one coming.
Kristian circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Kristian is looking to counter punch.
Kristian is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kristian throws out the jab.
Kristian misses the jab.
Kristian throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kristian appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kristian throws out the jab.
Gracie tries to clinch but Kristian moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Kristian on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kristian swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kristian rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kristian!

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Michael Kristian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Kristian is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Kristian blocks the move with his legs.
Gracie trying to control the position but Kristian is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kristian tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie advances nicely into full mount.
Kristian bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes 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 Kristian's guard.

Kristian keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Kristian working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kristian is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Kristian 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 47:48
Judge William Gold scores the fight 48:47
Judge James Glass scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a draw!
Michael Kristian retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!