PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Barover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rollo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen Jiu Jitsu: Apaga Mas Não Bate as his entrance music. Rollo Gracie is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Barover
vs
Gracie

177 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
31
154 lbs
14 - 3 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Barover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 2, fighting out of London, Rollo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barover circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barover is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Barover circles away and we're back to standing.
Barover throws a lazy head kick

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Barover!
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Barover!

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Barover has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie trying to control but Barover is having none of it.
Gracie controlling from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barover is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Barover is in real trouble.
Well, with Gracie on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Barover is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Gracie is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Barover is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

Barover moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Barover has had enough of the clinch but Gracie keeps him there for the moment.
Gracie is struggling to control the position.
Gracie wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barover is trying to force a seperation but Gracie has the dominant position.
Gracie has Barover pressed against the cage, preventing Barover from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gracie will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Barover up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Gracie misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gracie has Barover pressed against the cage, preventing Barover from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gracie has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Barover seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Gracie can turn it around.
Barover letting Gracie take a breather here.
Stalling in the clinch from Gracie.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rollo Gracie.
Barover displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gracie throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barover tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gracie tries to clinch but Barover is having none of it.
Barover throws a head kick that misses

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Barover is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.
Barover keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie works his way into full mount!
Gracie takes Barover's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Barover is in trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Barover is defending well though. Gracie let's go of the attempt for now.
Barover trying to control the hands but Gracie won't let him.
Gracie trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
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.

Rollo Gracie dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gracie has closed the distance and engaged Barover in a clinch.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Barover to keep the fight standing.
Gracie creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Barover stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gracie taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Barover pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barover throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Barover throws a body shot but no joy.
Gracie steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Barover.

Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Barover avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Barover is blocking nicely.
Gracie pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gracie is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Barover is defending well.
Steve Barover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rollo Gracie.
Come on Gracie - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gracie is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gracie effectively controlling the action here.
Gracie has Barover pressed against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rollo Gracie.
Barover tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barover misses with a head kick.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Barover sprawls well.
Barover tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barover throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie tries to counter with a clinch but Barover shakes him off and moves away.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Barover.
Gracie throws a body shot but no joy.
Barover throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.

Gracie instigates a clinch.
Gracie leaning against his opponent.
Gracie jumps guard but Barover stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Barover pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barover throws a head kick that Gracie semi-blocks.
Steve Barover seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barover throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie scores with a nice right hand.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Gracie fails to land.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.
Gracie gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Barover wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie tries a body shot but Barover blocks it.
Gracie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie scores with a shot to the side of Barover's head.
Barover tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
Rollo Gracie seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barover tries to break free but Gracie pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Barover.
Gracie slows down the pace here.
Barover prevents a takedown attempt there.

Gracie manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rollo Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie is working an open guard so Barover takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie blocks a head kick by Barover.
Gracie steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Barover.
Barover throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Barover tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.
A head kick misses from Barover.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rollo Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Barover throws a lazy head kick

and Gracie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gracie has Barover pushed against the cage.
Gracie lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Barover wants to break free but Gracie has control.
Gracie pushes Barover back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Barover tries to break free but Gracie pushes him back against the cage.

Gracie gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Barover tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Gracie manages to move to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie has hold of Barover's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Barover manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Barover tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Barover manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gracie is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Barover will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Barover wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Barover seems a little lost for a moment, as Gracie dominates the positioning.
Barover holds on to Gracie's head and controls the position momentarily.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie trying to control the action but Barover is working from the bottom.

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

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Barover is defending well.
Barover is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracie is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Barover will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Barover!
Gracie tries to control but Barover wriggling away.
Gracie wants to take Barover's back but he can't do it this time.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Barover is squirming around nicely.

Gracie with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Barover tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gracie wants to take Barover's back but he can't do it this time.
Barover wants to get back to his feet.
Barover is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Barover is trying to escape the mount.
Steve Barover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barover is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rollo Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gracie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rollo Gracie!
Rollo Gracie spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.