PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksymilian Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Delvin Shore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Blur - Song 2. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Shore

194 cm
28
240 lbs
12 - 5 - 1

193 cm
35
277 lbs
15 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

THE END 32

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Maksymilian Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Delvin Shore!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shore misses with a left hand
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Shore slips under a jab.
Shore throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Shore displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gracie throws out the jab.
Shore shoots in but no luck this time.
Shore shoots for a takedown but Gracie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Delvin Shore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Delvin Shore has been cut.
Gracie connects with a right hand. Shore shakes it off.
Gracie throws a combination. Shore tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shore was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Gracie has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Bonsai Club MMA in the buildup to the fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie tests Shore's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Shore cracks Gracie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Maksymilian Gracie has been cut.
Shore pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie slips a jab from Shore.
Gracie swings for the body but Shore moves out of range.
Shore throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shore is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Shore lands a left and a right that send Gracie crashing to the mat, dazed. Shore thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shore walks into a stiff left hand from Gracie.
Gracie takes a swing at Shore's ribcage but misses.
Shore misses with a takedown attempt
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.
Maksymilian Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Delvin Shore.
Gracie uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gracie leaves Shore with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shore throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.

Shore bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gracie struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shore thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Shore working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shore is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Shore is keeping busy.
Gracie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Shore is controlling well.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Shore chips away with some ground and pound.

Maksymilian Gracie's cut is getting worse.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Shore looking to pass the guard.
Shore in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shore wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shore is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Shore lands a couple of digs.
Shore preventing the sweep.

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

Shore drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Shore off! Shore jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Delvin Shore will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shore is defended easily by Gracie.
Gracie appears to be looking for a big counter.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.

Shore gets caught napping as Gracie dives in and scores a takedown. Shore manages to retain guard.

Shore had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Shore looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Shore is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Shore 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.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shore is keeping the position for now.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.

Shore is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gracie scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie distracts Shore with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Shore has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Shore had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Shore is working from the bottom.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie with a nice head shot there.

Shore looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Gracie here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Shore keeps moving.
Gracie lands a couple of elbows.
Gracie working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Shore 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.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stands up over Shore, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.

Shore is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shore throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shore is on top in guard.

Gracie has his foot on Shore's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shore works his way back into a safe position though.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Shore postures up.
Shore stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.

Gracie is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Shore rolls with it to try and escape but Gracie cranks on the arm and Shore is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Maksymilian Gracie!
During a confident post fight interview, Maksymilian Gracie thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.