PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juanma Nfinfla (ranked 5467 p4p, 392 weight class) and Nelson Gracie (ranked 4706 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Nelson Gracie was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Nfinfla
vs
Gracie

170 cm
23
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
146 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juanma Nfinfla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nelson Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nfinfla, right into the meat.

Nfinfla forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.
Nfinfla will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gracie up against the cage.
Nfinfla effectively controlling the action here.
Nfinfla using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nfinfla unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Knees to the body from Nfinfla.
Gracie looks winded!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nfinfla obliges.
Nfinfla slows down the pace here.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nfinfla crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nfinfla utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nfinfla unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gracie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Good body shot from Nfinfla.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
A short body shot lands from Nfinfla as the two fighters clinch.
Nfinfla utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nfinfla scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nfinfla content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nfinfla unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nfinfla cracks Gracie with a nice body shot.
Nfinfla landing knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nfinfla is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Nfinfla.
Nfinfla lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nfinfla landing knees to the body.
Nfinfla with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nfinfla using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nfinfla.
Nfinfla is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nfinfla landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees to the body from Nfinfla.
Nfinfla lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gracie or not.
Knees to the body from Nfinfla.
Nfinfla content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nfinfla unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gracie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nfinfla lands a knee to the head.
Nfinfla lands a knee to the body.
Nfinfla with a knee to the head.
Gracie is looking to break free of the clinch but Nfinfla has double underhooks.
Gracie is looking to break free of the clinch but Nfinfla has double underhooks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nfinfla obliges.
Gracie is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nfinfla cracks Gracie with a nice body shot.
Nfinfla is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nfinfla is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie tries to break the clinch but Nfinfla is controlling the position.
Nfinfla stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nfinfla lands a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie letting Nfinfla take a breather here.
Nfinfla tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nfinfla keeps control of Gracie as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Nfinfla turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Juanma Nfinfla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Gracie.
Nfinfla digs a right hand into Gracie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gracie's gas tank.
Nfinfla putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nfinfla lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nfinfla is struggling to control the position.
Nfinfla leaning his opponent against the cage.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Nfinfla has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juanma Nfinfla dominated that round.
That's time! Nfinfla's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nfinfla looks to land a body kick but Gracie moved away.
Some bone on bone action there as Gracie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Nfinfla moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nfinfla lands a shot to the body.
Nfinfla tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gracie is trying to push Nfinfla away but Nfinfla has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gracie wants to break free but Nfinfla has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nfinfla has Gracie pressed against the cage, preventing Gracie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nfinfla obliges.
Gracie is trying to break free.
Nfinfla just leaning against Gracie, taking a breather.
Nfinfla is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Nfinfla utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nfinfla leaning his opponent against the cage.
Knees to the body from Nfinfla.
Nfinfla presses Gracie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nfinfla landing knees to the body.
Nfinfla scores a nice knee to the body.
Nfinfla avoiding damage.
Nfinfla working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nfinfla landing knees to the body.
Nfinfla works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nfinfla unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nfinfla utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nfinfla lands a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nfinfla is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gracie is trying to force a seperation but Nfinfla has the dominant position.
Nfinfla manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A right hook to the body lands for Nfinfla.
Nfinfla crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Nfinfla just leaning against Gracie, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nfinfla landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nfinfla stalling against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nfinfla obliges.
Nfinfla crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
A knee to the head by Nfinfla.
Nfinfla stalling against the cage.
I was talking to Nfinfla's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Nfinfla landing knees to the body.
Nfinfla stalls.
Nfinfla lands with a left to the head.
Gracie is trying to push Nfinfla away but Nfinfla has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Nfinfla is controlling him.
Gracie being controlled against the cage.
Nfinfla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Nfinfla lands a nice knee to the body.
Nfinfla landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nfinfla crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Nfinfla scores a nice knee to the body.
Gracie can't break the clinch.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gracie can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juanma Nfinfla dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Nfinfla.
Gracie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gracie takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie throws a nice looking combination but Nfinfla bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nfinfla fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gracie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie misses with a combination
and Nfinfla counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Nfinfla tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nfinfla clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Nfinfla lands a nice knee to the body.
Nfinfla crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Nfinfla digs a right hand into Gracie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gracie's gas tank.
Nfinfla scores a nice knee to the body.
Nfinfla crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Nfinfla lands a knee to the body.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nfinfla lands a knee to the head.
Nfinfla lands a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nfinfla landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gracie wants to break free but Nfinfla has control.
Nfinfla is struggling to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nfinfla.
Nfinfla using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nfinfla slowing the pace effectively.
Nfinfla fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Nfinfla won't allow it.
Knees to the body from Nfinfla.
Nfinfla with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie wants to break free but Nfinfla has control.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nfinfla with a knee to the head.
Nfinfla keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gracie's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Nfinfla.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gracie as Nfinfla tries to tie him up.
Nfinfla can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Gracie is trying to push Nfinfla away but Nfinfla has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gracie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Juanma Nfinfla has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gracie tries to break free but Nfinfla pushes him back against the cage.
Nfinfla trying to land knees to the body.
Nfinfla slows down the pace here.
Gracie is trying to force a seperation but Nfinfla has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Nfinfla won't allow it.
Gracie wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nfinfla effectively controlling the action here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nfinfla.
Juanma Nfinfla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nfinfla landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gracie is trying to push Nfinfla away but Nfinfla has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nfinfla putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Gracie's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nfinfla working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Nelson Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie has a couple of punches blocked by Nfinfla.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juanma Nfinfla showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nfinfla has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:25
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:24
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juanma Nfinfla!