PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raul Gracie (ranked 2078 p4p, 242 weight class) and John Starman (ranked 3224 p4p, 352 weight class). Starman has chosen David Bowie - Starman as his entrance music. 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
Starman

175 cm
25
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
165 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bee Krazy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Raul Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Starman!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie cracks Starman with a good jab.
We've been hearing reports that Gracie has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Gracie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Starman trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Starman wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Gracie works his way into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie trying to control the position but Starman is working away.
Gracie working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie has knee on belly momentarily but Starman bucks him off and regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Starman is looking to improve his position.
Gracie controlling the action here.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Starman is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Starman trying to control here.
Gracie trying to control the action but Starman is working from the bottom.
Starman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Starman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Starman connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gracie lands a nice leg kick that just misses Starman's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Starman is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Starman's legs.
Starman tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Gracie presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Gracie avoids the attempt from Starman to control.
Gracie is stalling here but it's allowed Starman to get half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Starman blocks the move with his legs.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Starman has escaped the position, nice work there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Starman is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Starman throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Starman throws out the jab.
Gracie fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Starman has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gracie throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gracie thows a body kick. Starman tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Starman getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Starman lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Starman loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie throws a body shot but no joy.
Starman jabs Gracie to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gracie lands a jab to Starman's midsection.
Starman keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Starman.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gracie.
Starman loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Starman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie tries to clinch but Starman moves out of range.
Gracie slips a jab from Starman.
Starman scores with a nice right hand.

Gracie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Starman is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Starman is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Starman avoid being mounted?
Starman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Starman working a defensive guard here.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Starman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pushing down on Starman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Starman is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.
Gracie advances to mount.
Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but Starman doesn't allow it.
Gracie trying to control but Starman is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Starman is holding on tight.
Starman is bucking up trying to escape but Gracie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gracie trying to control but Starman is having none of it.
Gracie landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Gracie dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Gracie chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Starman blocks a low kick nicely.
Gracie cracks Starman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The fighters circling - Starman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Starman's head backwards.
Starman misses with the combination.
Gracie tries to counter with a takedown but Starman is quick to defend against it.
Starman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Starman slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starman takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gracie throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Starman shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gracie moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Starman misses the target.
Raul Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.
Starman swinging wildly here.
Starman looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Starman throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Gracie feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Starmans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Starman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Starman might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nice body kick from Gracie.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gracie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starman tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starman wants to control but Gracie postures up.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Starman can do to turn this around?
Starman taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gracie is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Starman's shoulder. That is not cool.
Starman is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Starman tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Starman is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Gracie! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Starman has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Raul Gracie!
Our winner, Raul Gracie, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
The defeated John Starman had this to say: 'Come on not again!'.