PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Apolinario Mabini (ranked 626 p4p, 85 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 107 p4p, 16 weight class). Mabini's entrance music is Noypi by Bamboo. A fine choice. Gracie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Olha a Explosão. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Mabini
vs
Gracie

185 cm
26
210 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

179 cm
26
210 lbs
14 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Apolinario Mabini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Mabini throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mabini. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.

Mabini closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mabini lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Mabini doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Mabini.
Mabini misses with some punches.
Mabini swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mabini lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mabini pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Mabini.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mabini lands an uppercut.
Mabini lands a body punch.
Gracie can't find room to land a body shot as Mabini controls the action.
Gracie tries to work over Mabini's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mabini pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Mabini has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Mabini.
Mabini lands a left hand.
Gracie has a couple of punches blocked by Mabini.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Mabini won't allow it.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Mabini turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Apolinario Mabini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Gracie.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Mabini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mabini throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gracie jumps guard but Mabini turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mabini lands a shot to the body.
Mabini lands a body punch in the clinch.
Gracie looks winded!
A short left from Mabini.
A short right from Mabini on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mabini lands a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good body shot from Mabini.
Mabini lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mabini smiles and moves away.
Gracie walks into a jab.

Mabini pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Mabini scores with a shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Mabini working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right hook to the body lands for Mabini.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Still in the clinch, Mabini scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mabini lands a right hand.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mabini.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mabini.
Mabini lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Mabini.
Mabini lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mabini lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mabini lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.

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

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Mabini has taken the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mabini lands a nice shot to the body.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Mabini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mabini blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mabini lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mabini lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie tries to stall but Mabini uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gracie tries to pull guard but Mabini forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mabini digs a right hand into Gracie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gracie's gas tank.
Mabini lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Mabini working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mabini lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mabini works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
Gracie tries to work over Mabini's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Mabini.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mabini scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Mabini turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apolinario Mabini dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Crack! Mabini connects with the perfect overhand right and Gracie falls face first to the canvas. Timbeeeeeeeer! Beautiful knockout for Mabini!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Apolinario Mabini!
An out of breath Apolinario Mabini thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.