PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodolfo Gracie (ranked 5574 p4p, 479 weight class) and Anthony Linwood (ranked 23479 p4p, 539 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Gracie
vs
Linwood

177 cm
25
165 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

178 cm
27
155 lbs
9 - 13 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodolfo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Linwood!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Joseph Jones and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Linwood to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie is pulling down on Linwood's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Linwood makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Linwood with a flurry of punches that miss.
Linwood trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie has Linwood pulled in close to control his posture.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Linwood is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Linwood wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Linwood wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linwood content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Linwood got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Linwood has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Linwood stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Linwood landing some decent shots from guard.
Linwood trying to move into half guard but instead Gracie has managed to sweep!

Gracie wants to control from the top but Linwood keeps moving.
Linwood looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Linwood keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Linwood working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie trying to control but Linwood is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Linwood looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie trying to control but Linwood is working from the bottom.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Linwood is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Linwood manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Linwood's guard.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Linwood is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rodolfo Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie gets caught napping as Linwood dives in and scores a takedown. Gracie manages to retain guard.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Linwood slips nicely into half guard.
Linwood is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Gracie controlling the position.
Linwood wants to stand and escape but instead Gracie has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Linwood keeps moving.
Linwood throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Linwood will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Linwood keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Linwood is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Linwood manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Linwood's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Linwood striking off his back but it's not causing Gracie any problems.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie trying to control but Linwood is working from the bottom.
Anthony Linwood has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie won't allow Linwood to sweep him here.
Gracie trying to control but Linwood is working from the bottom.
Linwood really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Linwood is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Linwood manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Linwood's guard.
Linwood wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Linwood wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Linwood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anthony Linwood will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Linwood gets the takedown into side control.
Linwood tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Gracie takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gracie is holding Linwood down, trying to stall.

Linwood goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gracie has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Linwood but great work by Gracie.
Linwood is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Linwood is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Linwood is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Linwood knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

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 Linwood is working from the bottom.
Linwood tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie wants to control but Linwood is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Linwood is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Linwood is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Linwood is still trying to improve position.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Gracie tries for a kimura but Linwood is defending well.
Linwood tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Linwood knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodolfo Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gracie 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!