PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Flako Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nino Balducci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Flako Gracie has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Flako Gracie seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Gracie
vs
Balducci

195 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

196 cm
21
275 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Flako Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nino Balducci!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Chad Campbell and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balducci throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.

Gracie instigates a clinch.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Balducci shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Balducci escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Balducci fails to land with a series of punches.
Balducci stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flako Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Balducci swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Balducci circles away.
Balducci throws a right and a left that both miss.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Balducci is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Balducci wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Balducci 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 is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Balducci has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balducci won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.
Balducci trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie trying to control the action but Balducci is working from the bottom.
Balducci is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Well, if Gracie is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Balducci is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.

Balducci explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Balducci will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balducci swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Balducci throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Gracie tumbling to the canvas!

It looks like Flako Gracie has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balducci won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Balducci controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Balducci tries to stand but Gracie is controlling from the bottom.
Balducci won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.

Gracie has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Balducci doesn't defend quickly enough and Gracie has managed to lock this one up! Can Balducci escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Gracie on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Flako Gracie!