PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 722 p4p, 117 weight class) and John Makres (ranked 1722 p4p, 220 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Olha a Explosão. Makres has chosen SABATON - Coat of Arms as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Gracie
vs
Makres

179 cm
28
210 lbs
14 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
212 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Dark Knight Nutrition
Conviction

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 14 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Makres!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Makres slips the punch.
Makres is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Makres. Makres obviously looking to wear him down.
Nice defenses there by Makres.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Makres manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Makres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makres keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Makres is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Makres has his feet on Gracie's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makres cracks Gracie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Makres throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Gracie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Makres tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gracie is in Makres's guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Makres is keeping the position.
Makres wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie pushing down on Makres's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Makres has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Makres won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Makres doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Makres looks like he's trying to stand up.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Makres is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Makres is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Makres wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Makres wants to stand back up but Gracie manages to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie prevents Makres from escaping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Makres.
Makres swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Gracie throws a body punch but Makres moves out of range.
Makres avoids the body shot from Gracie.
A little jabbing left from Makres on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Makres ducks down to avoid it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Makres just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Makres displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gracie throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie misses with a body punch
and Makres cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Makres ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on Makres's shoulder, as Makres tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Makres uses good head movement to avoid it.
Makres misses with a body kick.
Gracie swings for the body but Makres moves out of range.

Gracie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Makres tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gracie is in Makres's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie stops Makres from standing up.
Gracie passes Makres's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Makres is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makres wants to stand back up but Gracie manages to pass into side control.
Makres is trying to get back to his feet.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Makres is defending well.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Makres, who protects the arm well.
Makres felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Makres has escaped the position, nice work there.
Makres tries to escape but Gracie is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracie trying to control the action but Makres is working from the bottom.

Gracie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Makres has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gracie but great work by Makres.
Makres wants to stand but Gracie has his arm trapped.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Makres tries to stand but Gracie is controlling his head.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Makres's best efforts.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makres wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling the position.
Royce Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Makres seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Makres tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Makres connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Makres tries to sprawl but Gracie drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Makres defends the submission attempt.
Makres wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Royce Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gracie takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gracie throws a body punch but Makres moves out of range.
Gracie moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gracie swings for the body but Makres moves out of range.
Makres has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Makres throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Makres is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Makres has managed to free his arm - good work.
Makres pushes Gracie off but Gracie dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Makres, who protects the arm well.
Makres is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.

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

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Makres knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Makres is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.

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 is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Makres knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie tries to advance to mount but Makres denies him.

Makres throws Gracie to one side and escapes!
Makres staying out of range there.
John Makres is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Makres changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Makres is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Gracie dives into side control.

Makres is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gracie asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Makres wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is dominant here and he's now got Makres's back!

Gracie looking to break Makres's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Makres remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Makres is trying to get back to his feet but Gracie has full control of the position and if anything, Makres has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Gracie has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Makres is trying to get back to his feet but Gracie has full control of the position and if anything, Makres has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Makres is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Royce Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John Makres has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Makres showing good submission defense here.
Makres trying to get back to his feet but Gracie is in full control for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Gracie!
A very excited looking Royce Gracie made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.