PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Korn Gracie (ranked 4775 p4p, 485 weight class) and Rory Rothstein (ranked 6233 p4p, 533 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Rothstein

183 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
155 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

One stop shop

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Korn Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rory Rothstein!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothstein throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Rothstein looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Rothstein persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Rothstein moves into the clinch.

Gracie is trying to trip Rothstein. He has hold of a leg but Rothstein is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gracie persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Gracie won't allow Rothstein to get back to his feet.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rothstein looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie stands up and waves to Rothstein to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rothstein clinches.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Rothstein forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gracie is working for takedown but Rothstein is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Rothstein uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Korn Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rothstein breaks the clinch.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into Rothstein's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gracie passes Rothstein's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.
Gracie working Rothstein over with strikes.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Rothstein is defending the position.
Rothstein is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gracie drops an elbow to the side of Rothstein's head.
Rothstein avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Gracie trying to control the pace.
Rothstein is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rothstein is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Gracie throwing strikes here but Rothstein is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gracie content just to control the position here.
Rothstein tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rothstein throwing punches from his back. He's mounted here but still fighting back.
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Korn Gracie dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rothstein defends it nicely.
Rothstein looks for a takedown but Gracie sprawls well.

Gracie gets caught flat footed, as Rothstein shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rothstein missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rothstein stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gracie fails with the takedown

and Rothstein counters by clinching up.
Rothstein is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gracie is trying to drag Rothstein to the mat but Rothstein just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Korn Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Rothstein won't allow it.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Rothstein won't allow it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rothstein takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A shot in the inside from Rothstein.
Rothstein lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie jumps guard but Rothstein turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rothstein dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rothstein stalling the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rothstein up against the cage.
Rothstein holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Rothstein shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rothstein lands a knee to the head.
Rothstein effectively controlling the action here.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rothstein avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rothstein breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rothstein darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.

Rothstein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rothstein blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Rothstein tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rothstein pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Rothstein dodges it nicely.
Rothstein blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie controlling the action here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rothstein is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rothstein can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracie working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rothstein is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie just content to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rothstein is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Rothstein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rothstein finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Rothstein tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Rothstein sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gracie takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Gracie wants to clinch.

Rothstein looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Gracie has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rothstein is on him like a limpet, forcing Gracie back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to break the clinch but Rothstein is controlling the position.

Rothstein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Rothstein.

Rothstein moves into the clinch successfully.
Rothstein unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gracie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Rothstein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gracie plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rothstein pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie misses with a takedown

and Rothstein counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rothstein.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Korn Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rothstein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie wants to clinch

and Rothstein counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rothstein takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Rothstein from controlling successfully.
Gracie seems keen to control Rothstein's posture.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Rothstein from standing up.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Rothstein from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is controlling Rothstein's posture.
Gracie is trying to keep Rothstein in close.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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!
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 Rothstein's shoulder. That is not cool.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Rothstein is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rothstein is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie trying to control the action but Rothstein is working from the bottom.
Gracie advances to full mount.
Rothstein in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rory Rothstein.
I think Rothstein has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory Rothstein!