PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rollo Gracie (ranked 1749 p4p, 211 weight class) and Bin Laden (ranked 4770 p4p, 429 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Jiu Jitsu: Apaga Mas Não Bate. Laden comes into a darkened arena with his song building. I am Bin Laden - 5jonttu55 kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Bin Laden was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gracie
vs
Laden

171 cm
44
156 lbs
20 - 8 - 2

180 cm
28
168 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 20 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rollo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bin Laden!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Laden is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gracie is defending well.

Gracie has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Laden clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
You can see the frustration on Laden's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Laden is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie tightening his grip on Laden, looking for the choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie controls the action.

Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Laden is controlling his hands well.

Gracie is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Laden knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Laden for a finish.
Gracie controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laden tries to escape but Gracie has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Gracie controlling the position well here. Laden rolled but Gracie kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rollo Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Laden enables Gracie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Laden manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laden can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie passes into side control, despite Laden's attempt to control the position.
Gracie passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Laden!
Gracie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Gracie controlling from mount.

Gracie goes for an armbar but Laden turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Laden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position here.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laden is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie controlling Laden's posture.
Laden wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie has his hands on Laden's head, controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rollo Gracie dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gracie clinches up against the cage.

Gracie has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Laden is trying to keep an underhook but Gracie manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Gracie trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laden is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.

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.
Laden is just holding on here. Gracie manages to take his back.
Gracie just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Gracie has the hooks in. Laden is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie biding his time, controlling Laden.

Laden fending off the submission attempt from Gracie.
Laden is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Gracie off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Gracie controls the 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.
Gracie has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Gracie is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Laden has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I would not like to be Laden right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rollo 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:25
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:25
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rollo Gracie!
Rollo Gracie bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.