PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Big Dog Gracie (ranked 3440 p4p, 338 weight class) and Lee Van Cleefe (ranked 3516 p4p, 348 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Gang out. Van Cleefe has chosen Classics - The Master (1984) TV series as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Dog Gracie
vs
Van Cleefe

190 cm
20
245 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
255 lbs
10 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Big Dog Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee Van Cleefe!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Cleefe drops Gracie with a beautiful combination! Gracie stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Van Cleefe is looking for the KO!

It looks like Big Dog Gracie has been cut.
A low kick from Van Cleefe is predictable there

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Van Cleefe didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Van Cleefe has wrist control.

Van Cleefe looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Van Cleefe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Van Cleefe trying to control from the bottom.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throwing shots but Van Cleefe is blocking nicely.

Van Cleefe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Van Cleefe has managed to free his arm - good work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gracie connects with a nice short shot to Van Cleefe's temple.
Van Cleefe trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.

Gracie is working for an americana but Van Cleefe has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Gracie was thinking about the submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Van Cleefe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Van Cleefe!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Cleefe is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe wants to improve his position but instead Gracie has moved into half guard.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gracie is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Van Cleefe 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.
Van Cleefe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
Gracie passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Van Cleefe!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a nice shot to the head.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Van Cleefe is squirming around nicely.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Van Cleefe turns into him and now he's in Gracie's guard.
Van Cleefe preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Dog Gracie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Big Dog Gracie's cut.
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.

Van Cleefe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Van Cleefe misses with a series of wild punches.
Van Cleefe throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Van Cleefe lands a jab.
Van Cleefe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Van Cleefe scores with a body shot.
Van Cleefe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Cleefe lands with a nice body punch.

Gracie moves into range and clinches up with Van Cleefe.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Van Cleefe prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Big Dog Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Van Cleefe breaks the clinch.
Van Cleefe scores with a hook to the body. Gracie takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lee Van Cleefe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Van Cleefe closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Big Dog Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cleefe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gracie misses with a body kick.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Van Cleefe.
Gracie wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie grinds an elbow into Van Cleefe's temple.

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 goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Van Cleefe has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gracie but great work by Van Cleefe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Van Cleefe tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.

Van Cleefe tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.

Van Cleefe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Finch Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Cleefe is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Van Cleefe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Van Cleefe eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie is controlling Van Cleefe's trapped leg to prevent Van Cleefe from advancing to side control.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.

That's four 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.
Van Cleefe prevents Gracie from getting back to his feet.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Van Cleefe drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!

Gracie scoring with punches and elbows.
Van Cleefe is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie trying to control the position but Van Cleefe is working away.
Van Cleefe taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Van Cleefe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Big Dog Gracie's cut.
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. 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.

Van Cleefe lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Gracie looking to score a takedown here. Van Cleefe is defending well but Gracie drives through and ends up in Van Cleefe's guard.
Gracie pushing down on Van Cleefe's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Big Dog Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie is nestled in close to Van Cleefe, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
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.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Van Cleefe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
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 winds up and cracks Van Cleefe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Van Cleefe defends it well.
Van Cleefe is trying to control but Gracie passes into side control!

Gracie has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Van Cleefe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe lands with a nice body punch.
Nice uppercut lands for Van Cleefe. That snapped Gracie's head back.
Van Cleefe fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gracie throws a lazy body kick
and Van Cleefe counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie tries to clinch
and Van Cleefe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Van Cleefe fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Cleefe cracks Gracie with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Van Cleefe scores with a body shot.
No joy there for Van Cleefe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Van Cleefe cracks Gracie with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Van Cleefe scores with a three punch combo!

Gracie clinches.
Van Cleefe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has Van Cleefe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Van Cleefe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A shot in the inside from Van Cleefe.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Cleefe smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Big Dog Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Cleefe scores with a three punch combo!
Van Cleefe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Van Cleefe is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Van Cleefe is working away.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gracie in particular looking to stall.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.

It looks like Lee Van Cleefe has been cut.
Van Cleefe gets back to full guard.
Gracie cracks Van Cleefe with a solid left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Van Cleefe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van Cleefe 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lee Van Cleefe!