PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Araujo (ranked 3952 p4p, 378 weight class) and Earl Lee Grace (ranked 2012 p4p, 225 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Araujo
vs
Lee Grace

193 cm
29
285 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

195 cm
32
265 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Araujo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Earl Lee Grace!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Araujo lands with a nice body punch.
Grace throws a body punch but Araujo moves out of range.
Araujo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Grace tries to avoid it but Araujo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Grace to the ground. Grace escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Araujo sets himself, and Grace steps forward looking for the clinch! Araujo avoids it this time.
Araujo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Grace throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Araujo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Araujo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grace but Grace pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Grace is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Araujo.
Araujo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Grace sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Araujo somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Araujo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Grace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo fails with a takedown attempt.
Araujo shoots for a takedown but Grace saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Grace throws out a counter right but Araujo avoids it with no problem.
Araujo closes the distance and clinches up with Grace, looking for a takedown. Araujo pushes Grace against the ropes but Grace circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Grace scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grace throws a head kick that misses

and Araujo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Grace won't be happy with that.
Araujo prevents Grace from escaping the position.
Araujo advances to mount.
Araujo fails to advance to Grace's back.
Grace trying desperately to get to his feet.

Araujo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Grace to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Grace shrugs it off.
Araujo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

It looks like Earl Lee Grace has been cut.

Araujo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Grace is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Grace and Araujo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Araujo is looking to reverse the position.
Grace wants to stand but Araujo is controlling his arm.
You can see the frustration on Araujo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grace tries to stand but Araujo is controlling his head.
Araujo can't do much from the bottom here.
Araujo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Grace wants to stand but Araujo has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Araujo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Grace pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Grace wants to stand up but Araujo has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Araujo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Grace wants to stand up but Araujo has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
Araujo wants to get back to full guard.
Grace is thwarting Araujo's attempts to control the position.

That's four 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.
Grace wants to stand but Araujo has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Grace takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Grace pivots, looking for a leg kick but Araujo is out of range and Grace settles back down.
Grace bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Grace throws a nice inside leg kick.
Grace with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Grace throws a low kick but Araujo avoids it.
Araujo dives in for a single leg takedown but Grace sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Grace lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Grace stuffs the takedown attempt from Araujo. Araujo gets slowly back to his feet.
Grace raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Araujo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grace is fending him off so far but Araujo persists. Nope, Grace circles away and we're back to standing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Grace! But no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl Lee Grace dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Earl Lee Grace's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Grace as Araujo shoots in.
Thiago Araujo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Araujo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Grace.
Araujo feinted with a counter takedown.
Grace leaves Araujo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Grace jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Grace misses with a combination

and Araujo counters with a single leg into guard. Grace didn't expect that.
Araujo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Grace's guard.

Araujo is working for a submission of some sort.

Araujo seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo tries to pass to full mount but Grace defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Araujo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grace keeps working.
Grace looks like he's trying to stand up.

Araujo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Grace has managed to free his arm - good work.
Grace blocking the ground and pound attempt from Araujo.

Araujo is looking for a kimura here.

Araujo seems to be working for a kimura but Grace defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Araujo is looking for a kimura but Grace is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Araujo to get the leverage.

Araujo seems to be looking for submissions.

Araujo is working for a submission of some sort.
Grace wants to get back to his feet.

Araujo wants to work for an arm triangle but Grace is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Grace reverses the position - he's now on top in Araujo's guard.

Grace decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Araujo, up you get!
Grace defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Araujo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Araujo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Araujo misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Grace on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Araujo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Araujo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Grace sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Araujo somewhat.
Araujo shoots in for a takedown but Grace shows good takedown defense.
Araujo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Grace counters with a crisp right hand that drops Araujo! Grace lets Araujo back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

It looks like Thiago Araujo has been cut.
Earl Lee Grace seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Araujo fails with the takedown
and Grace counters with a head kick from the bowels of hell that crumples Araujo! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Earl Lee Grace!
Earl Lee Grace seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.