PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Gracie (ranked 2420 p4p, 3963 weight class) and Dave McDonald (ranked 345 p4p, 547 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Limp Bizkit - Rollin'. Dave McDonald will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gracie
vs
McDonald

195 cm
29
195
4 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
188
2 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryan Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dave McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald wants to clinch.
Gracie misses with a hook.
McDonald pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An inside leg kick from McDonald misses.
We've been informed that McDonald has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
McDonald pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
McDonald misses with a leg kick.
McDonald misses with a body kick.
McDonald misses with a body kick.
Gracie drops down looking for a counter takedown but McDonald sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
McDonald thows a leg kick but Gracie checks it

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McDonald!
McDonald is not content to let Gracie control the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
McDonald is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but McDonald is defending well.
McDonald is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but McDonald keeps working.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McDonald has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracie working away.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on McDonald's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
McDonald tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McDonald, who protects the arm well.
Gracie trying to control the action but McDonald is working from the bottom.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
McDonald is holding Gracie down, trying to stall.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McDonald knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but McDonald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on McDonald's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
McDonald tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McDonald struggling a bit here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

McDonald tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie feinted with a counter takedown.
McDonald throws a front kick aimed at Gracie's knee but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie attempts a counter takedown but McDonald avoids it well and moves away.
McDonald scores with a jab to the head.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
McDonald connects with a leg kick.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
McDonald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie drops down looking for a counter takedown but McDonald sprawls and moves away.
McDonald throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Dave McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie throws a poor cross that misses
and McDonald counters with a one-two to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald throws a leg kick

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McDonald!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gracie tries for a kimura but McDonald is defending well.
McDonald struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald is looking for a sweep.
Gracie wants to control but McDonald is keeping him busy.
McDonald tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie trying to control the action but McDonald is working from the bottom.
McDonald can't do much from the bottom here.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McDonald, who protects the arm well.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but McDonald is defending well.

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

Gracie tries for a kimura but McDonald is defending well.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but McDonald is defending well.
McDonald manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. McDonald knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gracie wants to take a breather but McDonald is having none of it.

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.
Gracie is thwarting McDonald's attempts to control the position.
Gracie trying to control the action but McDonald is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.

McDonald looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

McDonald is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
McDonald is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
McDonald trying to control here.

Gracie is working for a kimura but McDonald is defending it quite comfortably.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bryan Gracie will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McDonald pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie attempts a counter takedown but McDonald avoids it well and moves away.
McDonald throws a lazy uppercut

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McDonald!
McDonald is looking for a sweep.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDonald can do to turn this around?

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McDonald has escaped the position, nice work there.
McDonald tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald is trying to work for a sweep but Gracie has mounted him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but McDonald is having none of it.
Gracie avoids the attempt from McDonald to control.
Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bryan Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McDonald is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie is looking to work his way around to McDonald's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
McDonald is working to get back to half guard.

Gracie is working for a guillotine from mount but McDonald frees his head quite easily.
McDonald wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie prevents McDonald from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the pace for now.
McDonald is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McDonald is looking to escape.
McDonald tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
McDonald tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
McDonald sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
McDonald trying to control but Gracie postures up.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
McDonald is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McDonald avoid being mounted?

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bryan Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are battling for position here. McDonald manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.

McDonald throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McDonald tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McDonald being controlled here, momentarily.

McDonald has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McDonald is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dave McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Gracie!
Bryan Gracie tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.