PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eliz Gracie (ranked 1669 p4p, 2451 weight class) and Saipam Muwaitang (ranked 235 p4p, 325 weight class). Saipam Muwaitang has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Muwaitang

180 cm
34
190
11 - 2 - 0

200 cm
26
205
7 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eliz Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saipam Muwaitang!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie defending well as Muwaitang loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muwaitang.
Gracie changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Muwaitang throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Muwaitang with a nice cross.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Muwaitang is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.

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!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Muwaitang is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie prevents Muwaitang from escaping the position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Gracie tries for a kimura but Muwaitang is defending well.
Muwaitang really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Muwaitang is trying to buck Gracie off.
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.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Muwaitang knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Muwaitang is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muwaitang is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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!
Muwaitang is trying to buck Gracie off.

Muwaitang bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Muwaitang lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
A swing and a miss from Muwaitang.
Muwaitang tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Muwaitang gets caught napping as Gracie dives in and scores a takedown. Muwaitang manages to retain guard.
Muwaitang wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Muwaitang is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Muwaitang manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Muwaitang's guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie prevents Muwaitang from getting back to his feet.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Muwaitang wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
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!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muwaitang jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Muwaitang throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Muwaitang closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Muwaitang.
Muwaitang throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Muwaitang swinging wildly here.
Muwaitang fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Muwaitang misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saipam Muwaitang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Gracie is trying for a kimura here. Muwaitang looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Gracie wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Eliz Gracie!
In his post fight interview, Eliz Gracie started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.