PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 2606 p4p, 3587 weight class) and Gamzat Gamzatov (ranked 384 p4p, 494 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Jiu Jitsu by Smoke Serpent. Gamzatov has chosen Entrance Song as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Gamzatov

185 cm
37
192
30 - 19 - 0

188 cm
32
203
19 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 30 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gamzat Gamzatov!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jonathan Paton and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gamzatov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gamzatov pulls Gracie in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gamzatov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gamzatov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie postures up.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gamzatov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gamzatov managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gamzatov is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gamzatov avoid being mounted?

Gamzatov actively working from the bottom here.
Gamzatov trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamzatov wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Gamzatov is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.
Gamzatov has given up his back here. Will Gracie look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Gracie not allowing Gamzatov to control his hands.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Gamzatov is controlling his hands well.
I really don't envy Gamzatov right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamzatov is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Gamzatov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Gamzatov tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Gamzatov tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Gamzatov tries to control Gracie's body but Gracie pushes him off. Gamzatov squirms to his side and now Gracie has his back!

Gracie looking to break Gamzatov's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Gamzatov remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gamzatov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gracie's arms.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gamzatov shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gamzatov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gracie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gamzatov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Gracie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gamzatov rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Gracie's guard! Nice work there by Gamzatov!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamzatov looking to pass the guard.

Gracie has his foot on Gamzatov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gamzatov works his way back into a safe position though.
Gamzatov looking to pass the guard.
Gamzatov is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Gamzatov from controlling successfully.
Gamzatov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gamzatov throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Gamzatov from controlling successfully.

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.
Gamzatov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gamzatov pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gamzatov.
Gamzatov tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.

Gamzatov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gamzatov 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.
Gamzatov throws a strike but Gracie avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamzatov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gamzatov throwing strikes but missing.
Gamzatov trying to move into half guard but instead Gracie has managed to sweep!

Gamzatov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Gamzatov defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to advance to full mount but Gamzatov doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Gamzatov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gamzatov working a defensive guard but Gracie passes into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gamzat Gamzatov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie leaves Gamzatov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Gamzatov defends it.
Gamzatov is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but Gamzatov doesn't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie forces the positional change into back control.
Gamzatov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Gamzatov trying to control from the bottom.
Gamzatov tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gamzatov wants to control but Gracie passes into side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamzatov struggling a bit here.
Gamzatov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gamzatov can do to turn this around?
Gamzatov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gamzatov wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Gamzatov is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to advance to full mount but Gamzatov doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Gamzatov is retaining full guard.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gamzatov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gamzatov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gamzatov wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gamzatov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gamzatov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gamzatov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Royce Gracie.
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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Gracie!
A victorious Royce Gracie thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.