PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Red Yabai (ranked 3748 p4p, 2352 weight class) and Renoa Gracie (ranked 207 p4p, 239 weight class). Renoa Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yabai
vs
Gracie

158 cm
21
139
2 - 3 - 0

166 cm
23
145
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Red Yabai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Renoa Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Yabai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Yabai wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

Yabai working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Yabai 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie stands and throws Yabai's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yabai is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie working the head with strikes.
Gracie lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Yabai down.
Yabai is looking to reverse the position.
Yabai is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The referee asks Gracie politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gracie prefers to stall for the moment though.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yabai, who protects the arm well.
Yabai tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie advances nicely into full mount.
Yabai is looking to get to half guard.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Yabai to control.
Gracie in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yabai tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yabai bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Yabai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Yabai tries to pass.
Gracie has control of Yabai's left arm, preventing Yabai from doing any damage.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Yabai tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gracie holds on and takes a little breather.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yabai is aware though and is defending well.
Yabai postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Yabai with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie 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!
Yabai preventing the sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Renoa Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Yabai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Yabai misses the shot to the body.
Yabai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yabai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yabai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Yabai misses the shot to the body.
Gracie tries to counter with a clinch but Yabai shakes him off and moves away.
Yabai throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Yabai defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie closes the distance looking to clinch
and Yabai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yabai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie cracks Yabai with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Yabai circles away and keeps his distance.
A slow jab from Yabai misses its intended target.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Yabai.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.
Yabai looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Gracie tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gracie scores with a punch to the head.

Gracie has closed the distance and engaged Yabai in a clinch.

Yabai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yabai but Yabai pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Yabai. That snapped Gracie's head back.
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Gracie moves out of range as Yabai strikes.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.
Yabai misses with a left hand

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie stands and throws Yabai's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Yabai gets back to half guard.
Yabai is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yabai gets full guard.
Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie not doing much here.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Yabai is defending well.

Yabai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yabai tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
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 Red Yabai will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Yabai swings widly with a right hand

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yabai has hold of Gracie's hands but Gracie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gracie winds up and cracks Yabai with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Yabai is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Yabai keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Yabai wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie lands a heavy elbow.
Gracie looking to control but Yabai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yabai can't escape the position.

Gracie is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Yabai has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Yabai!
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yabai controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Red Yabai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yabai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie controlling the position.
Yabai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Yabai advances to half guard.
Yabai throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie keeping hold of Yabai's head, controlling as best he can.
Well,Yabai is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yabai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Yabai wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yabai.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie pulls Yabai in close to prevent any damage.
Renoa Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Yabai defends well.
Gracie pulls Yabai in close to his closed guard and prevents Yabai from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yabai postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Yabai with a nice head shot there.
Yabai scoring with punches to the head and body.
Yabai is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yabai is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yabai throws a big right hand that misses.

Gracie has his foot on Yabai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yabai works his way back into a safe position though.
Our spies down at at Arcalimon Top Team inform us that Gracie has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Yabai landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Renoa Gracie.
I think Gracie 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Renoa Gracie!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Renoa Gracie!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Renoa Gracie!

Renoa Gracie wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Renoa Gracie, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.