PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Wayne Gracie (ranked 1221 p4p, 915 weight class) and Spinning Fire (ranked 167 p4p, 124 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Thriller by Michael Jackson. The key to victory for John Wayne Gracie has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Gracie
vs
Fire

194 cm
47
269
37 - 14 - 0

209 cm
27
290
15 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Fast

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 37 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Wayne Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Spinning Fire!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fire needs to keep his hands up - Gracie had a free shot at his head there.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Fire sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
Fire feints the counter takedown.
John Wayne Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fire was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Gracie throws a body shot but no joy.
Fire changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Gracie misses

and Fire counters with a takedown into side control.
Fire lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Fire happy to just control the position for now.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Fire scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control Fire's posture but Fire avoids it.
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.
Fire landing strikes.
Fire working the body and head with strikes.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie taking punishment in the form of punches.
Fire has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fire landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gracie is not content to let Fire control the position.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Fire working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fire throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Fire lands some shots froms side control.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Fire working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fire lands some shots froms side control.
Fire cracks Gracie with a big right hand but Gracie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Gracie is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Gracie looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Fire turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Spinning Fire!
Spinning Fire opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.