PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Grassi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flavio Ramacciotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramacciotti has chosen No Surprises as his entrance music. The key to victory for Lucas Grassi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Grassi
vs
Ramacciotti

180 cm
19
188 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Grassi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Flavio Ramacciotti!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grassi misses with a series of wild punches.
Grassi fails to land the takedown.
Grassi fails to land the takedown.
Grassi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ramacciotti's waist but Ramacciotti gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Grassi off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Grassi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ramacciotti keeps the fight on the outside.
Grassi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ramacciotti swivels and escapes.

Ramacciotti looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ramacciotti with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramacciotti's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Ramacciotti is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Grassi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Still in half guard, Ramacciotti seems content to control.
Ramacciotti throwing shots but Grassi is blocking nicely.

Ramacciotti is looking for a kimura here.
Grassi is trying to escape back to his feet but Ramacciotti uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ramacciotti content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Let's hope that Ramacciotti has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Grassi explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Grassi is breathing heavily.
Grassi fails with the takedown

and Ramacciotti counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ramacciotti.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ramacciotti controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Flavio Ramacciotti just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ramacciotti closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Grassi to the mat! Grassi manages to get full guard.

Ramacciotti stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Grassi misses with a takedown

and Ramacciotti counters with a single leg into guard. Grassi didn't expect that.

Grassi is working an open guard so Ramacciotti takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Grassi gets caught flat footed, as Ramacciotti shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ramacciotti won't allow Grassi to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ramacciotti won't allow Grassi to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ramacciotti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ramacciotti controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ramacciotti won't allow Grassi to sweep him here.

Ramacciotti stands up from Grassi's guard - Ramacciotti perhaps looking for a knockout.
Grassi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ramacciotti counters with a nice double leg into side control. Grassi won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flavio Ramacciotti dominated that round.
That's time! Grassi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ramacciotti fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grassi, pushing him back against the cage.
Ramacciotti fails to pull guard.
Ramacciotti is pushing Grassi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Grassi has a couple of punches blocked by Ramacciotti.

Grassi jumps guard and drags Ramacciotti to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ramacciotti is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Grassi looking for a guillotine here but Ramacciotti defends easily.

Ramacciotti gets to his feet - Grassi follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grassi steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ramacciotti. That one must have hurt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ramacciotti.

Ramacciotti has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Grassi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ramacciotti looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Grassi stops Ramacciotti from standing up.
Grassi trying to control but Ramacciotti is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramacciotti pulls Grassi in close to prevent any damage.
Ramacciotti is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ramacciotti looking for a sweep. Not yet Ramacciotti, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grassi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramacciotti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grassi tries for a takedown but Ramacciotti circles away easily

and Ramacciotti counters with a single leg into guard. Grassi didn't expect that.
Grassi wants to hit a switch here but Ramacciotti passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Grassi there!
Ramacciotti controlling his opponent.

Ramacciotti is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Lucas Grassi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grassi misses with a takedown attempt

and Ramacciotti moves into the clinch.
Grassi misses with a punch on the inside.
Ramacciotti has Grassi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Grassi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Ramacciotti breaks from the clinch.
Grassi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Grassi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ramacciotti tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ramacciotti fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ramacciotti prevents the takedown attempt.
Grassi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ramacciotti avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Ramacciotti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flavio Ramacciotti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ramacciotti throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ramacciotti lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Grassi misses with a takedown

and Ramacciotti counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ramacciotti's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ramacciotti working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ramacciotti controls from within his opponent's guard.

Grassi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ramacciotti passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ramacciotti controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grassi trying to control but Ramacciotti postures up.
Grassi is looking to improve his position.

That's two 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.
Ramacciotti controlling the action here.
Grassi is in trouble now - Ramacciotti has advanced to mount!
Ramacciotti controlling from mount.
Ramacciotti landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramacciotti tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ramacciotti avoids the attempt from Grassi to control.
Ramacciotti looking to finish Grassi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Grassi!

That's four 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.
Grassi really wants to buck Ramacciotti off and get back to his feet.
Grassi is trying to stand but he's just given Ramacciotti his back.
Flavio Ramacciotti has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ramacciotti controls the position.
Grassi trying to control the action but Ramacciotti just sinks the hooks in.
Ramacciotti lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Grassi hold on?!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grassi trying to control the position but Ramacciotti manages to sink in the hooks.
Lucas Grassi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Flavio Ramacciotti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ramacciotti lands punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Flavio Ramacciotti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ramacciotti has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flavio Ramacciotti!