PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Gracie (ranked 1552 p4p, 2364 weight class) and Dwight Schrute (ranked 233 p4p, 336 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gracie
vs
Schrute

188 cm
26
190
7 - 4 - 0

189 cm
27
185
8 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dwight Schrute!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schrute tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Schrute sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gracie keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Schrute is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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 looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie working Schrute over with strikes.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Schrute is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Schrute moves into full guard.

Schrute is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schrute looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie trying to control but Schrute is working from the bottom.

Schrute escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie is stalling in the full guard.

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.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schrute keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Schrute is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Schrute has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.
Gracie working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Schrute's head.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Schrute has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schrute keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Schrute's guard.
Gracie is nestled in close to Schrute, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Schrute is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Schrute keeps working.
Schrute trying to control here.
Schrute tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schrute is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Schrute is defending the position.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.
Schrute is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Schrute has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Schrute's legs - danger averted.
Our spies down at at Catch Wrestling L.A. inform us that Schrute has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Gracie dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Schrute misses with a wild combination.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie trying to control the action but Schrute is working from the bottom.
Schrute is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie working over Schrute with some ground and pound. Schrute looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gracie throwing shots but Schrute is blocking nicely.
Schrute gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Schrute is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schrute trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie lands a couple of digs.

Schrute escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Schrute can do to turn this around?
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

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.

Schrute looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
James Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie trying to control but Schrute is working from the bottom.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Schrute is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Schrute has escaped and now he's on top!

Schrute postures up.

Schrute postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gracie is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Schrute, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Schrute gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Schrute must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Schrute wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Schrute tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie won't allow Schrute to sweep him here.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Schrute utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Schrute is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Gracie dominated that second round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Schrute throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Schrute misses with a body shot.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Schrute moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Schrute looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Schrute lands with an uppercut that bounces Gracie off the cage and back into range.
Nice takedown defense from Schrute. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Schrute looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Schrute misses with a hook.
Schrute misses with a jab, cross combination.

Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gracie working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie trying to control but Schrute is working from the bottom.

Schrute throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gracie escapes and throws Schrute's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gracie working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position but Schrute is working away.
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gracie lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gracie trying to control the action but Schrute is working from the bottom.
Schrute is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Schrute is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Schrute is defending well.
Schrute is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Gracie lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Schrute down.
Gracie wants to control but Schrute is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schrute on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Schrute is looking for a sweep.
Gracie wants to control but Schrute is keeping him busy.
Schrute tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Schrute is trying to escape the position but Gracie is controlling the position.
Schrute is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Dwight Schrute has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Schrute tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie trying to control the action but Schrute is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gracie grinds an elbow into Schrute's temple.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie wants to control but Schrute is keeping him busy.
Schrute taking a bit of punishment here - Gracie scoring with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Gracie!
After winning the bout, James Gracie thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Dwight Schrute was interviewed post fight and said 'Back to the beet farm for a few weeks. Great fight! I'll be back!'.