PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Gracie (ranked 2155 p4p, 23433 weight class) and Alexei Rodionovich (ranked 310 p4p, 737 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Limp Bizkit - Rollin'. Rodionovich is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Svarga & Drygva - Volnitsa. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Rodionovich

195 cm
32
195
8 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
183
7 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Decent elbows
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryan Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alexei Rodionovich!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie rushes Rodionovich and presses him up against the cage.
Gracie lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Alexei Rodionovich has been cut.
Rodionovich trying to land knees to the body.
Gracie dodges an elbow strike from Rodionovich.
Rodionovich lands a knee to the body.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rodionovich gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nice elbow from Rodionovich.
Gracie avoids a wild elbow strike from Rodionovich.
Knees to the body from Rodionovich.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie avoids a wild elbow strike from Rodionovich.
Rodionovich is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rodionovich misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Gracie pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rodionovich comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodionovich tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gracie misses with an elbow strike.
Rodionovich misses with an elbow strike.
Rodionovich lands a nice knee to the body.
Rodionovich using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rodionovich landing knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rodionovich just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gracie's brow.
Rodionovich using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Our sources have told us that Gracie has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rodionovich misses with a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rodionovich just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gracie's brow.
Rodionovich throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rodionovich misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Rodionovich forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryan Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodionovich prevents Gracie from breaking the clinch.
Rodionovich landing knees to the head.

It looks like Bryan Gracie has been cut.
Gracie has had enough of the clinch but Rodionovich keeps him there for the moment.

Gracie has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rodionovich uses from the top position.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rodionovich sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodionovich must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rodionovich wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Gracie's closed guard. He's half up but Gracie has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Gracie pivots and extends the arm, Rodionovich falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Gracie! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bryan Gracie!
Bryan Gracie decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
The defeated Alexei Rodionovich had this to say: 'Every white has its black and every sweet its sour'.