PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ezequiel Canizares (ranked 6713 p4p, 5884 weight class) and Kron Gracie (ranked 724 p4p, 667 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?

Canizares
vs
Gracie

183 cm
22
188
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
190
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 London, Ezequiel Canizares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kron Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Reed Andrews and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Canizares takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Canizares napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gracie creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Canizares sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Canizares is trying to get back to half guard.
Canizares is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Dr Hatsumi's Clinic that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Canizares struggling a bit here.
Canizares dodges the ground and pound from Gracie.
Gracie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Canizares is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gracie trying to control the action but Canizares is working from the bottom.
Canizares is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with the ground and pound.
Canizares defending against the ground and pound.
Canizares tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Canizares is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Canizares controlling the positon.
Gracie tries to escape but Canizares has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Gracie felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control his opponent's hands but Canizares gets his hands free.
Canizares knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Canizares is trying to stick to Gracie's back but Gracie is turning into Canizares. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Canizares's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gracie.
Canizares is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Canizares pulls his head out easily.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Canizares is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Canizares looking to pass the guard.
Canizares stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.

Gracie working for a triangle but Canizares defends it easily.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Canizares defends it easily.
Canizares controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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.
Canizares's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Canizares has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Canizares trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Canizares defends it easily.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Canizares has passed into half guard!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kron Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Canizares looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gracie throws a hook but Canizares blocks it.
Kron Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Canizares lands a head shot.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Canizares appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Canizares.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Canizares.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Canizares counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gracie uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Canizares has time to react.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Canizares connects with a crisp jab.
Gracie throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Canizares counters with a good low kick that Gracie was not able to check.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Canizares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canizares cracks Gracie with a good jab.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie throws a body punch but Canizares moves out of range.
Canizares moves forwards but Gracie connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gracie lands with a cross.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Canizares scores with a jab to the body.
Canizares scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gracie moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with an uppercut. Canizares saw that one coming.
Canizares takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Canizares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Gracie finds it's way through Canizares's defenses.
Canizares bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Canizares lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Canizares ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Ezequiel Canizares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Canizares keeps Gracie at a distance using the push kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Canizares darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Canizares swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canizares takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gracie throws a hook to the side of Canizares's head but Canizares sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Canizares closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie scores with a shot to the side of Canizares's head.
Canizares lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Canizares can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Canizares.
Canizares lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Canizares manages to get underhooks.
Ezequiel Canizares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kron Gracie.
A right hand to the body from Gracie.
Canizares is trying to maintain a safe position but Gracie gets an underhook and turns Canizares into the cage.
Canizares throws a head punch that misses.
A body shot lands from Canizares.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gracie.
Canizares misses with a punch on the inside.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Canizares fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canizares throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Canizares ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie scores with a nice right hand.
Canizares takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Canizares throws a leg kick that misses.
It seemed like Gracie was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gracie misses with an uppercut. Canizares saw that one coming.
Canizares throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Canizares ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
A jab from Gracie does it's job there.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
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 Ezequiel Canizares will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Canizares.
Canizares wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Canizares scores with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Canizares. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Gracie catches Canizares with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Gracie throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Canizares cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a lunging right hand
and Gracie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Canizares sizes up Gracie with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Canizares just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie misses with a hook
and Canizares counters with a left to the body.
Gracie has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Canizares.
Gracie connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Canizares scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ezequiel Canizares is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Canizares uses good head movement to avoid it.
Canizares fires out a quick counter leg kick but Gracie just manages to avoid it.
Canizares gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Canizares does a little dance to reset his feet.
It appears Canizares was looking to counter with a kick there.
Gracie cracks Canizares with a good jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie looks to throw the jab but Canizares is out of range.
Canizares ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Canizares moves forwards but Gracie connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gracie tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Canizares.
Gracie misses with an uppercut
enabling Canizares to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie misses with a hook
and Canizares counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Canizares tries to clinch but Gracie moves away
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canizares feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
Gracie misses with a hook
and Canizares counters with a left to the body.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie misses with a hook.
Gracie misses with a right hand
and Gracie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Canizares was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Canizares misses the shot to the body.
Gracie misses with a shot to the body
and Canizares counters with a nice uppercut.
Gracie lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Canizares manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Canizares feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Gracie darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Canizares just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie cracks Canizares with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Canizares moved out of range nicely.
Nice shot lands for Canizares.
Canizares missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gracie takes a swing at Canizares's ribcage but misses.
Canizares swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Canizares uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gracie lands with a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ezequiel Canizares showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Canizares has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ezequiel Canizares!
Ezequiel Canizares thanked the fans post fight for their support.