PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Gracie (ranked 1612 p4p, 3272 weight class) and Dwight Schrute (ranked 231 p4p, 414 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Gracie
vs
Schrute

188 cm
28
190
9 - 5 - 0

189 cm
28
185
9 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown 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 9 - 5 - 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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dwight Schrute!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Schrute scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Schrute has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Gracie!
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Schrute's attempts to control the action.
Gracie stops Schrute from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Schrute jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Gracie is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Gracie and Schrute has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Schrute is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to escape but Schrute is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schrute with the ground and pound but Gracie regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Schrute looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Schrute is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.

Schrute seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.

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.

Schrute is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.
Gracie tries to kick Schrute off but Schrute keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Schrute trying to control from Gracie's half guard. Gracie has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Schrute looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Schrute not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling from the top position.

Schrute working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Schrute is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie stays in close to Schrute's body and controls the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Our spies down at at L.A. Stars inform us that Schrute has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Schrute wants to hit a sweep here but Gracie passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Schrute there!

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.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Schrute is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Schrute with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Schrute won't be happy with that.
Schrute is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Schrute can't do much from the bottom here.
Schrute is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie working away.
Gracie has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Schrute is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie is staying tight to Schrute's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schrute is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Schrute's shoulder. That is not cool.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dwight Schrute seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Schrute.
Gracie tries to counter with a takedown but Schrute is quick to defend against it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Schrute throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie drops down looking for a counter takedown but Schrute sprawls and moves away.
Gracie checks the leg kick.
Schrute swings widly with a right hand

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Schrute won't be happy with that.
Gracie slows the pace down.
James Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Schrute for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schrute is trying to improve his position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie working away.
Schrute tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schrute seems a little lost for a moment, as Gracie dominates the positioning.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Schrute misses with an uppercut

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Schrute is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Gracie dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Schrute looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie feinted with a counter takedown.
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.

Schrute closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.
Schrute lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Schrute tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Schrute pushes off an throws an elbow but Gracie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Schrute lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like James Gracie has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Schrute manages to break the clinch.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Schrute.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schrute misses with a combination

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Schrute didn't expect that.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Schrute is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Schrute tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schrute wants to improve his position but instead Gracie has moved into half guard.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Schrute wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Schrute can do to turn this around?
Schrute slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schrute is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Schrute takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie won't allow Schrute to sweep him here.
Gracie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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!
You can see the frustration on Schrute's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dwight Schrute has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Schrute might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gracie controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Schrute gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Schrute doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Gracie.
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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Gracie!
A relieved looking James Gracie thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Dwight Schrute stepped up to the mic, saying 'Back to the beet farm for a few weeks. Great fight! I'll be back!'.