PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Gracie (ranked 727 p4p, 778 weight class) and Wesley Shutes (ranked 120 p4p, 125 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Limp Bizkit - Rollin'. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Shutes

195 cm
40
195
22 - 17 - 0

182 cm
39
187
22 - 17 - 4

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryan Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 4, fighting out of London, Wesley Shutes!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Shutes ducks down to avoid it.
Shutes fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Shutes cracks a nice hook into Gracie's ribs.
Nice body kick from Shutes.
Shutes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gracie closes the distance looking to clinch
and Shutes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Shutes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.

Gracie closes the distance and pushes Shutes back into the cage.
Shutes struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shutes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shutes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gracie looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A shot in the inside from Shutes.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie dodges an elbow strike from Shutes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie breaks the clinch.
Shutes throws a front kick that sends Gracie stumbling back into the cage.

Shutes gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Shutes is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shutes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shutes can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Shutes holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie content to control rather than advance.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shutes is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Shutes wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shutes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shutes trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shutes wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
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.
Shutes is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shutes avoid being mounted?

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Shutes is having none of it.

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.
Shutes wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shutes misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie feinted with a counter takedown.
Shutes connects with a leg kick.
Shutes ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
It seemed like Shutes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Shutes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Shutes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Shutes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gracie shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gracie keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Shutes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shutes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gracie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shutes is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Shutes circles away and we're back to standing.
Shutes throws a low kick but Gracie moves out of range easily.
Shutes has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Wesley Shutes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shutes pinned against the cage. Shutes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shutes moves out of range as Gracie strikes.
Shutes chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shutes has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gracie has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Shutes is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Gracie yanks on the arm and Shutes is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Gracie.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). 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.