PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Holden Gracie (ranked 885 p4p, 405 weight class) and James Spencer (ranked 115 p4p, 50 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Gracie
vs
Spencer

190 cm
36
196
23 - 12 - 0

190 cm
28
190
13 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Conviction

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 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Holden Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Spencer!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie lands a jab to Spencer's midsection.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Spencer keeps it at a distance.
Spencer throws out a counter right but Gracie avoids it with no problem.
A head kick misses from Spencer.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Spencer.
Gracie lands a nice shot to the body.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Spencer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Spencer moves out of range easily.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Spencer moves out of range easily.
A good leg kick by Spencer.
Gracie looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spencer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Spencer takes one on the button.
Gracie swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Spencer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Gracie has Spencer up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to break the clinch but Spencer is controlling the position.
Spencer makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Spencer prevents Gracie from breaking the clinch.
Nice body punch from Spencer.

Spencer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Spencer moves out of range easily.
Spencer is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gracie.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Spencer! But no joy.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It seemed like Spencer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Gracie scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer avoids the head kick by Gracie.

Gracie clinches.
Spencer taking a breather.
Spencer lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Spencer takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Spencer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Spencer walks into a jab.
Gracie lands with a straight right. Spencer didn't see that one coming.
Gracie throws a lazy uppercut
and Spencer makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A left lands for Gracie.
Gracie tries to clinch but Spencer moves out of range.
Spencer is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Spencer only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Spencer blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Spencer looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gracie tests Spencer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses
and Spencer counters with a nice body kick.
Gracie throws a head kick but Spencer moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Spencer follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spencer swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Spencer misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spencer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spencer throws out a counter right but Gracie avoids it with no problem.
Spencer ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Spencer walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Spencer moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Spencer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Spencer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Spencer let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Spencer moves away and avoids it.
A nice side step and Spencer releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Holden Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Gracie throws a jab when Spencer was well out of range.
Gracie misses with a wild combination.
Spencer looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Holden Gracie dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gracie lands a high kick!
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
Gracie tries to clinch but Spencer moves out of range.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Spencer keeps it at a distance.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Spencer moves out of range easily.
Gracie swings for the body but Spencer moves out of range.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Spencer appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Spencer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie takes a swing at Spencer's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like Spencer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gracie stalks Spencer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Spencer's face. Spencer staggers backwards, shaken.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Holden Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Spencer is looking to chop away at Gracie's legs.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Spencer moves out of range easily.
Spencer avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Spencer thinks about the counter body kick.
A head kick by Gracie misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Spencer takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gracie throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gracie throws a head kick but Spencer moves out of range.
Spencer throws out a counter right but Gracie avoids it with no problem.
Spencer avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Gracie throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Spencer defending well as Gracie loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie throws a head kick but Spencer moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer slips a straight right by Gracie.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Spencer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spencer can do to turn this around?
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Spencer! But no joy.
Spencer drops his hands momentarily and Gracie takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gracie throws a body punch but Spencer moves out of range.
Spencer only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Spencer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Spencer looks to land a body kick but Gracie moved away.
Spencer jabs at Gracie's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie lands a jab-cross combination.
Gracie lands a lovely overhand right.
Spencer moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Spencer moves out of range easily.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Spencer throws a shot to the body.
Spencer throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick from Spencer.
Gracie throws a right hand that misses
and Spencer counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spencer dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Spencer unleashes a big counter combination but Gracie bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gracie scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Spencer.
Spencer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Spencer swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Spencer now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gracie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Spencer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Spencer has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Spencer there as he acknowledges the shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Spencer appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Spencer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gracie closes the distance but Spencer moves to the side
and Spencer makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Holden Gracie dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Spencer keeps the fight on the outside.
Spencer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Spencer swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Spencer cracks a nice hook into Gracie's ribs.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Gracie misses
and Spencer counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spencer takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Spencer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spencer thumps Gracie with a low kick.
Spencer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Spencer circles away.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Spencer was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Spencer lands a jab.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Spencer steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Gracie throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Spencer's head.
Spencer thuds his right hand into Gracie's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Gracie swings for the body but Spencer moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spencer manages to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Gracie sizes up Spencer with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gracie throws a jab when Spencer was well out of range.
Spencer is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gracie with a body shot.
Gracie moves to clinch but Spencer breaks away
and Spencer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spencer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Spencer circles away.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Spencer replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Gracie blocks it well.
James Spencer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Gracie lands but Spencer takes it in his stride.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Spencer comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Spencer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Spencer throws out a counter right but Gracie avoids it with no problem.
Spencer throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
Spencer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gracie slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Holden Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Spencer is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gracie with a body shot.
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Spencer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Spencer scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spencer tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie slows down the pace here.

Spencer breaks from the clinch.
Spencer misses with a two punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Spencer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Spencer now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nice straight punches there by Spencer. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Spencer.
Spencer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Spencer appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

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 Holden 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Holden Gracie!