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TWGC 40 (185lbs, D1): Rio de Janeiro Qu - R2 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the middleweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 2 wins and 2 losses; Hoyce Gracias! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 28 wins and 9 losses; Mapuche Matariki!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Gracias tries to clinch but Matariki is having none of it.
Matariki clinches up against the cage.
Gracias jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Matariki walks away with a smile on his face. Gracias gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gracias fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matariki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Matariki has picked Gracias up - he's going for a ride! Matariki dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Gracias (0) vs (2) Matariki
Gracias is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matariki content to control rather than advance.
Gracias has a hand on Matariki's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Matariki takes advantage of the position though and mounts him! Score +3 for passing guard: Gracias (0) vs (5) Matariki
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracias is trying to escape the mount.
Matariki looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracias wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back. Score +3 for taking back: Gracias (0) vs (8) Matariki
Gracias is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Jed's Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matariki doesn't have the hooks in and Gracias manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Gracias (2) vs (8) Matariki
Gracias is stalling in the full guard.
Matariki is controlling Gracias's posture.
Gracias preventing the sweep.
Matariki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matariki has control of Gracias's left arm, preventing Gracias from doing any damage.
Matariki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracias is one step ahead there.
Our spies down at at SSJ Gym inform us that Matariki has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Matariki looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracias trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracias forces his way into half guard.
Matariki wants to get back to full guard.
Gracias wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matariki keeps working.
Matariki is trying to get back to full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matariki keeping control of the position.
Matariki is looking for a sweep. Gracias is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matariki is positioning himself well to prevent Gracias advancing to mount.
Gracias is trying to control. Matariki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Matariki is looking to improve his position.
Gracias is controlling the pace.
Matariki is positioning himself well to prevent Gracias advancing to mount.
Matariki is trying to get back to full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Matariki is concentrating on defense, preventing Gracias from advancing position.
Matariki is looking for a sweep. Gracias is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matariki has a hand on Gracias's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Gracias takes advantage of the position though and mounts him! Score +3 for passing guard: Gracias (5) vs (8) Matariki
Matariki is working to get back to half guard.
Gracias controlling his opponent.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Matariki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracias wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Gracias wants to control the pace but Matariki is squirming around nicely.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Matariki regains half guard.
Matariki keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Gracias is taking a breather. Matariki says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Matariki slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Matariki is looking to sweep but instead, Gracias has passed into half guard.
Matariki has his hands clasped together around Gracias's back. He's all about the action.
Matariki tries to get to full guard but Gracias has control of the leg.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Gracias trying to control from half guard but Matariki is working away.
Matariki controlling the position well.
Matariki is trying to maintain the position but Gracias is very close to passing his half guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Gracias is looking to advance position but Matariki won't allow it.
Gracias prevents Matariki from improving his position.
Matariki is not content to let Gracias control the position.
Matariki wants to get back to full guard.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Gracias trying to control from half guard but Matariki is working away.
Matariki trying to hold on to Gracias's head to control him but Gracias postures up.
Gracias takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Matariki keeping hold of Gracias's head, controlling as best he can.
Matariki is looking to improve his position.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Matariki trying to hold on to Gracias's head to control him but Gracias postures up.
Gracias wants to pass to mount but Matariki is defending the position.
Gracias works his way into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Gracias (8) vs (8) Matariki
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Gracias stalls from top position.
Matariki is looking to reverse the position.
Matariki is trying to control Gracias's posture but Gracias avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
As we have tied on points and both fighters attempted the same number of subs, we will decide the bout based on the toss of a coin! Gracias is heads and Matariki is tails.
The coin is in the air and it lands... tails!
Matariki wins on points by 9 to 8.
A very excited looking Mapuche Matariki made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction. |
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