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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Renoa Gracie (ranked 741 p4p, 340 weight class) and Graham Mantle (ranked 70 p4p, 31 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Apaga Mas Não Bate blaring out of the sound system. 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?
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| 166 cm
36
145
23 - 11 - 1 |
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169 cm
38
145
31 - 16 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Renoa Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Graham Mantle!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and Donald Grub.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Mantle lands a jab to Gracie's midsection.
Mantle connects with a single shot there.
Mantle sizes up Gracie with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gracie connects with a crisp jab.
Gracie dives in and scores a takedown into Mantle's guard.
Mantle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mantle is keeping the position for now.
Mantle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mantle keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Mantle blocks nicely.
Mantle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mantle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mantle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie advances position into side control!
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gracie wants to control but Mantle is keeping him busy.
Gracie in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gracie cracks Mantle with a big right hand but Mantle just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Gracie grinds an elbow into Mantle's temple.
Gracie trying to control the position but Mantle is working away.
Mantle is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie trying to control the position but Mantle is working away.
Mantle managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gracie.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantle managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gracie.
Gracie working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Gracie creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Mantle sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gracie remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Gracie landing strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Gracie has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Sloppy strikes there by Gracie.
Mantle tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie throws an elbow but Mantle slips to the side and avoids it well.
Gracie throws an elbow but Mantle slips to the side and avoids it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie throws a strike aimed at the side of Mantle's head but Mantle avoids it well.
Mantle tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gracie tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Mantle is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie cracks Mantle with a big elbow.
Gracie in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Mantle blocks the move with his legs.
Mantle is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!
Gracie is in bad spot here.
Gracie breaks Mantle's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mantle is adopting a defensive guard.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mantle can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee warns Mantle that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mantle is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Gracie looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gracie looking to ground and pound but Mantle is blocking nicely.
Gracie unloads with some shots from mount but Mantle bucks and avoids them well.
Mantle holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gracie raining down shots from the mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Renoa Gracie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Mantle keeps moving.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Mantle is retaining full guard.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mantle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mantle is keeping the position for now.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mantle can do to turn this around?
Mantle lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mantle working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Mantle stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantle postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie has his foot on Mantle's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mantle works his way back into a safe position though.
Mantle is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mantle won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Mantle slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mantle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Mantle defends easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mantle trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mantle doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mantle manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mantle trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gracie is looking for a triangle but Mantle pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mantle gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mantle lands a couple of digs.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mantle is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mantle postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Gracie controls Mantle momentarily but Mantle frees himself.
Mantle trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mantle won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mantle doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mantle manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Renoa Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mantle manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mantle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie lands a couple of elbows.
Mantle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mantle has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mantle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Renoa Gracie dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gracie scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mantle is pulling down on Gracie's head to control his posture.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Mantle is retaining full guard.
Mantle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantle is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Mantle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Mantle keeps moving.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Mantle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Mantle!
Mantle is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Mantle from controlling successfully.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mantle won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Mantle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Graham Mantle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Renoa Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is controlling Mantle's posture.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mantle is one step ahead there.
Mantle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Mantle is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mantle has passed into side control.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Mantle is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Mantle is controlling well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gracie keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Mantle postures up.
Gracie is really struggling to control Mantle but he's trying to hold on to the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mantle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Mantle keeps moving.
Mantle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mantle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mantle working a defensive guard here.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gracie seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mantle for as long as he can get away with.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mantle looking for a sweep. Not yet Mantle, not yet.
And that's the end of the fight!
Renoa Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renoa Gracie!
An out of breath Renoa Gracie thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
34% |
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