PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Perry Manson (ranked 2429 p4p, 23892 weight class) and Ralfe Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ralfe Gracie has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Manson
vs
Gracie

175 cm
27
154
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
155
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Perry Manson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ralfe Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manson throws a combination that misses

and Gracie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gracie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Manson breaks from the clinch.
Manson misses the jab.
Gracie throws a poor cross that misses
and Manson counters with a nice body kick.
Perry Manson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie moves out of range as Manson strikes.
Jab from Manson.
Manson misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Manson tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Manson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Gracie has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Manson throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Manson throws a leg kick

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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 one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Manson is working from the bottom.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Manson trying to control the position.
Gracie is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Manson looking for a sweep. Not yet Manson, not yet.
Manson keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Manson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two 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.

Manson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Manson is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Manson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie 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.

Manson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Gracie has picked Manson up and slammed him! Manson can't keep hold of the triangle and Gracie manages to pass to side control!
Manson is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Manson is looking for a sweep.
Manson manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manson is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie not doing much here.
Gracie is keen to just control but Manson is a slippery customer.
Manson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!
Gracie tries to escape but Manson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Manson looking for the choke but no joy.
Gracie manages to reverse the position and now he's in Manson's guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Manson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Manson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie content to stall in guard here.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Manson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie postures up.

Manson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gracie is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Manson.
Gracie controls the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ralfe Gracie will probably get the nod.
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.

A shot to the body from Manson misses

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Manson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Manson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manson has momentary wrist control but Gracie slips an elbow through the middle.
Manson wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Manson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manson working for submissions but it's allowed Gracie to get to half guard.
Manson is looking to escape.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Manson is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Gracie seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Manson has recovered full guard.
Manson keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Manson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Manson!

Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Manson manages to get himself to full guard.

Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gracie stays in close to Manson's body and controls the position.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Manson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Manson can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Manson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie looks to land a strike but Manson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Manson's legs - danger averted.
Gracie landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Manson keeps moving.

Manson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Manson is looking for a triangle here but Gracie uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Manson taking punishment in the form of punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ralfe Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manson is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gracie throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Gracie trying to control the position but Manson is working away.
Manson tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie lands a few punches from side control.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manson is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Gracie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ralfe Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Manson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gracie takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters circling a little - Manson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Manson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Gracie clinches with his opponent.
The referee is keeping an eye on Gracie - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Manson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Manson is trying to push Gracie away but Gracie has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manson blocks an uppercut.
Gracie struggles to land a body shot inside as Manson controls his hands.
Gracie content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gracie has a couple of punches blocked by Manson.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Manson.
Manson tries to circle away but Gracie has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Manson.

Manson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Manson. Manson obviously looking to wear him down.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Manson against the cage.
Gracie stalls.
Manson working hard to break the clinch.
Gracie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Manson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Perry Manson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralfe Gracie.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gracie takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd are getting on Gracie's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.
Manson scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Manson.
Manson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Manson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Manson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Manson misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Gracie fails to land.
Manson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Manson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gracie stalling against the cage.
Gracie jumps guard but Manson stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gracie.
Manson working hard to break the clinch.
Gracie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Manson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie just leaning against Manson, taking a breather.
Gracie has a couple of punches blocked by Manson.
Manson is trying to force a seperation but Gracie has the dominant position.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Manson.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Manson is keeping busy.

Manson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Manson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Manson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Perry Manson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gracie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracie has Manson pressed against the cage, preventing Manson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Manson is trying to break free.
Gracie keeps control of Manson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ralfe Gracie seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Manson misses with the head strike.
Gracie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Manson wants to break free but Gracie has control.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Manson.

Gracie ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gracie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gracie is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gracie has escaped and now he's on top!

Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manson keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Manson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Manson looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ralfe Gracie.
I've got Gracie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ralfe Gracie!
During a confident post fight interview, Ralfe Gracie thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The defeated Perry Manson had this to say: 'Congratulations for the victory. I thank God for being able to face such a good opponent. I will improve and I will come back stronger 🔥'.