PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Charlie River (ranked 1661 p4p, 869 weight class) and Renoa Gracie (ranked 181 p4p, 93 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think River might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Waylon Jennings - I've Always Been Crazy. Gracie has chosen Apaga Mas Não Bate as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

River
vs
Gracie

170 cm
37
145
38 - 27 - 1

166 cm
37
145
24 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conquer

NARCOS
30th Century Beer Store

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 38 - 27 - 1, fighting out of New York, Charlie River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Renoa Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gracie checks a leg kick.
River scores with a sloppy right hand. Gracie should have avoided that one.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
River avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
River has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Rivers Edge Gym in the buildup to the fight.
River loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
River looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
A nice side step and Gracie releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Renoa Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gracie fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with River, pushing him back against the cage.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
River works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
River pushes off an throws an elbow but Gracie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
River throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gracie tries a body shot but River blocks it.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River lands a body punch in the clinch.
River displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gracie up against the cage.

Gracie turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gracie manages to end up in side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie trying to control the action but River is working from the bottom.
Gracie throws a strike aimed at the side of River's head but River avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but River is keeping him busy.
Gracie cracks River with a big right hand but River just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
River takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Gracie working the ground and pound but River is defending the strikes.
Gracie lands a decent elbow from side control.

It looks like Charlie River has been cut.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gracie misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ground and pound from Gracie seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Gracie has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at GAMMA Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Gracie in side control, throwing shots but River defends.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gracie.
Gracie working the ground and pound.
Gracie creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gracie lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
River avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gracie.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
River knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Gracie tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ground and pound from Gracie seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
River is breathing heavily.
Gracie working the ground and pound from side control.
Gracie working the body and head with strikes.
Gracie working the ground and pound.
Gracie working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
River on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if River tries to get out of the position.
Gracie works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
River takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
River defending against the ground and pound.
Gracie scores with punches from side control.
Gracie creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gracie tries to score with some ground and pound. River controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
River managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gracie.
Gracie working the head with strikes.
Gracie misses with the ground and pound.
Gracie lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Gracie is chipping away with strikes.

River is rocked!

Charlie River's cut is getting worse.
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Oh River is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Jeez, Charlie River's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Charlie River's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Renoa Gracie!
A relieved looking Renoa Gracie thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.