PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rawg Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Rawg Gracie had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Gracie
vs
Castle

177 cm
22
194 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

194 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Fight 4 America
Fight 4 America

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rawg Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frank Castle!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Castle or perhaps it was just good defense by Gracie which made him look bad.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Castle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Castle trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Castle wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Castle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle shoots for a takedown but Gracie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rawg Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Castle.

Castle closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Castle lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Castle from controlling successfully.
Castle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie working for a triangle but Castle defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Castle trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Castle. Castle gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Castle or perhaps it was just good defense by Gracie which made him look bad.
Castle closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gracie circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle shoots for a double leg takedown but Gracie sprawls well. He's pushed Castle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gracie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Castle.
Castle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Castle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Castle persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.
Castle tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
Castle looks for a takedown but Gracie sprawls well.
Castle will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Castle can do anything to dispel that myth.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Castle sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Castle wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Castle trying to control here.
Castle wants to get back to full guard.
Castle is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Castle avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rawg Gracie will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Castle shoots and misses

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Castle is looking to improve his position.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Castle sees it coming and defends easily.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Castle is defending it quite comfortably.
Castle is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Castle doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Castle 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!
Castle trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Castle is hanging on to Gracie's back as he tries to escape.
Castle trying to control momentarily.
Gracie tries to roll but Castle sticks to his back.
Gracie staying busy and making it hard for Castle to control.
Castle is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
I really don't envy Gracie right now.
Castle is trying to stick to Gracie's back but Gracie is turning into Castle. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Castle's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gracie.
Castle wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Castle misses with a takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Castle's guard now.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Castle wants to sweep but no luck.
Castle working a defensive guard here.
Castle wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Castle tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Castle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rawg Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Castle.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Castle is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Castle manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Castle's guard.
Castle trying to control the position.

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

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Castle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Castle keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Castle controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Gracie seems to have locked his on tight now - Castle screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Gracie, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Rawg Gracie!