PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Paco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Paco

180 cm
19
192 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 St Petersburg, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paulo Paco!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paco wants to clinch.
Paco moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paco lands with a cross.

Gracie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Paco's half guard.
Gracie is looking to pass Paco's guard but actually Paco recovers to full guard.
Paco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gracie stays in close to Paco's body and controls the position.
Paco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paco is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Paco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Paco gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gracie to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Paco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Paco has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Paco thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Poor strikes thrown by Paco there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gracie throwing punches despite being mounted.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie is controlling an arm, preventing Paco from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Paco has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to hold on but Paco postures up.

Paco looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie wants to hold on but Paco pushes him away.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Paco wants to stand but Gracie has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four 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.
Paco wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Paco looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paco would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Paco looks gassed!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gracie trying to control the action but Paco is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Paco's guard.
Gracie passes into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gracie in particular looking to stall.
Paco is looking to escape.
Gracie passes to side control.
Gracie scores with a couple of short elbows.
An elbow from Gracie crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie scores with punches from side control.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie moves into full mount!
Paco is breathing heavily.
Paco trying desperately to get to his feet.

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Paco is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Gracie but it's paid off an Paco is forced to tap! Nice work by Gracie.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Royce Gracie!