PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedrinho Matador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by face the pain. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Gracie
vs
Matador

185 cm
24
200 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

188 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pedrinho Matador!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Matador sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matador moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matador leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Matador avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to clinch but Matador is having none of it.

Gracie takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matador wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie keeps control of Matador as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matador has had enough of the clinch but Gracie keeps him there for the moment.
Matador is trying to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie is working for takedown but Matador is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Matador is fighting off a takedown attempt but Gracie is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Matador to the mat. Matador regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Matador throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gracie uses it to pass to side control.
Matador tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.

Gracie stands up and beckons Matador to his feet.
Matador looks gassed!
Matador defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Royce Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in but Matador avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matador paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Matador stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matador gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Matador thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Matador is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gracie flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matador pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Matador is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie tries for a takedown but Matador circles away easily

and Matador counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Matador is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Matador is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matador blocks the strikes from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Matador 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!

Matador looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.
Matador avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
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.

Matador looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie stands up from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matador shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie closes the distance looking to clinch

and Matador counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matador.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matador has gone for a leg lock! Gracie slips out almost immediately though and dives into Matador's guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Matador keeps moving.

Matador working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie postures up in Matador's guard and throws a big left but Matador blocks it.

Matador working for submissions but it's allowed Gracie to get to half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matador defends it well.

Matador is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matador looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Matador is defending it quite comfortably.

Matador actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Royce Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Matador is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Matador is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pedrinho Matador will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matador.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Matador counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matador pulls his head out easily.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Matador is controlling well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Matador is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Matador eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matador pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

Matador drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Matador is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Matador looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracie trying to control but Matador is working from the bottom.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Matador is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Matador had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gracie is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Matador Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gracie's back instead.
Matador doesn't have the hooks in and Gracie manages to turn into his guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matador looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Matador avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Matador has wrist control.

Matador 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.

Matador is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie postures up in Matador's guard and throws a big left but Matador blocks it.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie wants to stand but Matador is controlling his posture from full guard.

Matador is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.

That's four 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.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.

Matador looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Matador utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Matador looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Matador is looking for the choke from the back position but Gracie is controlling his hands well.
Gracie is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Matador is trying to stick to Gracie's back but Gracie is turning into Matador. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Matador's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gracie.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedrinho Matador comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matador has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedrinho Matador!