PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renato Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Valuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Renato Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Valuev

181 cm
25
205 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

213 cm
24
219 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Renato Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Valuev!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valuev as he avoids it easily.

Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Valuev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Valuev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie postures up in Valuev's guard and throws a big left but Valuev blocks it.
Valuev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gracie wants to stand but Valuev is controlling his posture from full guard.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Valuev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Valuev fights it but they end up in guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Valuev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valuev wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valuev is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.

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

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Valuev looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Valuev pushes Gracie away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gracie gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The strikes coming from Gracie are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Valuev can't do much from the bottom here.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Valuev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Valuev has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Valuev is looking to reverse the position.
The strikes coming from Gracie are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Valuev is defending well.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Valuev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Valuev is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Valuev tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Valuev controlling the position.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Valuev is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Valuev manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Valuev's guard.
Valuev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Valuev manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Valuev in his guard.
Valuev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valuev is one step ahead there.

Valuev gets to his feet - Gracie follows without any prompting.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Valuev moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Valuev with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Valuev gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valuev looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Valuev is breathing heavily.
Valuev connects with a knee to the head.
Valuev scores with a knee to the head.
Valuev prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Valuev holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Valuev tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Valuev looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Valuev misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Valuev gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuev misses with a knee to the head.
Valuev stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Valuev holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valuev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Valuev gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valuev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Valuev connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Valuev is controlling him.
Gracie is trying to break free.
Valuev misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie can't break the clinch.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Valuev misses with a knee strike.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Valuev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Valuev with a knee to the head.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Valuev just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has Valuev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Valuev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Valuev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Valuev has Gracie pressed against the cage, preventing Gracie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Valuev smiles and moves away.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Valuev sprawls well.
Valuev leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Valuev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Gracie scores a takedown into full mount!
Valuev can't escape the position.

Gracie working for a submission but Valuev is keeping him at bay.

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Valuev defends it well.

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Valuev is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev is trying desperately to improve position.
Valuev is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Valuev is in no mood to give up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Valuev really wants to buck Gracie off and get back to his feet.
Valuev wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Valuev defends it well.
Valuev working to try and regain half guard.

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Valuev manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Valuev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Valuev defends the submission attempt.
Valuev is trying to stand.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Valuev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Valuev is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gracie stops Valuev from getting back to his feet.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Valuev manages to get to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Valuev keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Gracie!