PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arnold Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrik Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arnold Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Larsson

170 cm
22
150 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
147 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arnold Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Henrik Larsson!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Larsson misses with the combination.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Larsson.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Larsson, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Larsson against the cage but Larsson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Larsson tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Larsson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Larsson!
Gracie is looking to work his way around to Larsson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Larsson holds on, trying desperately to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie fails to take his opponent's back.
Larsson has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Larsson has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Larsson trying to control the hands but Gracie won't let him.

Larsson is in a bad position with Gracie working for a choke. Larsson manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.

Gracie has an active guard here but Larsson has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

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.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Gracie dominated that round.
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.

Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Larsson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Larsson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnold Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Larsson. That's going to slow Gracie down.
Larsson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Larsson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Larsson lands a jab-cross combination.

Larsson drops Gracie with a left right combo! Larsson follows him down to the ground into side control.

Gracie is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Oh Gracie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Larsson stands up and beckons Gracie to his feet.
Gracie seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson misses with a few strikes there.
Larsson fails to land with a series of punches.
Larsson misses with a series of wild punches.
Larsson thuds his shin into the meat of Gracie's side.
Gracie gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Larsson.
Larsson misses with a few strikes there.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Larsson - that will leave a mark!
Larsson lands with a nice combination. Gracie backs away looking to recover.
Left hook, right uppercut from Larsson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larsson misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson misses with a series of wild punches.
Larsson scores with a head kick.
Larsson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Larsson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Larsson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
A left and a right from Larsson both land. Nice combination.
Larsson feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
Gracie takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Larsson.
Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Larsson lands with a nice combination. Gracie backs away looking to recover.
Larsson throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Larsson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Henrik Larsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gracie walks into a straight right hand from Larsson.
Larsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Larsson.
Henrik Larsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Gracie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Larsson's half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Larsson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Larsson is holding on for now.
Gracie passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Larsson is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.
Gracie tries to take Larsson's back but instead Larsson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larsson is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrik Larsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Larsson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Larsson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Larsson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Larsson's guard.
Gracieis looking to pass into half guard but Larsson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Larsson is in guard.
Larsson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Larsson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gracie.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Larsson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gracie to his feet.
Larsson throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Larsson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Larsson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Larsson.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Larsson.
Larsson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A shot to de liver by Larsson. Beautiful body shot.
Larsson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Larsson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Larsson misses with a series of wild punches.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Larsson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Larsson!

Larsson is posturing up here but Gracie has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Larsson tries to roll out but it's too tight and Larsson has to tap! Slick submission there by Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Arnold Gracie!
Arnold Gracie is the new featherweight champion!