PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Damien Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Black is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jedward - Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gracie
vs
Black

182 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
179 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Grappling Pro Plus+ - 142Q Muscle for $25

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Damien Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Arthur Black!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Black drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Black is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie has Black pulled in close to control his posture.
Black thows a big elbow that misses.
Gracie controlling the position.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Black thows a big elbow that misses.
Black throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Black slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.

Black closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gracie did well to prevent Black getting side control.
Black seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Black is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Black with the ground and pound but Gracie uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie trying to strike off his back.
Black postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black thows a big elbow that misses.
Black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Black shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Black throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Black landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Black is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Black keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Black drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Black takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Black.
Black thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Gracie trying to control here.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Black.
Black working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Black drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Black.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Black throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Black stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie has Black pulled in close to control his posture.
Black connects with a couple of short punches.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Black postures up.
Black showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Black wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Black lands a couple of digs.
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.

Black drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Black off! Black jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Black dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Black.
Gracie wants to control but Black postures up.

Black is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Black taking a break here but Gracie is having none of it and regains half guard.
Black with the ground and pound but Gracie uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Black 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.
Black fails with a takedown attempt.
Black shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense.

Black shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gracie napping and manages to drive through into side control!
What's Gracie going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Arthur Black has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Gracie to see if he's OK.
Black throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Black throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Black thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracie is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Black keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Black tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Black sits in half guard.
Black throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Black trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.
Gracie trying to control here.
Black not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Black swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Black shoots in looking for a takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl out of it but Black keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gracie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Damien Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Black.
Black shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four 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.
Black leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Black tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Black!
Black is breathing heavily.
Black wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Black is looking to escape.
Black tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Black can do anything to dispel that myth.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Damien Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Black changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to avoid it but Black manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gracie to the ground. Gracie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Damien Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gracie's waist but Gracie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Black off to one side.

Black closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie controls Black momentarily but Black frees himself.
Black trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Black working some strikes from top position.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Black takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to strike off his back.
Black scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Black is fighting to break Gracie's control of his arms but Gracie is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Black trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Black is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Black wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

Black throws a sloppy strike and Gracie has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Black is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Damien Gracie!