PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gracie Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Jason Bawalan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, I SUCK. Bawalan has chosen Someday as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Jason Bawalan

176 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gracie Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Jason Bawalan!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bawalan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bawalan is looking to clinch.

Bawalan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gracie is pressing down on Bawalan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bawalan wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Bawalan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gracie looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Bawalan puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bawalan controlling the action here.
Bawalan 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.
Bawalan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Paul Jason Bawalan just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bawalan misses with a takedown attempt - Gracie sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gracie clobbers Bawalan with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

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.
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Bawalan tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Gracie darts in trying to clinch

and Bawalan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bawalan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bawalan trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Bawalan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bawalan looking to pass the guard.
Bawalan looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Bawalan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Bawalan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bawalan manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Bawalan's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bawalan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bawalan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bawalan defends it easily.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bawalan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bawalan trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Jason Bawalan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie misses with a double jab

and Bawalan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bawalan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bawalan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bawalan controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bawalan trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bawalan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Bawalan looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Bawalan keeps moving.
Gracie postures up in Bawalan's guard and throws a big left but Bawalan blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie leaves Bawalan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracie throws a combination that misses

and Bawalan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
Bawalan is breathing heavily.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Bawalan swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Gracie is now in Bawalan's guard. A big mistake from Bawalan there, giving up the dominant position!
Bawalan keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bawalan is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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.
Bawalan pulls Gracie in close to his closed guard and prevents Gracie from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bawalan has momentary wrist control but Gracie slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bawalan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie postures up in Bawalan's guard and throws a big left but Bawalan blocks it.
Gracie trying to control but Bawalan is working from the bottom.
Bawalan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bawalan keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Jason Bawalan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gracie works over Bawalan's head and body with a nice combination.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Bawalan pushes him off.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bawalan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bawalan moves into the clinch.
Gracie tries to break the clinch but Bawalan is controlling the position.
Bawalan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Gracie is trying to force a seperation but Bawalan has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bawalan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gracie walks away with a smile on his face. Bawalan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gracie fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bawalan is out of range.

Bawalan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bawalan turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie regains half guard.
Bawalan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bawalan trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bawalan looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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 wants to control from the top but Bawalan keeps moving.
Bawalan controlling Gracie's posture.
Paul Jason Bawalan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bawalan wants to sweep but no luck.
Bawalan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bawalan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bawalan.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bawalan tries to score a body lock takedown but Gracie shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bawalan.

Bawalan breaks the clinch.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick

and Bawalan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bawalan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bawalan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gracie Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gracie has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Bawalan should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Gracie has tightened it up now! Bawalan should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Gracie Gracie!