PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and D J Rich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bate pesadão. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
J Rich

177 cm
21
153 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

173 cm
25
145 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Hades Clothing [A partir de $10]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kevin Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, D J Rich!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rich motions for Gracie to come forward. Rich throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gracie throws a hook but Rich blocks it.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rich stalks Gracie and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gracie's face. Gracie staggers backwards, shaken.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Rich moved out of range nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Rich.
Gracie misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rich is defended easily by Gracie.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Rich is defending well.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Rich is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looks to land a strike but Rich avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rich wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rich has control of Gracie's left arm, preventing Gracie from doing any damage.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Rich is retaining full guard.

Rich uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Rich on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rich defending well as Gracie loads up on a big left hand.
Rich misses with a wild combination.
Rich with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Rich drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Rich decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a right hand that Rich ducks under and follows up with a left that Rich also avoids with ease.
Rich is looking to clinch.
Gracie is looking to chop away at Rich's legs.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rich is defended easily by Gracie.
Kevin Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rich.
Rich swinging wildly here.
Rich with a jab.
Rich shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gracie pinned against the cage. Gracie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kevin Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of D J Rich.
Gracie lands with a good body shot.
Rich takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rich dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Gracie lands a jab to Rich's midsection.
Gracie connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie moves out of range as Rich strikes.
Rich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie scores with a hook to the body. Rich takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Gracie punishes Rich's body with a nice straight punch.
Rich throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A swing and a miss from Gracie.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Rich's guard.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rich's guard.
Rich controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Rich is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Rich is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Rich tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Rich is not content to let Gracie control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rich does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rich sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Rich fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie fails with the takedown

and Rich counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rich wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

D J Rich 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.

Rich tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rich finds it's way round the side to connect with Gracie's head.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rich as he jumps to the side.
Rich misses with a head kick.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Rich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rich rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rich gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rich tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rich counters with a series of strikes. Gracie will be more careful next time no doubt.

Rich gets a clinch.
Rich stalling against the cage.
Rich continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rich smiles and moves away.
A punch combination from Rich misses.
Rich looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Rich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.
Rich misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rich blocks a jab.
Rich misses with a straight right.
Nice straight punches there by Gracie. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gracie.
Rich throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Gracie throws a wild body kick that Rich sees coming a mile off.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.

Rich shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Rich finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rich pulls his head out easily.
Rich wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Rich is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rich wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.

Gracie looking for a kimura from the bottom but Rich passes into side control!
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.

Rich is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie tries to buck Rich off but Rich is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses
and Rich counters with a nice body shot.
Rich lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie's sensitive parts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Rich.
Gracie lands a glancing blow to the side of Rich's head.
D J Rich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rich blocks a jab.

Rich scores a takedown into full mount!

Rich stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Gracie jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rich sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rich lands a jab-cross combination.
Rich doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rich tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rich scores with a jab to the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rich lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rich.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rich is not content to let Gracie control the position.

Rich throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Rich ducks down to avoid it.
Rich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
Rich tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rich looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Rich prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.

Rich stands up from mount. Strange move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

D J Rich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gracie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gracie stands up over Rich, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rich pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie won't allow Rich to get back to his feet.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Rich is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rich manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Rich's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rich holds on and takes a little breather.
Rich is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rich manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Rich.
Rich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rich tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Rich lands a front kick.
Rich tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rich.
Rich walks into a stiff left hand from Gracie.
Rich lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gracie lands a jab.
Rich stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rich wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rich.
Rich lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.
Rich throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Gracie takes a swing at Rich's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands with a good body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rich!
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rich throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rich throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Rich feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
D J Rich seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Rich closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gracie to the mat! Gracie manages to get full guard.
Rich slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rich is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rich gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rich can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rich gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rich.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Rich shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rich shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rich is stalling in the full guard.
D J Rich has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Rich drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Rich off! Rich jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Kevin Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rich drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rich jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rich wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.
Rich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rich moves away.
Rich on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rich sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rich manages to avoid it.
Gracie ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gracie throws a good cross that connects.
Rich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.

And that's the end of the fight!
D J Rich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rich has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... D J Rich!