PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Delle TaFoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lando Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Delle TaFoe has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

TaFoe
vs
Gracie

178 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
173 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 New York, Delle TaFoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lando Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
TaFoe doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for TaFoe!

Gracie swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and TaFoe is now in Gracie's guard. A big mistake from Gracie there, giving up the dominant position!
TaFoe has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Gracie is striking from the bottom but TaFoe uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie is trying to control the position but TaFoe postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
TaFoe wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.
Gracie trying to control the position here.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for TaFoe!

Gracie swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and TaFoe is now in Gracie's guard. A big mistake from Gracie there, giving up the dominant position!
TaFoe trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie striking off his back but it's not causing TaFoe any problems.
Gracie trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gracie throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
TaFoe is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
TaFoe tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
TaFoe is looking to clinch.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from TaFoe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches TaFoe napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but TaFoe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
TaFoe is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie works to advance to full mount. TaFoe defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lando Gracie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

TaFoe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - TaFoe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
TaFoe is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
TaFoe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie blocks a head kick by TaFoe.
TaFoe throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
TaFoe fails in his attempt to clinch.

Gracie scores with a takedown into TaFoe's guard.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. TaFoe knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
TaFoe wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
TaFoe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
TaFoe looks like he's trying to stand up.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but TaFoe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.
The referee asks Gracie politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gracie prefers to stall for the moment though.
TaFoe looks to move to half guard but instead Gracie has passed into mount! Damn!
Gracie tries to control but TaFoe wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. TaFoe looks a forlorn figure.
TaFoe gets back to half guard.
TaFoe is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.

Gracie decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie landing strikes.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but TaFoe is defending well.
Lando Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie advances nicely into full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lando Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

TaFoe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
TaFoe tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
TaFoe has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. TaFoe won't be happy with that.
TaFoe is looking for a sweep.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Gracie has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie throws a series of punches but TaFoe moves out of range.
TaFoe tries to clinch

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

TaFoe looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as TaFoe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but TaFoe is retaining full guard.

Gracie stands and steps away. TaFoe gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
TaFoe wants to clinch

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but TaFoe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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 is thwarting TaFoe's attempts to control the position.
TaFoe is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gracie is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Delle TaFoe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

TaFoe looking for submissions off his back.
TaFoe is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lando Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gracie 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

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