PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcos Jose Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bogdan Vasiliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jose Gracie
vs
Vasiliev

184 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcos Jose Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bogdan Vasiliev!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie wants to clinch.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Gracie tries to clinch but Vasiliev moves out of range.
Gracie plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Gracie has taken the fight to the clinch.

Vasiliev decides to pull guard.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but instead Vasiliev has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Vasiliev pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet but Vasiliev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Vasiliev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Gracie tries to roll over but Vasiliev keeps him under control.
Vasiliev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie gets full guard.
Vasiliev throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Vasiliev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vasiliev postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Vasiliev wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.
Gracie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vasiliev is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasiliev paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Vasiliev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Vasiliev tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Vasiliev lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasiliev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Vasiliev moves into full mount!
Gracie holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Vasiliev tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Vasiliev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gracie looks a forlorn figure.
Vasiliev in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Vasiliev misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gracie can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliev lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gracie hang on?

Vasiliev looking for a guillotine from mount but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
Vasiliev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Vasiliev's attempts to control the action.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gracie misses with a low kick as Vasiliev jumps back.
A clash of legs there as Vasiliev blocks the low kick.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Bogdan Vasiliev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vasiliev shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Vasiliev has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasiliev jumps guard but Gracie stands there with Vasiliev around his waist. Vasiliev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gracie throws a knee to the head but misses.

Vasiliev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vasiliev throws a series of strikes that have Gracie backpedaling.

It looks like Marcos Jose Gracie has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looks to clinch

and Vasiliev counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vasiliev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vasiliev advances position into side control!

Vasiliev stands up.
Gracie darts in trying to clinch

and Vasiliev counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vasiliev working the strikes but Gracie uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Vasiliev decides to stand and escape the position.
Vasiliev shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Marcos Jose Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bogdan Vasiliev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliev circles away from the clinch attempt

and Vasiliev counters by moving into the clinch.
Vasiliev is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gracie pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Vasiliev blocks the elbow strike.
Gracie scores a nice knee to the body.
Vasiliev is breathing heavily.
Vasiliev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vasiliev avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Vasiliev makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gracie misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses.

Vasiliev has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gracie regains guard immediately.
Vasiliev wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Bogdan Vasiliev has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vasiliev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vasiliev stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vasiliev stands up from Gracie's guard - Vasiliev perhaps looking for a knockout.

Vasiliev moves into the clinch successfully.
Vasiliev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vasiliev jumps guard but Gracie stands there with Vasiliev around his waist. Vasiliev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vasiliev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gracie is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Vasiliev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gracie pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gracie tries to clinch but Vasiliev moves away

and Vasiliev counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vasiliev breaks the clinch.
Gracie throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gracie darts in trying to clinch
and Vasiliev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie tries to clinch

and Vasiliev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.

Vasiliev stands up and beckons Gracie to his feet.
Marcos Jose Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Vasiliev scores with a takedown into Gracie's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vasiliev gets to his feet - Gracie follows without any prompting.

Vasiliev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bogdan Vasiliev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marcos Jose Gracie's cut.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Vasiliev. Vasiliev gets slowly back to his feet.
Vasiliev fails with the takedown.
Gracie wants to clinch

and Vasiliev counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vasiliev.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Vasiliev is blocking nicely.
Vasiliev tries to pull guard but Gracie holds him up against the cage and eventually Vasiliev drops back down to his feet.
Marcos Jose Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bogdan Vasiliev.
Gracie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vasiliev.

Vasiliev jumps guard.
Vasiliev trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Vasiliev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vasiliev's guard.
Vasiliev wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasiliev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vasiliev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Vasiliev clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Vasiliev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vasiliev is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gracie pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Vasiliev tries to pull guard but Gracie won't allow it.
Gracie throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gracie scores a nice knee to the body.
Vasiliev blocks an elbow strike from Gracie.

Vasiliev manages to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasiliev is retaining full guard.
Gracie wants to stand but Vasiliev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vasiliev is keeping the position for now.
Vasiliev trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gracie advances to full mount.

Gracie gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gracie comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Bogdan Vasiliev has been cut.
Vasiliev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gracie smiles and moves away.
Vasiliev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Vasiliev with that takedown attempt.
Gracie throws a head kick but Vasiliev moves out of range.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie scores a nice knee to the body.
Gracie landing knees to the head.

Vasiliev manages to pull guard.
Vasiliev has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasiliev is retaining full guard.
Vasiliev wants to sweep but no luck.
Vasiliev is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Vasiliev won't let him.
Vasiliev keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vasiliev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.
Marcos Jose Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie gets underhooks to prevent Vasiliev's takedown attempt.

Vasiliev successfully pulls guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcos Jose Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vasiliev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bogdan Vasiliev!