PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Groyce Racie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magus Arbenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Magus Arbenson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Racie
vs
Arbenson

190 cm
22
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
179 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Groyce Racie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Magus Arbenson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Racie blocks a head kick by Arbenson.

Racie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Arbenson can't do much from the bottom here.
Racie tries to move to mount but Arbenson blocks the move with his legs.

Racie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Racie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Arbenson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Racie's guard! Nice work there by Arbenson!
Racie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Racie keeping full guard, as Arbenson tries to pass.
Racie 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.
Arbenson trying to control but Racie is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arbenson tries to free his leg and advance position but Racie is retaining full guard.
Racie is looking to sweep but instead, Arbenson has passed into half guard.
Racie trying to get back to full guard but Arbenson takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Racie can't escape the position.
Arbenson lands a big shot there that rocks Racie but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Arbenson content just to control the position here.
Racie is controlling an arm, preventing Arbenson from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Racie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Racie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Racie is working hard here to advance position.
Arbenson controlling from mount.
Racie is squirming around, avoiding Arbenson's attempts to control the action.
Racie is looking to improve his position but Arbenson isn't that keen on the idea.
Racie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Racie gets full guard.
Racie is breathing heavily.
Arbenson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arbenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Racie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Racie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Arbenson's guard.
Arbenson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Arbenson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Racie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arbenson is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Arbenson is on top in guard.
Arbenson is pushing down on Racie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Racie is fighting to maintain full guard but Arbenson has managed to sneak the leg through.

Arbenson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Arbenson prevents Racie from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arbenson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Racie blocks a head kick by Arbenson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Groyce Racie will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Racie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Arbenson to the mat! Arbenson manages to get full guard.
Arbenson keeping full guard, as Racie tries to pass.
Arbenson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Racie's guard.

Racie throws his legs up looking for a submission but Arbenson uses it to pass to side control.
Racie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Arbenson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arbenson is looking to take a break and control but Racie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Arbenson taking a breather here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Racie gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Racie is trying desperately to improve position.
Arbenson trying to control but Racie is having none of it.
Racie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Arbenson takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Racie tries to escape the position.

Arbenson tightening his grip on Racie, looking for the choke.
Arbenson controlling well, preventing Racie from escaping the position.

That's two 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.
Racie is keeping busy.
Racie tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Racie manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Arbenson is trying to control the action in half guard but Racie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Racie works his way to full guard. Good work.

Racie has his foot on Arbenson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Arbenson works his way back into a safe position though.

Racie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Arbenson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Racie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Racie wants to sweep here but Arbenson controlling him for the moment.

Racie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Arbenson has passed into half guard!
Groyce Racie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Racie tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Arbenson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Racie is trying desperately to improve position.

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.
Racie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Racie is looking to improve his position.
Racie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Racie wants to sweep here but Arbenson controlling him for the moment.

Racie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Racie is looking for a triangle but Arbenson pushes his legs off easily.

Racie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Racie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Racie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arbenson is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Groyce Racie dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Arbenson throws a lazy right hand but Racie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Racie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Arbenson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Racie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Racie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Racie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Arbenson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Racie's guard! Nice work there by Arbenson!

Racie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Arbenson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Racie wants to sweep here but Arbenson controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arbenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Racie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Racie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Arbenson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Racie.
Racie tries to improve position but can't.
Arbenson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Arbenson is looking to take a break and control but Racie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Arbenson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Racie's legs.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Racie shoots in for a double leg but Arbenson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Arbenson scores with a head kick.
No luck for Racie with that takedown attempt.
Racie takes a kick to the side of the head.

Racie is rocked!
A jab from Arbenson finds it's way through Racie's defenses.
Oh Racie is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Arbenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Arbenson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Arbenson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Racie looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Racie seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arbenson misses the jab.
Arbenson stuffs the takedown attempt from Racie. Racie gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Groyce Racie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Racie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Arbenson tries to avoid it but Racie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Arbenson to the ground. Arbenson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Racie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Magus Arbenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Racie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Arbenson swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from Arbenson as Racie shoots in.
Arbenson tries a head kick but it misses.
Racie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arbenson as he jumps to the side.
Arbenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Magus Arbenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Racie scores with a takedown into Arbenson's guard.
Arbenson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Racie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Arbenson dives on top into guard.
Arbenson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Arbenson is pushing down on Racie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Racie is fighting to maintain full guard but Arbenson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Racie wants to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Racie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Arbenson is working for a kimura but Racie is defending it quite comfortably.
Racie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magus Arbenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Racie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Groyce Racie!