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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rogerio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen Amazing entrance! with the theme FORT BATTLE from The Last of the Mohicans as his entrance music. Rogerio Gracie told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!
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| 160 cm
24
160 lbs
9 - 1 - 0 |
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185 cm
24
176 lbs
8 - 0 - 0 |
Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong |
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Powerful takedowns
Good elbows
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rogerio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Smith misses with a looping right.
A shot to the body from Gracie misses
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gracie thinking.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a left and a right that stings Gracie.
Steve Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rogerio Gracie.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Steve Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Smith.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Smith.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Smith throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Gracie staying out of range there.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith jabs Gracie right on the nose. Gracie blinks but takes it well.
Gracie swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Steve Smith dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a lovely shot to the body.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Smith here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Gracie slips a jab from Smith.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a sloppy body shot
and Gracie makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
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.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith misses with a lunging right hand
and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Smith pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Steve Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie slips a straight right by Smith.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Smith takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Smith misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Rogerio Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a nice body shot.
Smith misses with a telegraphed body shot
so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Gracie trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to stand and escape but instead Gracie has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Gracie is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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.
Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie works his foot free and advances to mount.
Smith is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Gracie has taken his back.
Well, with Gracie on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Smith is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Smith wants to control his opponent's hands but Gracie gets his hands free.
Gracie is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Smith knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Smith for a finish.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Smith is controlling his hands well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking very determined here, making life difficult for Gracie.
Gracie looking for the choke but no joy.
Gracie tries to get the hooks in deep but Smith pushed the leg off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rogerio Gracie really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Steve Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rogerio Gracie.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Smith.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
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.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Smith.
Smith takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith scores with a jab to the head.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gracie thinking.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gracie thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Steve Smith had his way with Rogerio Gracie in that round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Smith looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref stands the fighters back up because Steve Smith just wasn't active enough.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
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.
Smith throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Smith misses with a body punch
and Gracie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie goes for an armbar but Smith turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Smith.
Smith distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie is pulling down on Smith's head. It's preventing any offense from Smith, at least for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Steve Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Decent striking displayed by Smith there.
Steve Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith lands a jab to Gracie's midsection.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rogerio Gracie.
I think Gracie 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Rogerio Gracie!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Steve Smith!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight as a draw!
The fight ends as a draw!
Steve Smith retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
49% |
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