PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renato Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jt Spirit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bring Da Ruckus. Spirit is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Nujabes - Feather. Jt Spirit has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Spirit

170 cm
29
142 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

164 cm
25
132 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

FULL METAL GEAR
FULL METAL GEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Renato Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jt Spirit!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
Gracie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Spirit can pounce on him.
Renato Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie misses with a left hand
letting Spirit counter with a right hand.
Spirit takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gracie swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Spirit counters with a body kick.
Spirit tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Spirit thows a leg kick but Gracie checks it
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gracie tries to land a front kick but Spirit steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gracie swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Spirit cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie connects with a leg kick. Spirit looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Spirit enables Gracie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Spirit manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Spirit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Spirit is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gracie postures up and lands a big shot to Spirit's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spirit works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie connects with a couple of short punches.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Spirit.
Spirit looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Gracie puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Gracie looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Spirit with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Spirit is trying to get back to full guard.
Spirit moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spirit works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit looking for a sweep. Not yet Spirit, not yet.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie won't allow Spirit to sweep him here.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spirit swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Spirit wants to sweep but no luck.
Spirit keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Spirit has momentary wrist control but Gracie slips an elbow through the middle.
Spirit preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spirit swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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 stands up over Spirit, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Spirit blocks nicely.
Spirit can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Spirit keeping control of the position.
Spirit avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gracie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Spirit blocks a leg kick.
Spirit is looking to score with low kicks.
Spirit lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Spirit moves out of range of the leg kick from Gracie.
Spirit looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spirit throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Gracie counters with a nice leg kick.
Spirit lands a really nice looking cross but Gracie seems unphased.
Gracie misses with a leg kick

and Spirit moves into the clinch.
Spirit doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Spirit misses with a body punch.
Spirit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Spirit dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Spirit has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.
Spirit throws a leg kick
and Gracie counters with an inside leg kick.
Gracie cracks Spirit with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Spirit looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A jab lands there for Gracie.
Spirit tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gracie throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gracie throws a sloppy body shot
and Spirit counters with a nice leg kick.
Gracie throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gracie shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gracie throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Spirit on the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Spirit throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Spirit gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gracie counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Spirit thinking.
Spirit is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Spirit with that takedown attempt.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Spirit avoids them all with ease.
Spirit tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie thows a leg kick but Spirit checks it
and Spirit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Spirit misses with a takedown attempt - Gracie sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Renato Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jt Spirit.
Spirit is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Spirit avoids them all with ease.
Spirit doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four 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.
Spirit takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Spirit pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gracie dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Spirit. That did some damage!
Gracie is looking to land body kicks.
Gracie finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gracie tries a low kick but Spirit avoids it.
Gracie moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gracie lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Spirit scores with a leg kick.
Spirit misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gracie counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Gracie misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Gracie dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Spirit.
Gracie swings for the body but Spirit moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Gracie. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gracie.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gracie.
Gracie misses with a body kick.
Gracie throws a front kick aimed at Spirit's knee but Spirit avoids it well.
Spirit is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie throws a right hand that misses
and Spirit counters with a nice body shot.
Gracie slips a straight right by Spirit.
Spirit looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie cracks a nice hook into Spirit's ribs.
Spirit wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
A big right from Gracie misses.
Gracie throws a leg kick
and Spirit counters with an inside leg kick.
Spirit takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Spirit bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Spirit is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit has the hooks in. Gracie is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
I would not like to be Gracie right now.
Spirit is landing with strikes. Gracie can't take much more of this.
Gracie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Gracie controlling the position well.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Spirit is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Spirit is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gracie has control of Spirit's left arm, preventing Spirit from doing any damage.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Spirit from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Gracie pulls Spirit in close to his closed guard and prevents Spirit from doing any damage or advancing position.
Jt Spirit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Spirit looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gracie connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Spirit wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Gracie throws a leg kick that is checked
and Spirit counters with a thumping low kick.
Spirit tries to clinch up
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.
That kick from Spirit tenderised Gracie's leg. Gracie is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Renato Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.
Spirit throws a half hearted mid kick.
Spirit rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gracie counters with a one-two to the body.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Spirit.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Renato Gracie.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

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