PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grecko Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Angel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grecko Gracie had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Gracie
vs
Angel

190 cm
24
280 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
24
283 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grecko Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Angel!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie looks to land a combination but Angel avoids it well.
Gracie with a hook.
Angel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Angel.
Angel avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Angel walks into a left hand.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Angel looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Angel from controlling successfully.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Angel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Angel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Angel postures up.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Angel is one step ahead there.
Gracie knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Angel on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angel wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Angel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Angel has control of an arm but Gracie manages to advance to Angel's back!
Angel breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Angel postures up.
Angel wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Angel is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Angel sitting in guard here, content to control.

Angel drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Angel off! Angel jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Angel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie can't keep his opponent in guard - Angel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Angel has control of the leg.
Gracie tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Angel has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Angel working for a submission but Gracie is keeping him at bay.
Gracie has given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie can't escape the position.
Gracie trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Angel has the hooks in. Gracie is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Gracie just trying to survive but Angel is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Angel looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Angel is just out of range.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick
and Angel counters with a thumping low kick.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Angel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Angel circles away.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie leaves Angel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Angel tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
A head kick misses from Angel.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Angel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Angel lands a slapping body shot.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Angel.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Michael Angel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Angel misses
and Gracie counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Angel thinking.

Gracie feints and as Angel raises his hands in defense, Gracie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Angel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Angel is breathing heavily.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Angel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Angel's legs - danger averted.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Angel is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angel manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Angel is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gracie has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Gracie defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Angel.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Angel working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Angel is hanging on to Gracie's back as he tries to escape.

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.

Angel has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gracie has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
I really don't envy Gracie right now.
Angel tries to keep control of the position but Gracie is staying busy.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Gracie looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Angel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Angel is looking to clinch.
Angel throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Angel tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Angel is just out of range.
Gracie throws a right hand that Angel ducks under and follows up with a left that Angel also avoids with ease.
Angel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Angel is just out of range.
Gracie is looking to wear down Angel with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Angel throws a series of strikes that have Gracie backpedaling.
Angel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Angel throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Angel staying out of range there.
Angel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Angel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie connects with a body shot.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Angel is just out of range.
Angel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angel throws a chopping leg kick but Gracie manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gracie.
Gracie connects with a leg kick. Angel looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Angel is looking to clinch.

Angel looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gracie trying to control but Angel postures up.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Angel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Angel's back!

Angel fending off the submission attempt from Gracie.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Angel is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for the choke but no joy.
Angel is trying to remain composed but Gracie is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Gracie punishes Angel with strikes from the back mount.
Grecko Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angel turns into Gracie and is now in his guard.
Gracie striking from the bottom here.
Gracie controls Angel momentarily but Angel frees himself.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Michael Angel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Angel advances position into side control!
Gracie looking for a sweep but Angel has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Gracie is trying to reverse the position but instead Angel has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Angel is trying to stick to Gracie's back but Gracie is turning into Angel. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Angel's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gracie.
Gracie passes Angel's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Angel is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Angel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Michael Angel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grecko Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Angel 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Angel!