PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nolan Sackett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sackett comes to the cage accompanied by Bad To the Bone. Gracie has chosen Forró Japonês as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Junior Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sackett
vs
Gracie

190 cm
30
215 lbs
16 - 5 - 1

190 cm
29
223 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nolan Sackett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sackett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Sackett thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sackett.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Sackett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A punch combination from Sackett misses.
Sackett misses with a body shot
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
Sackett throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sackett leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sackett misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackett throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd cheers as Sackett lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gracie doesn't seem phased though.
Sackett misses the shot to the body.
Sackett throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.
Gracie scores with a three punch combo!
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big right from Sackett misses.
Sackett misses with a left hand

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sackett's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sackett is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Sackett throws a big right hand that misses.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sackett is aware though and is defending well.
Sackett throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Sackett wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Sackett throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie looking to control.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sackett postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sackett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sackett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sackett works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sackett connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Sackett working Gracie over with strikes.
Sackett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Sackett winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sackett looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Sackett postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sackett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sackett slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sackett working the ground and pound.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Sackett sits in half guard.
Sackett throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sackett not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sackett throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sackett misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Sackett misses with a straight left.
Gracie moves out of range as Sackett strikes.
Nice uppercut there from Gracie.
Sackett misses with a double jab.
Sackett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sackett throws a lazy uppercut
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.
Sackett lunges at Gracie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie's hand.
Sackett throws a sloppy body shot
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sackett connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackett throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Sackett.
Sackett misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sackett tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sackett fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gracie checks it well.
Sackett connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sackett misses with a double jab.
Sackett throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Sackett feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sackett with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Sackett slips an elbow through the middle.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sackett doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sackett manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sackett wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie is trying to control the position but Sackett postures up.
Sackett trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Sackett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Sackett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sackett defends well.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Sackett slips an elbow through the middle.
Sackett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sackett lands a couple of digs.
Sackett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sackett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie 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.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sackett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Sackett defends easily.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Sackett throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sackett distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gracie controls Sackett momentarily but Sackett frees himself.
Sackett throws and elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sackett's guard. Nice move by Gracie!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nolan Sackett dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sackett takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Gracie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sackett rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Gracie's guard! Nice work there by Sackett!
Sackett throws and elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sackett's guard. Nice move by Gracie!
Sackett trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Sackett.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackett is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sackett is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sackett has escaped and now he's on top!
Sackett with a nice head shot there.
Sackett trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sackett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sackett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie keeping full guard, as Sackett tries to pass.
Sackett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sackett trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Sackett is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gracie is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sackett lands a couple of elbows.
Sackett throws and elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sackett's guard. Nice move by Gracie!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sackett looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sackett holds on and takes a little breather.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Sackett is keeping the position.
Sackett controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Nolan Sackett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nolan Sackett just wasn't active enough.
Sackett throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Sackett looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sackett.
Sackett throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Sackett drops his hands momentarily and Gracie takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Sackett.
Sackett throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Junior Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sackett lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nolan Sackett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sackett has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nolan Sackett!