PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Kaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Forró Japonês. Kaka has chosen Pjanoo by Eric Prydaz as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Kaka

190 cm
28
223 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

190 cm
23
203 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

[PROG] Garra Suplementos (EnergyQ150 10$)
[PROG] Garra Suplementos (EnergyQ150 10$)

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Kaka!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kaka napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kaka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kaka has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gracie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kaka has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gracie but great work by Kaka.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kaka's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kaka's back!
Kaka trying to control the position but Gracie manages to sink in the hooks.
Kaka manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gracie's guard. Nice work there by Kaka.
Kaka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kaka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kaka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaka drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Kaka off! Kaka jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie tries to control but Kaka wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kaka is now in Gracie's guard. A big mistake from Gracie there, giving up the dominant position!
Gracie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kaka is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kaka defends well.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kaka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.

Kaka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaka actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie is trying to control. Kaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kaka is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Kaka has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Kaka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Kaka is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Kaka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kaka trying to control but Gracie postures up.

Kaka looking for a kimura from the bottom but Gracie passes into side control!
Kaka tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kaka throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Kaka throws a chopping leg kick but Gracie manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ricardo Kaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie blocks a leg kick.
Kaka looks to land a body kick but Gracie moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Kaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kaka, right into the meat.
Gracie throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kaka counters with a slapping leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kaka.
Kaka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kaka slips under a jab from Gracie.
Kaka tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie moves out of range as Kaka throws a body kick.
Kaka pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gracie is out of range and Kaka settles back down.
Gracie misses with a hook. Kaka ducked under it nicely.
That kick from Kaka tenderised Gracie's leg. Gracie is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kaka motions for Gracie to come forward. Kaka throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kaka throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gracie misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaka misses with a body kick.
Kaka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kaka motions for Gracie to come forward. Kaka throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kaka just misses with a punch to the body.
Kaka dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gracie. That did some damage!
Gracie connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kaka's hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaka throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kaka scores with a kick to the body.
Kaka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gracie throws a hook but Kaka blocks it.
Kaka throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaka throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Kaka 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. This is the final round!

Some bone on bone action there as Gracie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kaka throws a leg kick but Gracie checks it.
Kaka tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gracie is able to avoid easily.
Kaka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kaka tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donk. Kaka catches Gracie right on the button with a cross.
Kaka misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kaka looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kaka will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kaka looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kaka connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

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.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kaka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ricardo Kaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kaka throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie misses with a hook.
Kaka looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kaka on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kaka staying out of range there.
Kaka throws a sloppy body shot
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a lunging right hand
and Kaka counters with a body kick that stops Gracie in his tracks momentarily.
Kaka scores with a shot to the body.
Kaka wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Kaka throws a leg kick but Gracie sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gracie misses with a straight left.
Gracie is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kaka is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaka lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gracie takes a step back to recover.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Kaka.
Kaka is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gracie rather than just go for the knockout.
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Kaka slips the punch.
Kaka scores with a nice body kick.
Kaka throws a combination that misses
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Kaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kaka 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Kaka!