PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Hydraulix 13.5 - D.A.V.E. the Drummer & Alex Calver blaring out of the sound system. Cage comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Johnny Cage Theme kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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
Cage

183 cm
26
195 lbs
24 - 17 - 1

182 cm
31
200 lbs
27 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Cage!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie swings for the body but Cage moves out of range.
Gracie lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A big right from Gracie misses.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Cage is working Gracie over against the cage.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Cage uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cage blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cage misses with a punch to the body.
Cage can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cage is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Cage slows down the pace here.
Gracie lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Gracie pulls guard successfully.
Cage postures up.
Gracie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Cage defends easily.
Cage wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
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 controlling Cage's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Cage sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cage misses with a wild body shot.
Aaron Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Cage is just out of range.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cage was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cage slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Cage connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Cage, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Cage against the cage but Cage circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gracie is looking to clinch but Cage is avoiding it.
Gracie looks to throw the jab but Cage is out of range.
Cage throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Cage misses with a body kick.
Gracie lands a nice looking body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Cage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Cage on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gracie checks a leg kick.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cage showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cage moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cage looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gracie misses with a looping right.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Cage.
Gracie is looking to wear down Cage with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cage walks into a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Gracie dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cage tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Cage.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Gracie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cage.
Sloppy strikes from Gracie. Those never looked like landing.
Gracie misses with a lunging right hand
and Cage counters with a series of strikes. Gracie will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cage moves out of range as Gracie strikes.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Cage throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cage.
Cage motions for Gracie to come forward. Cage throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cage moves away from the strike by Gracie.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cage to the mat! Cage manages to get full guard.
Gracie trying to control but Cage is working from the bottom.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cage swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cage is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cage has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gracie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Cage is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gracie.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Cage is keeping busy.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Cage is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie gets full guard.
Cage really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cage slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie cracks Cage with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Gracie dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Cage attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick from Cage.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Cage avoids them all with ease.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cage.
Cage keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Cage circles away.
Cage misses the shot to the body.

Gracie rushes Cage and presses him up against the cage.
Cage goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Cage.
A right hand to the body from Cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie can't find room to land a body shot as Cage controls the action.

Gracie manages to pull guard.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cage is aware though and is defending well.
Cage is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cage can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cage gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cage slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Cage controlling him for the moment.
Cage slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cage preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie has his foot on Cage's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cage works his way back into a safe position though.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cage controls the pace.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Johnny Cage has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Cage sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cage misses with a wild combination.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cage manages to avoid it.
Cage works Gracie's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Cage avoids it well.
Cage clobbers Gracie with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cage with a nice cross.
Gracie cracks Cage with a good jab.
Cage throws a shot to the body.
Cage stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cage shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gracie eats them both and turns towards Cage to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cage listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cage. Cage obviously looking to wear him down.
Johnny Cage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cage moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Cage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Aaron Gracie!
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Aaron Gracie!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Aaron Gracie!

Aaron Gracie wins by unanimous decision!