PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil NaLeans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Dread Zepellin - Stairway to Heaven. 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
NaLeans

185 cm
25
190 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

177 cm
28
190 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Bushido Clothing

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roger Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Neil NaLeans!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A chopping leg kick lands by NaLeans.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and NaLeans counters with a stiff right hand.
NaLeans throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
NaLeans throws a combination that misses
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
NaLeans throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from NaLeans.
NaLeans throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
NaLeans throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
NaLeans lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
NaLeans misses with a series of wild punches.
A jab from NaLeans does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NaLeans throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
NaLeans throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.

NaLeans closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
NaLeans cracks Gracie with a nice body shot.
NaLeans working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Gracie looking to stall.
NaLeans working some nice short punches in the clinch.
NaLeans misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie is pushing NaLeans up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
NaLeans throws a knee to the head but misses.
NaLeans misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from NaLeans fails to land.
NaLeans misses with a body punch.
Gracie is looking to break free of the clinch but NaLeans has double underhooks.
NaLeans with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Roger Gracie has been cut.
NaLeans connects with a knee to the head.
A right hand to the body from NaLeans.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
NaLeans struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.
NaLeans lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
NaLeans scores with a shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
NaLeans misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
NaLeans lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from NaLeans.
NaLeans with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but NaLeans is keeping busy.
NaLeans lands a knee to the head.
Gracie lands a right hand.
NaLeans working aggressively here.
NaLeans missing with knees to the body.
NaLeans goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
NaLeans tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
NaLeans doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
NaLeans throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
NaLeans looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
NaLeans is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
NaLeans tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
NaLeans misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
NaLeans lands a knee to the head.
Gracie avoiding damage as NaLeans throws knees to the body.
NaLeans lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
NaLeans misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil NaLeans dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roger Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

NaLeans throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
NaLeans throws a head kick that Gracie semi-blocks.
Gracie lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but NaLeans circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie swinging wildly here.
NaLeans fails with an attempt to clinch.

Gracie scores a takedown into full mount!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
NaLeans wants to get back to his feet.
NaLeans blocking the ground and pound.
NaLeans is working to get back to half guard.
Gracie landing punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NaLeans is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie landing strikes from the mount and NaLeans is in trouble!
Gracie landing strikes, looking to finish!
NaLeans is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie punching from mount but NaLeans doing a good job of avoiding damage.
NaLeans sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

NaLeans is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
NaLeans is looking to improve his position.
Gracie throwing shots but NaLeans is blocking nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but NaLeans defends the submission attempt.
NaLeans trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
NaLeans works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
NaLeans is controlling Gracie's posture.
NaLeans avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
NaLeans wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Neil NaLeans.
NaLeans tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
NaLeans will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
NaLeans wants to clinch
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
NaLeans lands with a short punch from the clinch.
NaLeans misses with some punches.
A knee to the head by NaLeans.
NaLeans lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
NaLeans lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
NaLeans tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short right from NaLeans on the inside.
Neil NaLeans seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
NaLeans tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
NaLeans misses with a hook to the ribs.
NaLeans doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
NaLeans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
NaLeans scores with a hook to the body.
NaLeans misses with a punch to the body.
NaLeans lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for NaLeans.
NaLeans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie trying to control the position but instead, NaLeans has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gracie into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Neil NaLeans will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Roger Gracie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

NaLeans connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gracie's hands.
NaLeans misses with a jab to the body
and Gracie counters with a three punch combo that has NaLeans backing up. NaLeans nods at Gracie to acknowledge the strikes.
Roger Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
NaLeans throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces NaLeans back to the cage. Gracie follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by NaLeans.
NaLeans throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
NaLeans throws a head kick that Gracie semi-blocks.
NaLeans tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NaLeans lands a lovely overhand right.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from NaLeans.
NaLeans lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
A head kick misses from NaLeans.
NaLeans scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

NaLeans moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
NaLeans tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie stalling against the cage.
NaLeans misses with a hook from the clinch.
Neil NaLeans is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from NaLeans.
Gracie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gracie leaning his opponent against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by NaLeans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie looking to slow down the pace here.
Gracie stalling in the clinch.
Roger Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie is looking to control NaLeans's arms but NaLeans gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gracie has his back to the cage.
Maybe Gracie would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Roger Gracie.
NaLeans throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
NaLeans looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
NaLeans tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil NaLeans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got NaLeans winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil NaLeans!