PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Lombardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Boris Brejcha - Openminded blaring out of the sound system. Lombardo has chosen From Despair To Where as his entrance music. Ricardo Gracie had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Gracie
vs
Lombardo

194 cm
23
212 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

185 cm
25
220 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Milwaukee's Best 160 - Green Bay Packer's 13-0
Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricardo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Lombardo!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lombardo feints a jab promting Gracie to slip. Lombardo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gracie slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Ricardo Gracie has been cut.
Lombardo misses with a jab to the body

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Lombardo didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lombardo defends it easily.
Lombardo stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Lombardo working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Lombardo scoring with strikes.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Lombardo is controlling well.
Lombardo wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Lombardo.
Lombardo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Lombardo has control of the leg.
Lombardo is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Lombardo seems content to control.
Lombardo trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Lombardo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lombardo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombardois looking to pass into half guard but Gracie pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gracie is in guard.
Lombardo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lombardo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Lombardo's legs - danger averted.
Lombardo trying to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Lombardo keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Lombardo 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.
Lombardo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie pushing down on Lombardo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lombardo wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Lombardo trying to get back to full guard but Gracie takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Lombardo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gracie.
Lombardo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lombardo is trying to escape the mount.
Lombardo wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lombardo can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Lombardo tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails to take his opponent's back.
Lombardo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Gracie jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lombardo is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lombardo and Gracie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gracie working the head with strikes.
Lombardo is looking for a sweep.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lombardo striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Lombardo struggling a bit here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie with the ground and pound but Lombardo regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Lombardo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Gracie's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie is trying to drag Lombardo to the mat but Lombardo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lombardo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lombardo gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lombardo smiles and moves away.
Ricardo Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lombardo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lombardo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lombardo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lombardo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lombardo can't do much from the bottom here.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Lombardo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.
Lombardo throws a strike but Gracie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Lombardo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lombardo lands a big elbow.
Lombardo lands a big shot there that rocks Gracie but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gracie 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.
Anthony Lombardo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lombardo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lombardo.
Lombardo trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is pressing down on Lombardo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lombardo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lombardo manages to get himself to full guard.
Lombardo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gracie landing some decent shots from guard.
Lombardo wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lombardo keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lombardo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Gracie has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Lombardo has passed into side control.
Gracie is not content to let Lombardo control the position.
Lombardo in side control lands a decent elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Lombardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Gracie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lombardo shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lombardo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lombardo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Lombardo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Gracie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lombardo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lombardo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gracie is looking for a takedown.
Lombardo tries for a takedown but Gracie manages to get underhooks.

Lombardo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lombardo misses with a few strikes there.

Lombardo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lombardo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lombardo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lombardo!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Lombardo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Lombardo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lombardo works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Gracie is really stuck here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lombardo working for a choke but Gracie is defending well.

Lombardo is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lombardo is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gracie knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gracie for a finish.
Gracie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Lombardo prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lombardo!

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lombardo turns into him and now he's in Gracie's guard.
Lombardo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lombardo won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Lombardo looking to pass the guard.
Lombardo wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Lombardo stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Lombardo from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anthony Lombardo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Lombardo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lombardo misses with a wild combination.
Jab, jab by Lombardo - just one landing.
Lombardo swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie closes the distance but Lombardo moves to the side
and Lombardo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Lombardo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lombardo 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 Richard Clark scores the fight for Anthony Lombardo!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Anthony Lombardo!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Anthony Lombardo!

Anthony Lombardo wins by unanimous decision!
Anthony Lombardo managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire, into his post fight interview.