PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rousimar Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Bastos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Gracie
vs
Bastos

190 cm
27
205 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

191 cm
20
222 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rousimar Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Bastos!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Bastos lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gracie doesn't seem phased though.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Bastos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bastos thuds a left hand into Gracie's body.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie needs to keep his hands up - Bastos had a free shot at his head there.
Bastos dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bastos lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bastos darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Bastos sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Bastos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rousimar Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bastos scores with a nice head shot.
Bastos stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bastos defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastos moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Bastos moves into the clinch successfully.

Bastos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bastos darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bastos throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses

and Bastos counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bastos looking to finish with strikes here!
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
Bastos postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gracie looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bastos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie wants to hold on but Bastos pushes him away.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Bastos avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
Bastos punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bastos thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastos avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bastos is stalling here but it's allowed Gracie to get half guard.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Bastos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Bastos is very close to passing his half guard.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bastos throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bastos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bastos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie trying to strike off his back.
Gracie seems keen to control Bastos's posture.
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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Bastos dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Bastos.
Bastos scores with a nice head shot.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bastos as he jumps to the side.
Bastos works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bastos is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice sprawl there from Bastos as Gracie shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rousimar Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Rafael Bastos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bastos can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastos sneaks back into half guard.
Gracie is keen to just control but Bastos is a slippery customer.
Bastos tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bastos defending well though.
Bastos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bastos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastos is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie wants to stand but Bastos is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Bastos is retaining full guard.
Bastos trying to control the position.
Bastos can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Gracie escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bastos clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.

Bastos breaks the clinch.
Bastos scores with a body shot.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Bastos.
Bastos connects with a jab.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bastos is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Bastos circles away and we're back to standing.
Bastos jabs Gracie right on the nose. Gracie blinks but takes it well.
Gracie shoots in but Bastos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bastos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gracie closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Bastos counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gracie takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bastos slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Bastos sprawls well.

Gracie tries to sprawl but Bastos drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie trying to control here.
Bastos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bastos tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Bastos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bastos manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gracie on his heels. He'll look to pass Gracie's guard now, I'm sure.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Bastos controlling him for the moment.
Bastos throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bastos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bastos passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie tries to kick Bastos off but Bastos keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bastos.
Bastos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bastos wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bastos stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bastos looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gracie is avoiding damage well.
Bastos is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Bastos flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Gracie is trying to defend against the choke here but Bastos has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Bastos Tightens the hold and Gracie taps out furiously! Bastos displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rafael Bastos!