PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Champ Bombada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rogerio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen Amazing entrance! with the theme FORT BATTLE from The Last of the Mohicans as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Bombada
vs
Gracie

183 cm
27
175 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

185 cm
28
176 lbs
13 - 3 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Champ Bombada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Rogerio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bombada defends it nicely.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Champ Bombada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bombada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Bombada looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Bombada saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bombada jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie walks into a stiff left hand from Bombada.
Bombada connects with a jab.
Bombada connects with a looping right hand.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with the ground and pound.
Gracie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bombada, who protects the arm well.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bombada knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie working the strikes but Bombada uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Bombada defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his 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 Bombada is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Bombada is defending the position.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gracie works his way into full mount!

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Bombada blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bombada because Gracie loaded up on that one.

Gracie stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bombada enables Gracie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bombada manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
Bombada keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracieis looking to pass into half guard but Bombada pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bombada is in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is pulling down on Bombada's head to control his posture.
Bombada is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.
Gracie pulls Bombada in to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rogerio Gracie has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bombada circles away.
Champ Bombada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rogerio Gracie.
Bombada fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gracie on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bombada pinned against the cage. Bombada gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gracie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bombada to score with a decent uppercut.
Bombada lands with a right hand.
Bombada throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bombada throws out the jab.
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bombada stuffs the takedown.
Bombada throws a combination that misses
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
Gracie connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Gracie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bombada is trying to defend but Gracie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gracie is pressing down on Bombada's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bombada is holding on for now.
Gracie is stalling here. Bombada is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gracie seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bombada has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Bombada wants to stand up but Gracie manages to regain full guard.
Bombada trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Bombada wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Bombada gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Bombada is proving a slippery customer.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Bombada keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie pushes down on Bombada's leg and manages to get into half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie throws a strike but Bombada avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Bombada is having none of it.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Bombada is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Good exchange - Gracie coming out on top.
Champ Bombada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Bombada misses.
Bombada swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gracieis looking to pass into half guard but Bombada pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bombada is in guard.
Bombada knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Bombada wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bombada preventing the sweep.
Gracie controls Bombada momentarily but Bombada frees himself.
Bombada trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Bombada defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Bombada rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bombada scores with a hook to the body. Gracie takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Champ Bombada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rogerio Gracie.
Bombada sizes up Gracie with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rogerio Gracie 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.
Bombada looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
Nice shot by Bombada.
Bombada misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Nice combo by Bombada! Oh, that's hurt him - Gracie falls to the canvas and Bombada follows him into side control.

Gracie is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bombada wants to stand but Gracie has his arm trapped.
Gracie is still in real trouble! Can Bombada finish him?
Bombada working away.
Rogerio Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bombada's best efforts.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bombada is working away from the top position though.
Gracie seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gracie trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Bombada manages to pass to mount!
Bombada trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Champ Bombada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie wants to control but Bombada is having none of it.
Bombada content just to control the position here.
Gracie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bombada wants to finish this one by submission but Gracie is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Bombada.
Gracie wants to hold on but Bombada pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Champ Bombada showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gracie 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rogerio Gracie!
After winning the bout, Rogerio Gracie thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.