PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Roy Gracie was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Stark
vs
Gracie

180 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roy Gracie!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Roy Gracie has been cut.

Stark fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gracie to the ground. Stark is now in Gracie's guard.
Gracie pulls Stark in close to his closed guard and prevents Stark from doing any damage or advancing position.
Stark engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Stark tries to pass.
Stark wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stark is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of James Stark.
Stark stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stark wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stark closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stark works his way into full mount!
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie tries to hold on but Stark postures up.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stark trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Stark tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Gracie.
Stark keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
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!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stark is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.

We're going to have a standup here because James Stark wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Stark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
James Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Gracie.

Gracie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stark on his heels. He'll look to pass Stark's guard now, I'm sure.
Stark is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stark manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Stark in his guard.
Stark trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Stark avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Stark tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Stark controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Stark looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Stark looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Stark!
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stark is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Stark will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Roy Gracie's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stark sprawls well. Stark wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Stark slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Stark manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gracie on his heels. He'll look to pass Gracie's guard now, I'm sure.
Stark has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stark wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Stark postures up.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Stark controlling him for the moment.
Gracie wants to improve his position but instead Stark has moved into half guard.
Gracie is looking to get back to full guard here but Stark has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to bench press Stark off him but Stark keeps the position.
Gracie is trying to control Stark's posture but Stark avoids it.
Gracie tries to buck Stark off but Stark is having none of it.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stark off and has taken his back!
Stark breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Stark has gone for a leg lock! Gracie slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stark's guard.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Stark is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Stark from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stark gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Stark avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Stark tries to pass.
Stark trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stark defends well.
Stark stays in close to Gracie's body and controls the position.
Roy Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Stark defends easily.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stark passes into side control.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stark knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stark's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stark's back!

Gracie is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Stark won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Gracie off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Roy Gracie!
Roy Gracie bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.