PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Renzo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Average (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aaron Average will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gracie
vs
Average

178 cm
28
150 lbs
22 - 14 - 1

178 cm
27
156 lbs
9 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Renzo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Aaron Average!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Average punishes Gracie's body with a nice straight punch.
Average scores with a jab to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Average looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Average circles away easily
letting Average counter with a right hand.
Average fails with an attempt to clinch.
Average tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Average shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Average was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Average fails to advance to Gracie's back.
Average wants to stand but Gracie is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Average looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Average lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gracie hang on?
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!
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

Average get's back to his feet.
A big right from Average misses.
Average tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Average throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Average misses the shot to the body.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Average sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Average misses with a series of wild punches.
Average doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Average swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Average gets a clinch.
Average working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Gracie lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Average wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Average tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Average is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Average defends it well.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Average sees it coming and defends easily.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Average still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Average has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Average is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.

Average is looking for a kimura but Gracie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Average to get the leverage.
Average not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Average is working for a submission of some sort.
Average tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Average is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Average is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Average is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Average eventually gives up the hold.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Average looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Average dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Average gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gracie to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Aaron Average has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Average is trying to get back to full guard.
Average is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Average avoid being mounted?

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Average won't allow it.

Average is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Average works his way to full guard. Good work.
Average trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Average wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Average looking to control.
Gracie advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Average sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.
Gracie is looking to sweep but instead, Average has passed into half guard.

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

Gracie looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Average pushes past his half guard into mount!

Gracie defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Average.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.

Average gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Average rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie falls off balance throwing a combination
and Average counters with a series of strikes. Gracie will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Average is breathing heavily.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Average scores with a punch to the head.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Average misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Average tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gracie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Average somewhat.
Nice takedown defense from Average. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renzo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Average throws a front kick that sends Gracie stumbling back into the cage.
Average misses with a few strikes there.
Average throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gracie defending well as Average loads up on a big left hand.
Average clobbers Gracie with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Average has managed to escape the submission attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Average is on top in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Average doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Average manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Renzo Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Average shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Average swinging wildly here.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Average throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Renzo Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Average fails to land with a series of punches.
Average darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A jab lands there for Average.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Average saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Average throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Average was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.

Average fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Average prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renzo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Average ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Average no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Average tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Average takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Average is keeping the position.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Average is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Average looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Average gets to his feet - Gracie follows without any prompting.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Average.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Average throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gracie was covering up waiting for the punch and Average finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Gracie pushes a forearm under Average's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Average is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Renzo Gracie!
Renzo Gracie took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS for their support in the buildup to the fight.