PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mr Ball (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Ball
vs
Gracie

150 cm
23
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mr Ball!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Ball throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ball throws a leg kick
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Ball.
Gracie darts in trying to clinch

and Ball counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ball trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is pulling down on Ball's head. It's preventing any offense from Ball, at least for the moment.
Ball trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mr Ball wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Ball circles away easily

and Ball counters with a takedown into side control.
Gracie throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Ball with the ground and pound but Gracie regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Gracie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ball is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie is looking to control Ball's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?

Gracie makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ball lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ball could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Ball counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Mr Ball has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Gracie.
Ball passes into half guard.
Ball is looking to advance position but Gracie won't allow it.
Ball landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ball tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ball trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Ball tries to pass.
Ball trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ball wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Ball controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Mr Ball wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ball misses with a low kick as Gracie jumps back.
Ball throws a solid leg kick but Gracie takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ball.
Ball wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Ball throws a head kick that misses.
Ball misses with a low kick.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ball throws a leg kick but Gracie sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ball attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Ball dominated that round.
That's time! Ball's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Ball swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie checks the leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
A clash of legs there as Gracie blocks the low kick.

Gracie fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ball to the ground. Gracie is now in Ball's guard.
Gracie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ball's guard.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Ball.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ball can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Gracie was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ball is looking to score with low kicks.
Ball tries a head kick but it misses.
Ball does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gracie misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ball.
Nick Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie is looking to land body kicks.
Gracie checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Mr Ball is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ball throws a leg kick but Gracie sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ball takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Gracie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gracie stalling in the clinch but Ball improves position.
Ball is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gracie leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ball to keep the fight standing.
Mr Ball has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Gracie.

Gracie manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gracie can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ball looking to pass the guard.
Gracie seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ball stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gracie working for a triangle but Ball defends it easily.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Ball tries to pass.
Gracie throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ball tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ball stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ball trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Gracie 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie clinches up with Ball and pushes him back against the cage.
Ball goes for a takedown attempt but Gracie pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
Ball throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gracie checks a leg kick.
Ball throws a low kick but Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Ball circles away.
Ball throws a low kick, looking for Gracie's leg but Gracie calmly moves out of range.
Ball pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ball wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Ball sprawls well.
Ball stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ball wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie misses with a leg kick.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.

Ball shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ball showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Ball sits in half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Ball is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mr Ball overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ball prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Ball trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mr Ball.
Ball is looking to chop away at Gracie's legs.
Gracie checks a leg kick nicely.
Ball defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Mr Ball has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Gracie.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ball moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball has his hands on Gracie's head, controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Gracie was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ball pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mr Ball showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ball has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Mr Ball!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Mr Ball!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Mr Ball!

Mr Ball wins by unanimous decision!