PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Bransing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bransing
vs
Gracie

195 cm
25
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 Montreal, Frank Bransing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ricardo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bransing leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Bransing sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Bransing which made him look bad.
Frank Bransing has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Gracie.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bransing is defended easily by Gracie.
Bransing fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bransing tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bransing stuffs the takedown.
Bransing tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Bransing fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bransing as he jumps to the side.
Bransing fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bransing closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gracie circles away.
Bransing wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Bransing dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Bransing's head and hops out.
Bransing tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie advances nicely into full mount.
Bransing is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bransing is looking to get to half guard.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that Gracie has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bransing wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gracie.
Gracie controlling from mount.

Gracie jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Bransing is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Bransing and Gracie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Bransing is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bransing won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bransing defends it well.
Still in half guard, Gracie seems content to control.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Bransing knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bransing tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Bransing scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bransing throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bransing circles away.
Gracie slaps away a takedown attempt from Bransing, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie slaps away a takedown attempt from Bransing, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Frank Bransing is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gracie feints and as Bransing raises his hands in defense, Gracie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Bransing is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bransing is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ricardo Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Gracie frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ricardo Gracie wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bransing tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bransing looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gracie is staying tight to Bransing's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bransing is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bransing, who protects the arm well.
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 advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bransing's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gracie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bransing on his heels. He'll look to pass Bransing's guard now, I'm sure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Bransing is retaining full guard.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gracie passes Bransing's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ricardo Gracie.
Bransing is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Bransing sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bransing throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bransing sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Bransing defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Frank Bransing has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Gracie.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bransing sprawls well. Bransing wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Bransing tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Bransing. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Bransing wants to clinch.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Bransing scores with a three punch combo!
Gracie walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bransing jabs Gracie to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bransing connects with a high kick.
Bransing tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Bransing listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Bransing closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bransing avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Bransing tries to pull guard but Gracie holds him up against the cage and eventually Bransing drops back down to his feet.
Bransing prevents a takedown attempt there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bransing is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Frank Bransing has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricardo Gracie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Bransing turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ricardo Gracie.
I've got Gracie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Gracie!
In his post fight interview, Ricardo Gracie started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.