PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erik Veloso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Veloso's entrance music is Sandstorm-durade. A fine choice. Gracie has chosen face the pain as his entrance music. 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 Royce Gracie was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Veloso
vs
Gracie

188 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Erik Veloso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Veloso prevents Gracie from improving position.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Veloso knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Veloso has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Veloso's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Veloso has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie looks gassed!

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Veloso struggling a bit here.
Gracie prevents Veloso from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Veloso trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Veloso gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Veloso manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Veloso tries to escape but Gracie is in control.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Veloso keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Veloso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Veloso sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Veloso misses with a takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie trying to control but Veloso is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Veloso is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Veloso manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Veloso's guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Veloso is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Veloso keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie trying to control the position but Veloso is working away.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Veloso is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Veloso is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Veloso's legs.
Veloso is trying to get back to his feet.
What's Veloso going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Gracie prevents Veloso from escaping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Veloso.
Veloso misses with the combination.
Veloso cracks the inside of Gracie's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veloso looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Veloso but Veloso pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Veloso looks to clinch

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Veloso's guard.
Veloso tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Veloso is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Veloso is working from the bottom.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Veloso is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Veloso has escaped and now he's on top!

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Veloso defends easily.

Veloso avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Veloso drives through with a takedown into guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Veloso passes into half guard.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Veloso is controlling well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veloso decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Veloso lands a head kick!
Gracie blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Veloso misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Veloso with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Veloso's guard now.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veloso wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.

Gracie is working for a guillotine from mount but Veloso frees his head quite easily.
Royce Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Veloso wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.

Veloso defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gracie.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Veloso is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gracie jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Veloso is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Veloso and Gracie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gracie tries to advance to mount but Veloso denies him.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Erik Veloso.
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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Gracie!