PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Behrooz Shamsi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger 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.

Shamsi
vs
Gracie

220 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the 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, Behrooz Shamsi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roger Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shamsi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shamsi postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Shamsi wants to stand and escape but instead Gracie has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Shamsi keeps moving.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
Shamsi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shamsi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shamsi looking to control.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Shamsi.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Behrooz Shamsi wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Shamsi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shamsi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shamsi wants to control but Gracie postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but Shamsi is keeping him busy.
Gracie slows the pace down.
Gracie working the ground and pound.
Shamsi is not content to let Gracie control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie scores with punches from side control.
Shamsi is trying to escape the position but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie wants to control but Shamsi is keeping him busy.
Shamsi tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie laying and praying for a moment but Shamsi takes advantage and regains half guard.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamsi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gracie scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shamsi is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Shamsi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shamsi is holding on for now.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Shamsi is having none of it.
Shamsi is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
Shamsi is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Gracie throwing shots but Shamsi is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shamsi wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Gracie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shamsi gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shamsi working a defensive guard here.

Shamsi looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Shamsi keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamsi keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Roger Gracie has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gracie throws a right hand that misses
and Shamsi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shamsi tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie controls the position.
Gracie in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position but Shamsi is working away.
Shamsi is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Shamsi is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie happy to just control the position for now.
Gracie cracks Shamsi with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Shamsi's shoulder. That is not cool.
Shamsi wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie trying to control the action but Shamsi is working from the bottom.
Shamsi is trying to escape the position but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.
Roger Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Shamsi is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is staying tight to Shamsi's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Gracie is working Shamsi over with some ground and pound from side control.
Gracie scoring with punches and elbows.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracie laying and praying for a moment but Shamsi takes advantage and regains half guard.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shamsi swivels and escapes.
Nice body punch from Shamsi.
Behrooz Shamsi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Shamsi's guard.
Gracie won't allow Shamsi to get back to his feet.
Gracie with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Shamsi keeps moving.
Shamsi wants to control the position but Gracie says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Shamsi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Shamsi is defending well.
Shamsi is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Shamsi pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Shamsi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Shamsi defends it.
Gracie slips a nice elbow through Shamsi's hands, connecting with Shamsi's forehead.
Gracie prevents Shamsi from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamsi is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gracie controlling from mount.
Gracie trying to control but Shamsi is having none of it.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamsi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shamsi is looking to escape.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gracie landing strikes from the mount and Shamsi is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control but Shamsi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shamsi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie lands with some strikes.

Shamsi is rocked!
Gracie controlling from the full mount.
Oh Shamsi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie controlling the pace for now.
Gracie breaks from Shamsi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Gracie postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Shamsi badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Gracie around the waist but Gracie pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Gracie is the winner by TKO! Gracie jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roger Gracie!