PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen ..Imagine Dragons - Radioactive as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Sam Rogers is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Rogers
vs
Gracie

183 cm
25
177 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

181 cm
32
182 lbs
19 - 25 - 1

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matt Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Rogers or perhaps it was just good defense by Gracie which made him look bad.
Rogers comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gracie swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rogers counters with a three punch combo that has Gracie backing up. Gracie nods at Rogers to acknowledge the strikes.
Rogers shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gracie wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie moves into the clinch successfully.
Rogers is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gracie is keeping busy.
Rogers has Gracie pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Gracie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rogers is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rogers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rogers has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.

Rogers looking to score a takedown here. Gracie is defending well but Rogers drives through and ends up in Gracie's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Rogers tries to pass.
Rogers trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Rogers looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gracie trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Rogers is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gracie with a nice head shot there.
Rogers is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rogers looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Rogers keeps moving.
Rogers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rogers is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rogers has his takedown stuffed
and Gracie counters with a series of strikes. Rogers will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a one two combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rogers is breathing heavily.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gracie trying to control the action but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Gracie is controlling the pace.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rogers's head.
Rogers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rogers taking some punishment here, with Gracie in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Gracie dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rogers throws a big shot that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rogers.
Rogers gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rogers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rogers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Rogers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rogers circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rogers closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gracie quickly recovers to half guard.
Rogers is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Rogers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie punching from the bottom.
Rogers trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rogers trying to move into half guard but instead Gracie has managed to sweep!

Gracie stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Gracie closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rogers misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie gets a double leg takedown into Rogers's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rogers is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rogers keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Rogers being controlled here, momentarily.
Gracie prevents Rogers from getting back to his feet.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Rogers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Rogers keeps moving.

Matt Gracie has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracie showed some decent athleticism there.
Rogers wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.
Rogers pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rogers is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Rogers pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Rogers on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rogers tries to get out of the position.

Gracie gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Rogers takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rogers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie dives in for a single leg takedown but Rogers sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Rogers is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rogers wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rogers tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.

Gracie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracie pushes off an throws an elbow but Rogers leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.
Rogers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rogers is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie prevents Rogers from improving his position.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Rogers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Rogers defends it.
Gracie is trying to control. Rogers wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Matt Gracie wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rogers is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.

Gracie darts in and clinches Rogers up against the ropes.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.
Rogers tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gracie smiles and moves away.

Rogers rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rogers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rogers avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Sam Rogers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Gracie.
Rogers fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rogers wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rogers has clasped his hands together around Gracie's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rogers tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rogers goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gracie rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rogers's guard! Nice work there by Gracie!
Gracie distracts Rogers with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
Gracie stops Rogers from standing up.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gracie pushing down on Rogers's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is looking to get back to is feet but Gracie passes into side control.
Gracie wants to control but Rogers is keeping him busy.
Gracie is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rogers is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Check out the look on Gracie's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sam Rogers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Gracie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gracie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Gracie!
Our winner, Matt Gracie, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.