PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robbin Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esteban Delgado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's entrance music is Nervecell - Psychogenocide. A fine choice. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Gracie
vs
Delgado

180 cm
28
168 lbs
14 - 18 - 0

168 cm
31
156 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Savage

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robbin Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Esteban Delgado!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Delgado.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Delgado does a little dance to reset his feet.
A lazy left from Delgado finds it's target.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Delgado counters with an inside leg kick.
Gracie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Delgado moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie checks a leg kick nicely.
Gracie tries to clinch

and Delgado counters by moving into the clinch.
Delgado lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Delgado is working Gracie over against the cage.
Delgado tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Delgado tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Delgado gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delgado looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Delgado got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Delgado has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Delgado won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Gracie seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Delgado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie working a defensive guard but Delgado manages to pass into side control anyway.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Delgado keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Delgado scoring with strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Delgado lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Gracie down.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Delgado working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face as Delgado controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Delgado working the ground and pound from side control.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Delgado working Gracie over with strikes.

Delgado is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie taking some punishment here, with Delgado in his half guard.
Delgado thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Delgado not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Delgado wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Delgado scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delgado trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Delgado pulls his head out easily.
Delgado controlling the action here.
Delgado scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Delgado seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Delgado takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Delgado trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Delgado is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gracie!
Delgado trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
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.
Delgado with a couple of short strikes.
Gracie trying desperately to get to his feet.
Gracie manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Delgado content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Delgado dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Delgado cracks a nice hook into Gracie's ribs.
Robbin Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie wants to clinch.

Gracie shoots in and bounces Delgado off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gracie postures up and lands a big shot to Delgado's brow.
Delgado has his hands on Gracie's head, controlling the position.
Gracie lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Delgado controlling the position.
Delgado is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Delgado's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delgado is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Delgado 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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Esteban Delgado wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gracie scores with a crisp jab that stopped Delgado in his tracks.
Gracie throws a right hand that misses
and Delgado counters with a nice leg kick.
Delgado thows a leg kick but Gracie checks it
and Gracie counters with an outside leg kick.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Delgado circles away.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Gracie moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Esteban Delgado has been cut.
Delgado moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Delgado slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Delgado circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Delgado. Delgado maintains the clinch.

Gracie pulls guard successfully.
Delgado controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Delgado wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Delgado distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gracie striking from the bottom here.
Delgado works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.
Delgado chips away with some ground and pound.
Delgado is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Delgado seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Gracie has his foot on Delgado's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Delgado works his way back into a safe position though.
Delgado works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Esteban Delgado has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Delgado lands a nice short elbow.
Gracie flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Delgado is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Delgado looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie landing strikes from the bottom.
Delgado trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Delgado pulls his head out easily.
Delgado working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Delgado is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Delgado has control of the leg.
Delgado drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Delgado is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Delgado pulls his head out easily.
Delgado working Gracie over with strikes.
Gracie is looking to control Delgado's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Delgado sits in half guard.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Esteban Delgado will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Esteban Delgado's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gracie misses with a combination
and Delgado connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Delgado.
Delgado moves away from the strike by Gracie.
Delgado thumps Gracie with a low kick.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie throws a lazy head kick

and Delgado counters with a single leg into guard. Gracie didn't expect that.
Delgado trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Delgado defends it easily.
Delgado postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Delgado works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.

Gracie working for a triangle but Delgado defends it easily.
Delgado makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Delgado stays in close to Gracie's body and controls the position.
Delgado keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Delgado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Delgado defends it easily.
Delgado distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delgado is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Delgado avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Delgado trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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!
Delgado is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Delgado looking to pass the guard.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Delgado can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Delgado defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delgado stays in close to Gracie's body and controls the position.
Delgado's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Delgado must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Esteban Delgado is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Esteban Delgado was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gracie wants to clinch but Delgado slips to the side
and Delgado counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Delgado keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Delgado counters with a takedown into side control.
Delgado is staying tight to Gracie's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Delgado wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
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!
Delgado might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gracie tries to bench press Delgado off him but Delgado keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Delgado is chipping away with strikes.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Delgado lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gracie prevents Delgado from moving into mount.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Delgado with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Delgado is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Delgado looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esteban Delgado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Delgado 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esteban Delgado!
A relieved looking Esteban Delgado thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.