PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksymilian Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Garbutt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Blur - Song 2 blaring out of the sound system. Garbutt has chosen Saxon - Strong Arm of the Law as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Gracie
vs
Garbutt

194 cm
24
224 lbs
8 - 2 - 1

193 cm
24
215 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

THE END 32

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 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Maksymilian Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Garbutt!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garbutt bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Garbutt scoring with punches and elbows.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Garbutt is trying to get back to full guard.
Garbutt manages to get to full guard.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Garbutt works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Garbutt pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Garbutt 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stays in close to Garbutt's body and controls the position.
Gracie throws a strike but Garbutt rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Garbutt looking to pass the guard.
Garbutt preventing the sweep.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Garbutt stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Garbutt postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Garbutt working some strikes from top position.
Garbutt is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Garbutt wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Garbutt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Garbutt controlling him for the moment.
Garbutt keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Garbutt postures up.
Garbutt lands a couple of digs.
Garbutt is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie managing to control the position.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Garbutt defends well.
Garbutt landing with the ground and pound.

Gracie has his foot on Garbutt's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Garbutt works his way back into a safe position though.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Garbutt is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Garbutt is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Garbutt lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Garbutt working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Garbutt is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Garbutt passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Garbutt prevents Gracie from improving his position.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Garbutt pulls his head out easily.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Garbutt working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Garbutt landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Garbutt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Garbutt is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Garbutt is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.
Garbutt 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 works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Garbutt trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is pulling down on Garbutt's head to control his posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garbutt engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Garbutt is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Garbutt dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Garbutt drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Garbutt looks up at the clock and then as Gracie takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Garbutt smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Gracie tries to control but Garbutt manages to take his back.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Gracie wants to control his opponent's hands but Garbutt gets his hands free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garbutt lands a shot to the head.

It looks like Maksymilian Gracie has been cut.
Gracie is in bad spot here.
Gracie looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is keeping busy.
Gracie is trapped and Garbutt is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Gracie is trapped and Garbutt is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Gracie rolls, trying to escape but Garbutt keeps control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbutt scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Gracie is looking for a way out.
Gracie rolls, trying to escape but Garbutt keeps control of the position.
Gracie is covering up but some of the strikes from Garbutt are getting through and doing damage.
Gracie covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
A lull in the action here.
Garbutt throwing damaging strikes from the back! Gracie could be in trouble here!
Gracie looking very determined here, making life difficult for Garbutt.
Garbutt is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Gracie up.
Garbutt gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Garbutt lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Gracie.
Good control from Garbutt.
Garbutt has the hooks in. Gracie is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Garbutt scores with punches to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie just trying to survive but Garbutt is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Kevin Garbutt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Garbutt controlling the action here.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Garbutt prevents Gracie from improving his position.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Garbutt perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Garbutt lands strikes from half guard.
Gracie trying to control here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garbutt 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.
Garbutt lands with a punch from half guard.
Gracie trying to control from the bottom.
Gracie is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Garbutt is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Garbutt landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Garbutt's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Garbutt's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie working for the choke.

Garbutt is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Garbutt trying to control the hands but Gracie won't let him.

Garbutt is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie punches the canvas rather than the man.

Gracie working for a choke but Garbutt reverses nicely into Gracie 's guard.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Garbutt manages to get himself to full guard.

Gracie scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie trying to control but Garbutt is working from the bottom.

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

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garbutt 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Garbutt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Maksymilian Gracie's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A bone on bone clash there as Gracie blocks the leg kick.
Garbutt feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gracies jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Garbutt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Garbutt throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Garbutt jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Garbutt lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
That kick from Garbutt tenderised Gracie's leg. Gracie is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Garbutt tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Garbutt to the ground. Garbutt escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Garbutt turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Garbutt looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garbutt throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Garbutt moves out of range.
Garbutt throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
It looked like Gracie wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Garbutt on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Garbutt.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Garbutt tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gracie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Garbutt sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garbutt is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gracie misses the jab.
Garbutt digs a good hook to Gracie's body.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.

Garbutt gets a double leg takedown into Gracie's guard.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Garbutt lands a couple of elbows.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Garbutt lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Garbutt defends well.
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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garbutt advances position into side control!
Gracie is trying to control Garbutt's posture but Garbutt avoids it.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Garbutt cracks Gracie with a big right hand but Gracie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Garbutt working the ground and pound.
Gracie is not content to let Garbutt control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie is being controlled here.
Gracie takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Garbutt connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gracie some visible discomfort.
Gracie is not content to let Garbutt control the position.
Gracie tries to bench press Garbutt off him but Garbutt keeps the position.
Garbutt lands a nice forearm strike.

Maksymilian Gracie's cut is getting worse.
Gracie is not content to let Garbutt control the position.
Maksymilian Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt landing strikes.
Garbutt cracks Gracie with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Gracie is rocked!

Maksymilian Gracie's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Oh Gracie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gracie seems to have got his legs back now.
Check out the look on Garbutt's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Gracie on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Garbutt working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Garbutt trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
Garbutt lands a huge shot from side control! Gracie is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Kevin Garbutt!
After winning the bout, Kevin Garbutt thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.