PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Diego Destructico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nelson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson Gracie will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Destructico
vs
Gracie

160 cm
23
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

186 cm
23
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Destructico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nelson Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Destructico pinned against the cage. Destructico gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gracie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gracie prevents Destructico from getting the reversal.
Destructico is working hard here to advance position.
Destructico tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Destructico bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Destructico looking to pass the guard.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Destructico sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Destructico looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but Destructico is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Destructico is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Destructico looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Destructico looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie won't allow Destructico to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracie trying to hold on to Destructico's head to control him but Destructico postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Destructico shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gracie's guard.
Destructico trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Destructico looking to pass the guard.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Destructico drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Destructico jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Destructico is breathing heavily.
Destructico wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie striking off his back but it's not causing Destructico any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Destructico is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Destructico's back instead.
Gracie controlling well, preventing Destructico from escaping the position.
Gracie gets his hands free as Destructico looks to control.

Destructico defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gracie's arms.
Destructico rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Destructico makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Destructico.
Destructico might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Destructico is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Destructico manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Destructico's guard.

Destructico is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Destructico is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Destructico is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Destructico has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Destructico.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Destructico is retaining full guard.

Destructico is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Destructico dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Destructico has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Destructico had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gracie is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Destructico Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gracie's back instead.
Gracie tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Destructico maintains control.
Destructico can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.
Gracie throwing hammer fists to the chest of Destructico. What's that going to do exactly?
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Destructico working for a guillotine from mount but Gracie is in no mood to give up.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Destructico has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Destructico jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gracie manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Destructico advances nicely into full mount.

Destructico is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gracie has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Destructico looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Gracie tries to hold on but Destructico postures up.

Destructico looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Destructico maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Destructico jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gracie manages to avoid the submission attempt.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Destructico counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Destructico pushes his legs off easily.
Destructico advances to half guard.

Destructico is trying to work for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Destructico is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is staying active underneath Destructico, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie won't allow Destructico to pass to mount.
Gracie tries to roll over but Destructico keeps him under control.

Destructico is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Destructico.
Gracie trying to control here.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie is looking to clinch but Destructico is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Destructico.

Destructico is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Destructico is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Destructico looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Destructico trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Destructico dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Destructico counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Destructico looking to pass the guard.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Destructico trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Destructico slips nicely into half guard.

Destructico looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Destructico pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Destructico is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Destructico is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Destructico is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Destructico trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Destructico slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Destructico is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Destructico is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Destructico pulls his head out easily.
Gracie wants to control but Destructico is keeping busy.
Gracie is staying active underneath Destructico, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Destructico trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.

Destructico seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Destructico is looking for a kimura but Gracie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Destructico to get the leverage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Destructico pushes him off.

Destructico changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie struggling a bit here.

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

Destructico is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie wants to control but Destructico postures up.
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Destructico is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Destructico is looking for a kimura here.

Destructico is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Destructico.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Destructico is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.
Diego Destructico is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Nelson Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Destructico drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Destructico showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Destructico has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Destructico!