PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nivolumab Opdivo (ranked 1637 p4p, 217 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 2784 p4p, 306 weight class). Opdivo comes to the cage accompanied by Bristol-Myers Squibb corporate anthem. Gracie has chosen Jiu Jitsu by Smoke Serpent as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Opdivo
vs
Gracie

180 cm
23
175 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
177 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Green Machine Nutritional Supplements

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nivolumab Opdivo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Opdivo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gracie misses with a two punch combination.
Opdivo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Opdivo sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Opdivo tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Opdivo defends it well.
Opdivo is trying to control but can't.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Opdivo has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Opdivo keeps working.
Opdivo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control from Opdivo's half guard. Opdivo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Gracie is working Opdivo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Opdivo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Opdivo manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Opdivo's guard.
Opdivo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Opdivo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gracie distracts Opdivo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gracie cracks Opdivo with a solid left hand.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Opdivo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Opdivo's head.
Opdivo keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Opdivo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gracie won't allow Opdivo to sweep him here.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opdivo 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.
Opdivo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Opdivo!

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but Opdivo is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opdivo is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie wants to take Opdivo's back here but Opdivo is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Opdivo defends it well.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Opdivo's face.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Opdivo is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Opdivo is now in Gracie's guard. A big mistake from Gracie there, giving up the dominant position!
Opdivo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Opdivo swinging wildly here.
Opdivo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Opdivo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Opdivo looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Opdivo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Opdivo lands a lovely overhand right.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Gracie with the counter takedown but Opdivo avoids it easily.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Opdivo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Opdivo's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Opdivo keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Opdivo is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Gracie stands up over Opdivo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opdivo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Opdivo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Opdivo can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Opdivo is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Opdivo wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Opdivo wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Opdivo is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Opdivo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie is trying to control. Opdivo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Opdivo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Opdivo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie pushes down on Opdivo's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Opdivo is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Opdivo is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie prevents Opdivo from improving his position.

Opdivo is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Opdivo regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four 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.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Opdivo is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Opdivo is controlling Gracie's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Opdivo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Opdivo.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.
Nivolumab Opdivo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Opdivo looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gracie on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Opdivo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Opdivo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gracie's hands.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Opdivo to the mat! Opdivo manages to get full guard.
Opdivo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie postures up.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Opdivo keeps moving.

Opdivo 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 wants to control from the top but Opdivo keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Opdivo is keeping him busy.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Opdivo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Opdivo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!
Opdivo trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Gracie tries to escape the position.
Gracie has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Opdivo is looking to control Gracie but Gracie is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Gracie breaks Opdivo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Nivolumab Opdivo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Royce Gracie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gracie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Opdivo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.

Opdivo trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opdivo looking to pass the guard.
Opdivo trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gracie holds on and takes a little breather.
Opdivo passes into half guard.
Gracie keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Opdivo trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Opdivo is controlling well.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie pulls Opdivo in close to his closed guard and prevents Opdivo from doing any damage or advancing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nivolumab Opdivo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Gracie!
Royce Gracie decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.