PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rider Stong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stong
vs
Gracie

175 cm
18
166 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rider Stong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bob Gracie!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stong misses with a kick to the body.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stong to the mat! Stong manages to get full guard.
Stong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Stong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Stong keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Stong keeps moving.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Stong is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stong keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stong as he jumps to the side.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Stong lands with a nice combination. Gracie backs away looking to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stong with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stong wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie advances position into side control!
Stong is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.
Gracie passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Stong!
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stong swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie looks gassed!
Stong really wants to buck Gracie off and get back to his feet.
Stong tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gracie looking to control but Stong is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stong has given up his back. Will we see Gracie going for some submissions?
Gracie biding his time, controlling Stong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stong controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Stong is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Gracie gets his way!
Stong trying to control the action but Gracie just sinks the hooks in.
Stong is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Gracie dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stong throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Stong counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stong wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Stong from controlling successfully.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie pulls Stong in close to his closed guard and prevents Stong from doing any damage or advancing position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bob Gracie just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stong scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control Stong's posture but Stong avoids it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stong wants to stand but Gracie has his arm trapped.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stong wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his arm.
Gracie tries to bench press Stong off him but Stong keeps the position.
Stong working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stong swinging wilding here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stong tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Stong looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Stong scores with a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Stong from controlling successfully.
Stong has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Stong with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie controlling Stong's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rider Stong dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Stong with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Stong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Stong is keeping the position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Stong keeps moving.
Stong striking off his back but it's not causing Gracie any problems.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stong wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Stong counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Stong's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Stong drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is not content to let Stong control the position.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stong.
Gracie is doing well to control the position and prevent Stong from advancing to side control.
Stong wants to stand up but Gracie has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stong's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stong's back!
Stong trying to get back to his feet but Gracie is in full control for now.
Gracie biding his time, controlling Stong.
Well, with Gracie on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Stong is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Stong wants to control his opponent's hands but Gracie gets his hands free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stong trying to get back to his feet but Gracie is in full control for now.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Gracie controlling the positon.
Stong has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Gracie controlling the positon.
Stong has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie is not going to allow Stong to sit and survive in this position.
Gracie biding his time, controlling Stong.
Gracie tries to get the hooks in deep but Stong pushed the leg off.
Gracie is not going to allow Stong to sit and survive in this position.
Good control from Gracie.
Bob Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie has the hooks in. Stong is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Gracie is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bob Gracie.
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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Gracie!