PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Duranto (ranked 39 p4p, 5 weight class) and Raul Gracie (ranked 80 p4p, 13 weight class). Gracie has chosen Jiu Jitsu-Apaga Mas Não Bate as his entrance music. Roberto Duranto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Duranto
vs
Gracie

180 cm
28
164 lbs
14 - 4 - 2

175 cm
26
165 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Conviction

Conviction
KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Roberto Duranto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Raul Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Duranto.
Duranto throws a left and a right that both miss

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Duranto's thigh, looking to free his foot. Duranto is holding on for now.
Gracie keeps trying to improve his position.
Gracie has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Arcalimon Top Team. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Gracie is keen to just control but Duranto is a slippery customer.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Duranto is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Duranto's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duranto won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Duranto defends it.
Duranto is looking to improve his position.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Duranto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Duranto makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Duranto.
Duranto is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.

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.
Duranto keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie connects with a couple of short punches.
Gracie is looking to pass into half guard but Duranto pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Duranto is in guard.

Gracie is looking to sweep but instead, Duranto has passed into half guard.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie is trying is best to control the position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is controlling Duranto's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Duranto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Duranto sits in half guard.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Duranto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Duranto takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Duranto scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Good standup being displayed there by Duranto as he connects with a hook.
Duranto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Duranto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Duranto avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Duranto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Duranto sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roberto Duranto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raul Gracie.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Duranto throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gracie on the side of the head.
Duranto scores with a head kick.
Duranto will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Duranto dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Duranto against the cage.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Duranto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Duranto softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Duranto walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Duranto throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duranto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Duranto throws a quick counter head kick but Gracie was just out of range.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Duranto.
Gracie throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A bone on bone clash there as Duranto blocks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duranto connects with an inside leg kick.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Duranto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Duranto is looking to chop away at Gracie's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duranto finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Gracie gets a double leg takedown into Duranto's guard.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Duranto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie trying to move into half guard but instead Duranto has managed to sweep!

Duranto controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Duranto controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Duranto tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.
Gracie wants to hit a switch here but Duranto passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gracie there!
Raul Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Duranto controlling from the full mount.
Gracie tries to hold on but Duranto pushes him away.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie won't allow Duranto to sweep him here.
Duranto working a defensive guard but Gracie passes into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gracie passes to side control.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Duranto keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to advance to mount but can't.
The referee asks Gracie politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gracie prefers to stall for the moment though.
Gracie wants to control for a moment but Duranto uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Duranto is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Duranto's head.
Duranto is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raul Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Duranto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gracie misses the jab.
Duranto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Duranto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Gracie connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Duranto scrambles back to his feet.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Duranto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Duranto misses with a few strikes there.
And Gracie tries to counter it with a takedown but Duranto pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gracie misses with a left hand
and Duranto counters with a slapping leg kick.
Duranto stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duranto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Duranto throws a leg kick but Gracie checks it.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.
An inside leg kick from Duranto misses.
Gracie with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Duranto to score with a decent uppercut.
A head kick misses from Duranto.
Gracie with the counter takedown but Duranto avoids it easily.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Duranto keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Duranto controlling Gracie's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Duranto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie won't allow Duranto to sweep him here.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Duranto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Duranto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Duranto tries a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
Duranto scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gracie checks a leg kick.
Duranto blocks a low kick nicely.
Duranto feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Gracie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Duranto misses with a two punch combination.
Duranto throws a leg kick that is checked

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Duranto fights it but they end up in guard.
Duranto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie trying to control but Duranto is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Duranto is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Duranto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Duranto is keeping the position for now.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Duranto keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Duranto throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A shot to the liver by Gracie. Beautiful body shot.
Gracie tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gracie throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Raul Gracie just about did enough to take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie lands a jab to Duranto's midsection.

Gracie pushes Duranto up against the cage in a clinch.
Duranto swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie lands a body punch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Duranto breaks from the clinch.
Gracie tries to clinch but Duranto is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut there from Gracie.
A big left from Gracie misses.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Duranto circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duranto throws a solid leg kick but Gracie takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Duranto.
Donk. Duranto catches Gracie right on the button with a cross.
Duranto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Roberto Duranto is winning the standup battle so far.
Duranto is looking to slow Gracie down with leg kicks.
Duranto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Duranto throws out a leg kick but Gracie moves out of range and Duranto only half commits.
A chopping leg kick lands by Duranto.
Duranto defending well as Gracie loads up on a big left hand.
Duranto circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Duranto.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.

Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Duranto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Duranto keeps moving.
Gracie is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Duranto is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Duranto.
Duranto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Duranto is retaining full guard.
Gracie advances position into side control!
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Duranto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duranto throws a leg kick

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Gracie dominated that fourth 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!

Duranto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Duranto stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gracie checks a low kick from Duranto.
Gracie checks the leg kick.
Gracie wants to counter with a clinch but Duranto pushes him away.
Duranto throws a quick inside leg kick.
Duranto throws a leg kick that is checked

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Duranto keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Duranto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Duranto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Duranto is keeping the position for now.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Duranto sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Duranto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Duranto takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duranto misses with a body kick.
Duranto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gracie's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Duranto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.
Duranto fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Duranto fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
Duranto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gracie wants to counter the offense by Duranto and move into the clinch position.
Duranto cracks Gracie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Duranto lunges at Gracie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie's hand.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Duranto looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Duranto's guard.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Duranto keeps moving.
Gracie pushes down on Duranto's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Roberto Duranto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Duranto is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Duranto avoid being mounted?
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duranto is looking to improve his position.
Duranto is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Gracie is keen to just control but Duranto is a slippery customer.
Gracie throwing shots but Duranto is blocking nicely.
Gracie seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Duranto is looking to improve his position.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Roberto Duranto.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 47:48
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Roberto Duranto!
Roberto Duranto retains his lightweight title!
Our winner, Roberto Duranto, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.