Post by The Sandmen on Feb 6, 2012 12:01:48 GMT -5
Rickson looks very relaxed.
Royce is beating himself up in the corner before the fight begins, smacking himself in the face, body and legs to get ready for his scrap.
The referee of the bout is Mario Yamasaki.
=========================================
Round 1
=========================================
The bell announces the first round!
Royce throws a punch
that gets deflected.
Rickson is holding Royce 's right leg... He's trying to take him down.
Royce loses balance and goes to the ground.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson isolates Royce 's arm and neck looking for an arm triangle
Royce is able to relieve the pressure on his neck and slip out of the hold.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson launches a punch that misses Royce 's ribs, who rolls and tries to stand up. Rickson holds his head while in north-south position... Rickson closes a strong lock around Royce's neck and rolls on the ground closing a Gator Roll lock!
Rickson is locking that D'Arce Gator Roll...
Royce rolls too and his head slips out of the neck lock. He moves forward and wins side control.
Royce is in side mount over Rickson
Royce looks to mount Rickson ...
Royce slides his knee across and gets to mount.
Royce is in full mount over Rickson
Rickson tries to roll to his side and trap Royce in his guard...
Rickson gets his hip out and moves to full guard.
Royce is in full mount over Rickson
Royce sits high on Rickson 's chest and pulls his leg underneath Rickson's head. There's the triangle attempt!
Rickson tries to roll out. He's too quick for Royce and manages to slip out! That was a risky move by Royce and it cost him top position.
Rickson is trying to counter now!
Rickson tries to roll to his side and trap Royce in his guard...
Rickson gets his hip out and moves to full guard.
Royce is in full mount over Rickson
Rickson tries to roll to his side and trap Royce in his guard...
Rickson gets his hip out and moves to full guard.
The clock says 1:25 in the 1 round
Royce is in open guard over Rickson
Rickson breaths deeply while on the ground
The clock says 1:35 in the 1 round
Royce is in open guard over Rickson
Royce moves on the ground..
...he makes no progress.
Royce is in open guard over Rickson
Rickson tries to close his guard around Royce
He succeeds!
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce tries to improve his position on the ground as he sits on his knees and tries to break the closed guard.
Rickson leans and gets Royce 's arms as he brings him to the ground again.
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Rickson attempts a triangle from bottom! Royce slips out. Rickson quickly turns his hips over and switches to the armbar! He's throwing everything at him.
Royce slips out and backs away to avoid danger.
Mario Yamasaki halts the fight to stand up Rickson . The fight resumes with both fighters standing.
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in The O2 Arena (London, UK) are cheering for the fighters.
The clock says 2:20 in the 1 round
Rickson tries to grapple
He puts Royce in a double underhook!
The fighters are clinching.
Rickson pushes away Royce trying to keep the fight at striking range
Royce stumbles backwards and Rickson circles to get the center of the cage
Royce is holding Rickson 's right leg... He's trying to take him down.
Rickson shows great balance while pushing away Royce
Royce moves aside and launches a furious low kick!
Rickson checks the kick.
Rickson attempts a sweep single...
Rickson catches Royce 's far ankle and trips him to the mat! Slick takedown by Rickson.
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
The clock says 3:30 in the 1 round
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson was tooling Royce for the whole fight. I don't know if it's because Royce lack of fighting spirit or just of skill.
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson use some of his wrestling skills to escape from the closed guard!
After a few tentative moves, he jumps to side mount! The crowd in The O2 Arena (London, UK) is cheering him!
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson looks to mount Royce ...
Rickson slides his knee across and gets to mount.
The clock says 4:25 in the 1 round
Rickson is in full mount over Royce
Rickson takes a deep breath as he passes his arm over Royce shoulder and pushes his arm againts the mat!
Royce breaks that americana attempt!
Royce tries to get some advantage after his opponent miss move...
Royce tries to move on the ground and escape from the full mount!
He successfully moves to half guard!
Mario Yamasaki has seen enough passivity on the ground and stands up the fighters.
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in The O2 Arena (London, UK) are cheering for the fighters.
Rickson tries to grapple
He puts Royce in a double underhook!
Both fighters are tied in a clinch.
Rickson launches a knee while holding Royce's in a double underhooks...
That knee hits Royce in the abdomen
Royce moves backwards and Rickson is asking him if he came today for fighting or running.
The referee separates the fighters as the buzzer sounds.
The round is for Rickson, who walks calmly to his corner.
=========================================
Round 2
=========================================
The clock says 0:10 in the 2 round
Rickson moves forward and launches a low kick.
Hard blow to Royce's right thigh
Rickson is holding Royce 's right leg... He's trying to take him down.
Royce loses balance and goes to the ground.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson shifts to north-south position and tries to finish with a lock!
Royce pushes Rickson forward against his back and breaks the lock!
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce is looking to pass Rickson 's guard...
Rickson has a solid guard and keeps his ankles locked.
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce tries to pass Rickson 's guard...
Royce manages to get his leg free and moves to half guard.
The clock says 0:55 in the 2 round
Royce is in half guard over Rickson
Rickson overhooks an arm and starts cranking! Interesting meneuver.
Crippling lock!
Punishing hold!
Royce struggles to free himself
Royce pulls his arm out of danger.
Royce is in half guard over Rickson
Rickson throws up a triangle attempt!
Royce postures up and breaks the triangle.
Royce is in half guard over Rickson
Rickson overhooks an arm and starts cranking! Interesting meneuver.
Royce pulls his arm out of danger.
Royce is in half guard over Rickson
Rickson slides his legs high and tries to apply a triangle!
Royce cuts to the side and manages to pass to side mount!
Royce is in side mount over Rickson
Royce tries a kimura
Rickson breaks the lock.
Royce is in side mount over Rickson
Royce isolates Rickson 's right arm looking for an armbar...
Rickson manages to sit up and pull his arm out of danger! Royce lost his dominant position.
The referee decides to stand up the fighters since there was not much action on the ground.
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in The O2 Arena (London, UK) are cheering for the fighters.
Royce takes a few seconds to recover his breath...
Rickson shoots for a double leg takedown!
He hits it! Royce is taken off his feet, but he manages to pull Rickson into his guard.
The clock says 2:25 in the 2 round
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson tries to better his position on the ground...
Rickson breaks the closed guard of Royce and moves to half guard
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Stand up! This is what Rickson's cornermen are shouting. Royce is a submission master and he can finish the fight if you mess with him on the ground.
Royce tries to show some ground skills
Rickson uses his strength to keep Rickson at a disadvantage
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson tries a kimura
Royce breaks the lock.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Royce attempts to trap Rickson in his guard.
Royce manages to switch to full guard.
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
The clock says 3:25 in the 2 round
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson looks to posture up and open Royce 's guard...
Rickson forces Royce to open his guard.
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Rickson cornermen are yelling for his man to escape from the ground as Royce can finish a fight on the ground with some good pounding if you give him the chance.
Royce tries to close his guard around Rickson
He is not able to do it
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Rickson is in open guard over Royce... he fakes a move and then tries a kneebar!
Royce rolls on the ground trying to get free and after a few kicks of his own he escapes.
Mario Yamasaki halts the fight to stand up Rickson . The fight resumes with both fighters standing.
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in The O2 Arena (London, UK) are cheering for the fighters.
Rickson and Royce engage in a wild exchange of punches!
Both fighters are missing terribly.
Rickson tries to take the action to his favourite field as he tries to grapple
Great move by Rickson who pushes his opponent forward with a double underhooks.
Royce pushes away Rickson trying to keep the fight at striking range
Rickson doesn't want to break the clinch as he still is grappling with Royce
The fighters are clinching.
Royce launches a few punches towards Rickson's ribs while holds him in a double overhooks!
Rickson seems unaffected... those punches doesn't carry any power!
Mario Yamasaki sees a lack of activity in the clinch and separates the fighters.
The clock says 4:25 in the 2 round
Royce and Rickson engage in a wild exchange of punches!
Both fighters are connecting and this could be ending soon if either lands a lucky punch.
Royce wants to close the range and tries to grapple...
Rickson doesn't want anything like this as he moves backwards
Rickson tries to bring the fight to the ground
Royce won't budge, forcing Rickson to pull guard.
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce looks to posture up and open Rickson 's guard...
Rickson has a solid guard and keeps his ankles locked.
Mario Yamasaki tells the fighters to go to their corners as the round is over.
You have to give that round to Rickson .
=========================================
Round 3
=========================================
Royce tries to take the fight to the ground with a one leg takedown...
Rickson jumps backwards and frees his leg.
Royce throws an uppercut
Rickson slips it.
Rickson tries to get some advantage after his opponent miss move...
Rickson grabs his opponent by the waist and tries to take the fight to the ground
Great takedown by Rickson
The clock says 0:35 in the 3 round
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Royce tries to close his guard around Rickson
He succeeds!
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Royce clumsily fails here and it's time for Rickson to fight back!
Rickson is looking to pass Royce 's guard...
Rickson gets his hips free and moves to half guard.
Rickson is in half guard over Royce
Royce attempts to move to full guard
Royce manages to switch to full guard.
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Rickson moves on the ground
Rickson moves to side mount
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson looks to mount Royce ...
Rickson slides his knee across and gets to mount.
Rickson is in full mount over Royce
Royce tries to roll to his side and trap Rickson in his guard...
Rickson keeps good control and remains in full mount.
The clock says 1:45 in the 3 round
Rickson is in full mount over Royce
Royce tries to roll to his side and get to half guard...
Rickson rolls Royce to his stomach and takes his back!
Rickson is in rear mount over Royce
Royce has Rickson controlling his back while on the ground. He tries to roll and find an escape...
Showing some ground skills he transitions to a side mount.
The clock says 2:05 in the 3 round
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Royce attempts to trap Rickson in his guard.
Rickson keeps control and remains in side mount.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson isolates Royce 's arm and neck looking for an arm triangle
Royce is able to relieve the pressure on his neck and slip out of the hold.
The clock says 2:30 in the 3 round
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Royce attempts to trap Rickson in his guard.
Rickson keeps control and remains in side mount.
Mario Yamasaki stands the fighters up due to a lack of activity.
Both fighters continue the fight on their feet. You can hear how the people agree with that decision.
Royce is holding Rickson 's right leg... He's trying to take him down.
Rickson shows great balance while pushing away Royce
The clock says 2:50 in the 3 round
High kick from Royce !
He misses narrowly!
Rickson tries to bring the fight to the ground
Royce won't budge, forcing Rickson to pull guard.
The clock says 3:10 in the 3 round
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce struggles on the ground and tries to break Rickson 's guard...
Rickson doesn't want to free his opponent and Royce continues in closed guard
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce is in closed guard... Rickson tries to roll on the ground!
Nice reversal! He is now in full mount over Royce !
Rickson is in full mount over Royce
Royce tries to roll to his side and trap Rickson in his guard...
Royce moves to half guard.
Rickson is in half guard over Royce
Royce slides his legs high and tries to apply a triangle!
Rickson cuts to the side and manages to pass to side mount!
The clock says 3:55 in the 3 round
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson is getting frustrated here.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Royce attempts to trap Rickson in his guard.
Royce manages to switch to full guard.
The clock says 4:10 in the 3 round
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Royce moves to high guard and tries to close an armbar!
Rickson breaks the lock, rolls on the ground and stands up quickly.
Poorly executed technique. Rickson looks to counter!
Rickson moves on the ground..
He gets half guard.
The clock says 4:20 in the 3 round
Rickson is in half guard over Royce
Royce tries to close the guard.
Nothing from this effort.
Rickson is in half guard over Royce
Royce is cooling the fight on the ground
The referee decides to stand up the fighters since there was not much action on the ground.
Both fighters continue the fight on their feet. You can hear how the people agree with that decision.
Royce grabs his opponent by the waist and tries to take the fight to the ground
Rickson struggles... Royce is unable to take him down
Rickson is trying to counter now!
Rickson tries some clinching in order to control the fight...
Well done. Rickson is clinching with Royce.
The clock says 4:45 in the 3 round
The fighters are clinching.
Royce is in good position and is looking to change levels for the takedown...
Royce catches an ankle and Rickson is tripped to the mat!
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce is looking to pass Rickson 's guard...
Rickson has a solid guard and keeps his ankles locked.
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce looks to posture up and open Rickson 's guard...
Royce forces Rickson to open his guard.
The referee separates the fighters as the buzzer sounds.
I don't think either fighter did more than the other that round.
Judge: Rickson 10 9 9: 28
Judge: Royce 9 10 10: 29
Judge: Rickson 9 10 10: 29
Judge: Royce 10 9 9: 28
Judge: Rickson 9 10 9: 28
Judge: Royce 10 9 10: 29
Winner is Royce Gracie by Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Statistics: Rickson Gracie
Punches 3/6 (50%)
Kicks 1/1 (100%)
Clinch strikes 1/1 (100%)
Takedowns 5/7 (71%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 12/12 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 1/1 (100%)
Time on the ground 615 s
Statistics: Royce Gracie
Punches 6/9 (67%)
Kicks 0/2 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/4 (0%)
Takedowns 1/5 (20%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 5/5 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 615 s
What a controversial decision!
Nice effort tonight from Rickson who was thinking of the fans besides the fight itself.
Royce had some absorbing moments and he contributed to the enjoyment of the people here at The O2 Arena (London, UK).
Tomorrow we will see thousands of threads on the internet about this being one of the best fights ever!
Royce is beating himself up in the corner before the fight begins, smacking himself in the face, body and legs to get ready for his scrap.
The referee of the bout is Mario Yamasaki.
=========================================
Round 1
=========================================
The bell announces the first round!
Royce throws a punch
that gets deflected.
Rickson is holding Royce 's right leg... He's trying to take him down.
Royce loses balance and goes to the ground.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson isolates Royce 's arm and neck looking for an arm triangle
Royce is able to relieve the pressure on his neck and slip out of the hold.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson launches a punch that misses Royce 's ribs, who rolls and tries to stand up. Rickson holds his head while in north-south position... Rickson closes a strong lock around Royce's neck and rolls on the ground closing a Gator Roll lock!
Rickson is locking that D'Arce Gator Roll...
Royce rolls too and his head slips out of the neck lock. He moves forward and wins side control.
Royce is in side mount over Rickson
Royce looks to mount Rickson ...
Royce slides his knee across and gets to mount.
Royce is in full mount over Rickson
Rickson tries to roll to his side and trap Royce in his guard...
Rickson gets his hip out and moves to full guard.
Royce is in full mount over Rickson
Royce sits high on Rickson 's chest and pulls his leg underneath Rickson's head. There's the triangle attempt!
Rickson tries to roll out. He's too quick for Royce and manages to slip out! That was a risky move by Royce and it cost him top position.
Rickson is trying to counter now!
Rickson tries to roll to his side and trap Royce in his guard...
Rickson gets his hip out and moves to full guard.
Royce is in full mount over Rickson
Rickson tries to roll to his side and trap Royce in his guard...
Rickson gets his hip out and moves to full guard.
The clock says 1:25 in the 1 round
Royce is in open guard over Rickson
Rickson breaths deeply while on the ground
The clock says 1:35 in the 1 round
Royce is in open guard over Rickson
Royce moves on the ground..
...he makes no progress.
Royce is in open guard over Rickson
Rickson tries to close his guard around Royce
He succeeds!
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce tries to improve his position on the ground as he sits on his knees and tries to break the closed guard.
Rickson leans and gets Royce 's arms as he brings him to the ground again.
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Rickson attempts a triangle from bottom! Royce slips out. Rickson quickly turns his hips over and switches to the armbar! He's throwing everything at him.
Royce slips out and backs away to avoid danger.
Mario Yamasaki halts the fight to stand up Rickson . The fight resumes with both fighters standing.
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in The O2 Arena (London, UK) are cheering for the fighters.
The clock says 2:20 in the 1 round
Rickson tries to grapple
He puts Royce in a double underhook!
The fighters are clinching.
Rickson pushes away Royce trying to keep the fight at striking range
Royce stumbles backwards and Rickson circles to get the center of the cage
Royce is holding Rickson 's right leg... He's trying to take him down.
Rickson shows great balance while pushing away Royce
Royce moves aside and launches a furious low kick!
Rickson checks the kick.
Rickson attempts a sweep single...
Rickson catches Royce 's far ankle and trips him to the mat! Slick takedown by Rickson.
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
The clock says 3:30 in the 1 round
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson was tooling Royce for the whole fight. I don't know if it's because Royce lack of fighting spirit or just of skill.
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson use some of his wrestling skills to escape from the closed guard!
After a few tentative moves, he jumps to side mount! The crowd in The O2 Arena (London, UK) is cheering him!
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson looks to mount Royce ...
Rickson slides his knee across and gets to mount.
The clock says 4:25 in the 1 round
Rickson is in full mount over Royce
Rickson takes a deep breath as he passes his arm over Royce shoulder and pushes his arm againts the mat!
Royce breaks that americana attempt!
Royce tries to get some advantage after his opponent miss move...
Royce tries to move on the ground and escape from the full mount!
He successfully moves to half guard!
Mario Yamasaki has seen enough passivity on the ground and stands up the fighters.
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in The O2 Arena (London, UK) are cheering for the fighters.
Rickson tries to grapple
He puts Royce in a double underhook!
Both fighters are tied in a clinch.
Rickson launches a knee while holding Royce's in a double underhooks...
That knee hits Royce in the abdomen
Royce moves backwards and Rickson is asking him if he came today for fighting or running.
The referee separates the fighters as the buzzer sounds.
The round is for Rickson, who walks calmly to his corner.
=========================================
Round 2
=========================================
The clock says 0:10 in the 2 round
Rickson moves forward and launches a low kick.
Hard blow to Royce's right thigh
Rickson is holding Royce 's right leg... He's trying to take him down.
Royce loses balance and goes to the ground.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson shifts to north-south position and tries to finish with a lock!
Royce pushes Rickson forward against his back and breaks the lock!
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce is looking to pass Rickson 's guard...
Rickson has a solid guard and keeps his ankles locked.
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce tries to pass Rickson 's guard...
Royce manages to get his leg free and moves to half guard.
The clock says 0:55 in the 2 round
Royce is in half guard over Rickson
Rickson overhooks an arm and starts cranking! Interesting meneuver.
Crippling lock!
Punishing hold!
Royce struggles to free himself
Royce pulls his arm out of danger.
Royce is in half guard over Rickson
Rickson throws up a triangle attempt!
Royce postures up and breaks the triangle.
Royce is in half guard over Rickson
Rickson overhooks an arm and starts cranking! Interesting meneuver.
Royce pulls his arm out of danger.
Royce is in half guard over Rickson
Rickson slides his legs high and tries to apply a triangle!
Royce cuts to the side and manages to pass to side mount!
Royce is in side mount over Rickson
Royce tries a kimura
Rickson breaks the lock.
Royce is in side mount over Rickson
Royce isolates Rickson 's right arm looking for an armbar...
Rickson manages to sit up and pull his arm out of danger! Royce lost his dominant position.
The referee decides to stand up the fighters since there was not much action on the ground.
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in The O2 Arena (London, UK) are cheering for the fighters.
Royce takes a few seconds to recover his breath...
Rickson shoots for a double leg takedown!
He hits it! Royce is taken off his feet, but he manages to pull Rickson into his guard.
The clock says 2:25 in the 2 round
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson tries to better his position on the ground...
Rickson breaks the closed guard of Royce and moves to half guard
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Stand up! This is what Rickson's cornermen are shouting. Royce is a submission master and he can finish the fight if you mess with him on the ground.
Royce tries to show some ground skills
Rickson uses his strength to keep Rickson at a disadvantage
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson tries a kimura
Royce breaks the lock.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Royce attempts to trap Rickson in his guard.
Royce manages to switch to full guard.
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
The clock says 3:25 in the 2 round
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson looks to posture up and open Royce 's guard...
Rickson forces Royce to open his guard.
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Rickson cornermen are yelling for his man to escape from the ground as Royce can finish a fight on the ground with some good pounding if you give him the chance.
Royce tries to close his guard around Rickson
He is not able to do it
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Rickson is in open guard over Royce... he fakes a move and then tries a kneebar!
Royce rolls on the ground trying to get free and after a few kicks of his own he escapes.
Mario Yamasaki halts the fight to stand up Rickson . The fight resumes with both fighters standing.
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in The O2 Arena (London, UK) are cheering for the fighters.
Rickson and Royce engage in a wild exchange of punches!
Both fighters are missing terribly.
Rickson tries to take the action to his favourite field as he tries to grapple
Great move by Rickson who pushes his opponent forward with a double underhooks.
Royce pushes away Rickson trying to keep the fight at striking range
Rickson doesn't want to break the clinch as he still is grappling with Royce
The fighters are clinching.
Royce launches a few punches towards Rickson's ribs while holds him in a double overhooks!
Rickson seems unaffected... those punches doesn't carry any power!
Mario Yamasaki sees a lack of activity in the clinch and separates the fighters.
The clock says 4:25 in the 2 round
Royce and Rickson engage in a wild exchange of punches!
Both fighters are connecting and this could be ending soon if either lands a lucky punch.
Royce wants to close the range and tries to grapple...
Rickson doesn't want anything like this as he moves backwards
Rickson tries to bring the fight to the ground
Royce won't budge, forcing Rickson to pull guard.
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce looks to posture up and open Rickson 's guard...
Rickson has a solid guard and keeps his ankles locked.
Mario Yamasaki tells the fighters to go to their corners as the round is over.
You have to give that round to Rickson .
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Round 3
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Royce tries to take the fight to the ground with a one leg takedown...
Rickson jumps backwards and frees his leg.
Royce throws an uppercut
Rickson slips it.
Rickson tries to get some advantage after his opponent miss move...
Rickson grabs his opponent by the waist and tries to take the fight to the ground
Great takedown by Rickson
The clock says 0:35 in the 3 round
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Royce tries to close his guard around Rickson
He succeeds!
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Rickson is in closed guard over Royce
Rickson is in closed guard... Royce tries to roll on the ground!
Rickson uses his leg to keep his position on the ground
Royce clumsily fails here and it's time for Rickson to fight back!
Rickson is looking to pass Royce 's guard...
Rickson gets his hips free and moves to half guard.
Rickson is in half guard over Royce
Royce attempts to move to full guard
Royce manages to switch to full guard.
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Rickson moves on the ground
Rickson moves to side mount
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson looks to mount Royce ...
Rickson slides his knee across and gets to mount.
Rickson is in full mount over Royce
Royce tries to roll to his side and trap Rickson in his guard...
Rickson keeps good control and remains in full mount.
The clock says 1:45 in the 3 round
Rickson is in full mount over Royce
Royce tries to roll to his side and get to half guard...
Rickson rolls Royce to his stomach and takes his back!
Rickson is in rear mount over Royce
Royce has Rickson controlling his back while on the ground. He tries to roll and find an escape...
Showing some ground skills he transitions to a side mount.
The clock says 2:05 in the 3 round
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Royce attempts to trap Rickson in his guard.
Rickson keeps control and remains in side mount.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson isolates Royce 's arm and neck looking for an arm triangle
Royce is able to relieve the pressure on his neck and slip out of the hold.
The clock says 2:30 in the 3 round
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Royce attempts to trap Rickson in his guard.
Rickson keeps control and remains in side mount.
Mario Yamasaki stands the fighters up due to a lack of activity.
Both fighters continue the fight on their feet. You can hear how the people agree with that decision.
Royce is holding Rickson 's right leg... He's trying to take him down.
Rickson shows great balance while pushing away Royce
The clock says 2:50 in the 3 round
High kick from Royce !
He misses narrowly!
Rickson tries to bring the fight to the ground
Royce won't budge, forcing Rickson to pull guard.
The clock says 3:10 in the 3 round
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce struggles on the ground and tries to break Rickson 's guard...
Rickson doesn't want to free his opponent and Royce continues in closed guard
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce is in closed guard... Rickson tries to roll on the ground!
Nice reversal! He is now in full mount over Royce !
Rickson is in full mount over Royce
Royce tries to roll to his side and trap Rickson in his guard...
Royce moves to half guard.
Rickson is in half guard over Royce
Royce slides his legs high and tries to apply a triangle!
Rickson cuts to the side and manages to pass to side mount!
The clock says 3:55 in the 3 round
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Rickson is getting frustrated here.
Rickson is in side mount over Royce
Royce attempts to trap Rickson in his guard.
Royce manages to switch to full guard.
The clock says 4:10 in the 3 round
Rickson is in open guard over Royce
Royce moves to high guard and tries to close an armbar!
Rickson breaks the lock, rolls on the ground and stands up quickly.
Poorly executed technique. Rickson looks to counter!
Rickson moves on the ground..
He gets half guard.
The clock says 4:20 in the 3 round
Rickson is in half guard over Royce
Royce tries to close the guard.
Nothing from this effort.
Rickson is in half guard over Royce
Royce is cooling the fight on the ground
The referee decides to stand up the fighters since there was not much action on the ground.
Both fighters continue the fight on their feet. You can hear how the people agree with that decision.
Royce grabs his opponent by the waist and tries to take the fight to the ground
Rickson struggles... Royce is unable to take him down
Rickson is trying to counter now!
Rickson tries some clinching in order to control the fight...
Well done. Rickson is clinching with Royce.
The clock says 4:45 in the 3 round
The fighters are clinching.
Royce is in good position and is looking to change levels for the takedown...
Royce catches an ankle and Rickson is tripped to the mat!
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce is looking to pass Rickson 's guard...
Rickson has a solid guard and keeps his ankles locked.
Royce is in closed guard over Rickson
Royce looks to posture up and open Rickson 's guard...
Royce forces Rickson to open his guard.
The referee separates the fighters as the buzzer sounds.
I don't think either fighter did more than the other that round.
Judge: Rickson 10 9 9: 28
Judge: Royce 9 10 10: 29
Judge: Rickson 9 10 10: 29
Judge: Royce 10 9 9: 28
Judge: Rickson 9 10 9: 28
Judge: Royce 10 9 10: 29
Winner is Royce Gracie by Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Statistics: Rickson Gracie
Punches 3/6 (50%)
Kicks 1/1 (100%)
Clinch strikes 1/1 (100%)
Takedowns 5/7 (71%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 12/12 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 1/1 (100%)
Time on the ground 615 s
Statistics: Royce Gracie
Punches 6/9 (67%)
Kicks 0/2 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/4 (0%)
Takedowns 1/5 (20%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 5/5 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 615 s
What a controversial decision!
Nice effort tonight from Rickson who was thinking of the fans besides the fight itself.
Royce had some absorbing moments and he contributed to the enjoyment of the people here at The O2 Arena (London, UK).
Tomorrow we will see thousands of threads on the internet about this being one of the best fights ever!
Have 9 points in celebration of this monumental achievement!