PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Driver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rerbert Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Driver
vs
Gracie

190 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Driver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rerbert Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Driver connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gracie scores with a three punch combo!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Driver.

Driver tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

Driver is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie is pushing Driver's head away, looking to escape. Driver manages to hold on to the position though.

Driver is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gracie throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Gracie is pushing Driver's head away, looking to escape. Driver manages to hold on to the position though.

Driver wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Gracie tries to bench press Driver off him but Driver keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Driver thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Driver keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie looks frustrated here - throwing a couple of shots from the bottom though.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.

Driver thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Driver is breathing heavily.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Gracie pushes Driver away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Driver gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gracie thows a huge punch but Driver dodges it nicely.

Driver actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Driver. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Driver avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Gracie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie works his way into side control.
Driver takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Driver parries the strikes from Gracie easily there. Gracie is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Driver to escape.
Gracie lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gracie connects with a decent elbow.
An elbow from Gracie crashes against the mat.
Driver is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!
Gracie tries to escape but Driver has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Driver is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Gracie is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mike Driver!