PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lalli Jaakonpoika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Born To Win. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Jaakonpoika

175 cm
22
175 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

180 cm
25
184 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent knees
Determined

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryan Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lalli Jaakonpoika!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Jaakonpoika is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Jaakonpoika wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Jaakonpoika defends it.
Jaakonpoika tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Jaakonpoika wants to get back to his feet.
Jaakonpoika is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie lands with a nice body punch.
Jaakonpoika has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jaakonpoika looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie pushes down on Jaakonpoika's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Jaakonpoika's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jaakonpoika is holding on for now.
Jaakonpoika is trying to stand.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Jaakonpoika is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Jaakonpoika is defending well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jaakonpoika is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Jaakonpoika wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jaakonpoika manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jaakonpoika working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Jaakonpoika is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jaakonpoika is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie pushes down on Jaakonpoika's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaakonpoika tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

Jaakonpoika is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Jaakonpoika tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Jaakonpoika gets back to full 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.
Jaakonpoika bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.

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 for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jaakonpoika defends well.

Gracie working for a triangle but Jaakonpoika defends it easily.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Jaakonpoika pushes his legs off easily.
Jaakonpoika scoring with punches to the head and body.

Jaakonpoika stands up from Gracie's guard - Jaakonpoika perhaps looking for a knockout.

Jaakonpoika drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jaakonpoika shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gracie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jaakonpoika scores with a couple of nice shots.

Jaakonpoika seems to be looking for submissions.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jaakonpoika pulls his head out easily.
Gracie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Jaakonpoika tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Jaakonpoika decides to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a wild combination.
Gracie lands a nice shot that snaps Jaakonpoika's head back.
Jaakonpoika defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Ryan Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jaakonpoika misses with a takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.
Jaakonpoika wants to get back to his feet.
Jaakonpoika tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Jaakonpoika is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jaakonpoika gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Jaakonpoika gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jaakonpoika throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gracie escapes and throws Jaakonpoika's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jaakonpoika knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ryan Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jaakonpoika is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Jaakonpoika moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Jaakonpoika has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gracie off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jaakonpoika.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaakonpoika shoots and misses
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Jaakonpoika is defending it quite comfortably.
Jaakonpoika works his way to full guard. Good work.
Jaakonpoika tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.

Jaakonpoika 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaakonpoika wants to hit a switch here but Gracie passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Jaakonpoika there!

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but Jaakonpoika is having none of it.
Jaakonpoika tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Jaakonpoika gets back to half guard.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jaakonpoika doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jaakonpoika is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ryan Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jaakonpoika is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gracie's half guard.
Jaakonpoika not doing much here.
Gracie gets back to full guard.

Jaakonpoika drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Jaakonpoika is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jaakonpoika manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Jaakonpoika's guard.
Jaakonpoika wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Jaakonpoika.
Gracie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jaakonpoika looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Jaakonpoika manages to get to full 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.

That's two 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.

Jaakonpoika working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie trying to control but Jaakonpoika is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jaakonpoika is on top in guard.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Jaakonpoika stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaakonpoika tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Jaakonpoika's guard now.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jaakonpoika wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Jaakonpoika is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jaakonpoika is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Jaakonpoika eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Jaakonpoika is controlling well.
Jaakonpoika is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ryan Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaakonpoika prevents Gracie from improving his position.

Jaakonpoika is working for a submission of some sort.
Jaakonpoika is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Jaakonpoika being controlled here momentarily.
Gracie controls Jaakonpoika momentarily but Jaakonpoika frees himself.

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 Ryan Gracie.
Well Gracie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

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