PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ismo Laitela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's entrance music is Deadmau5 - Some Chords. A fine choice. Laitela has chosen Anna Hanski - Tunteisiin as his entrance music. Julio Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Laitela

184 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

182 cm
26
192 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julio Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ismo Laitela!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie takes a swing at Laitela's ribcage but misses.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Laitela ducks down to avoid it.
Laitela wants to clinch.
Laitela steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Laitela tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Laitela clinches up against the cage.
Laitela lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.

It looks like Julio Gracie has been cut.
Laitela misses with a knee to the head.
Laitela with a knee to the head.
Laitela scores with a nice hook to the head.
Laitela with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laitela with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Laitela gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Laitela landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Laitela tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie is trying to drag Laitela to the mat but Laitela just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Laitela shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laitela unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gracie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Laitela obliges.
Laitela connects with a knee to the head.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gracie is working for takedown but Laitela is calmly controlling the position for now.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Laitela looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Laitela lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitela with a knee to the head.
Laitela scores with a knee to the head.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Laitela lands a damaging elbow.

Julio Gracie's cut is getting worse.
Laitela lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
Laitela gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie is trying to drag Laitela to the mat but Laitela just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Laitela tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Laitela pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laitela tries to clinch up.
Laitela tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gracie throws a hook to the side of Laitela's head but Laitela sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Laitela clinches.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Laitela pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Laitela tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Laitela with a knee to the head.
Gracie looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitela lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Laitela scores with a knee to the head.
Laitela lands a shoulder strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Laitela obliges.
Laitela tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Laitela lands a good knee to the midsection. Gracie won't want to take too many of those.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Laitela manages to get underhooks.
Laitela gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Laitela lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Still in the clinch, Laitela scores with a nice short uppercut.
Laitela connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Laitela gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Laitela scores with a hook to the body.
Gracie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Laitela pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Laitela's waist but Laitela gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Laitela wants to clinch.
Laitela takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laitela looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Laitela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Laitela keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.
Laitela tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Laitela with a poor takedown
and Gracie counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gracie.
Gracie's corner calls for a 1-2. Gracie obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Laitela on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Laitela takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Laitela avoids them all with ease.
Gracie moves into range and connects with a jab.
Laitela darts in trying to clinch
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitela staying out of range there.
Laitela wants to clinch
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laitela avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie throws a hook but Laitela blocks it.
Laitela defending well as Gracie loads up on a big left hand.
Laitela tries to clinch
and Gracie counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laitela drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gracie misses the jab.
Laitela tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gracie counters with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laitela keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.
Gracie connects with the punch.
Laitela closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Julio Gracie will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Julio Gracie's cut.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Laitela takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laitela.
Gracie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Laitela gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gracieis looking to pass into half guard but Laitela pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Laitela is in guard.
Laitela is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Laitela can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Laitela gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Laitela must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Laitela controls the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laitela decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
Laitela looks to clinch
and Gracie counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Laitela thinking.
Laitela slips under a jab.
Laitela wants to clinch.
Ismo Laitela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laitela fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laitela wants to clinch but Gracie slips to the side
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laitela tries to clinch but Gracie moves away

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Laitela's guard.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Laitela sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Laitela got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Laitela has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laitela gets to his feet. Gracie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Laitela fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.
Laitela putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Laitela avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Laitela lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laitela landing knees to the head.
Knees to the body from Laitela.
Laitela lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Knees to the body from Laitela.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Laitela gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Laitela pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Laitela lands a damaging elbow.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Laitela shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Laitela with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Laitela prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitela landing knees to the head.
Laitela pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Laitela gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Laitela prevents it.
Laitela lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Laitela stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Laitela throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Laitela pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Laitela stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Laitela avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gracie takes an elbow to the temple.
Laitela tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Laitela is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Laitela down to the mat. Laitela avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Laitela clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Ismo Laitela seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Laitela tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Laitela stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Laitela lands a knee to the head.
Laitela throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gracies head.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Laitela with a knee to the head.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Laitela throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Gracie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Laitela connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has Laitela pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Laitela manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Laitela fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Laitela darts in trying to clinch
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Laitela gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gracie has Laitela pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Laitela manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Laitela misses with a knee strike.
Gracie has Laitela pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Laitela manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Laitela with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Laitela gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.

Laitela escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laitela uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Julio Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Laitela pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Laitela manages to get underhooks.
Laitela tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Laitela with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laitela gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Laitela fights it off and pushes away nicely.
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 Julio Gracie will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Julio Gracie's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie throws a jab but it's blocked by Laitela.
Laitela fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laitela tries to clinch but Gracie moves away
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laitela tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Laitela fights it but they end up in guard.
Laitela wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Laitela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Laitela is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Laitela has escaped and now he's on top!
Laitela is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie pulls Laitela in to control the position.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Laitela from controlling successfully.

Laitela gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Laitela is not content to let Gracie control the position.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Laitela prevents Gracie from improving position.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Laitela knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Laitela pushes Gracie away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gracie gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has knee on belly momentarily but Laitela bucks him off and regains half guard.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Laitela sees it coming and defends easily.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Laitela is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Julio Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Laitela fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Laitela uses good head movement to avoid it.
Laitela tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Julio Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on Laitela's shoulder, as Laitela tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Laitela tries to clinch up.
Ismo Laitela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Laitela scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gracie trying to hold on to Laitela's head to control him but Laitela postures up.
Laitela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie trying to control but Laitela postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

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