PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renato Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Palle Vitrikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Palle Vitrikainen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Renato Gracie's chin.

Gracie
vs
Vitrikainen

181 cm
27
205 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

182 cm
27
221 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Renato Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Palle Vitrikainen!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vitrikainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Gracie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vitrikainen is trying to defend but Gracie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Vitrikainen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vitrikainen defends it well.

Gracie decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Vitrikainen.
Vitrikainen misses with an uppercut.
Vitrikainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Palle Vitrikainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Vitrikainen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vitrikainen throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vitrikainen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitrikainen throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vitrikainen.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vitrikainen wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Vitrikainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vitrikainen is keeping the position for now.
Vitrikainen wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Vitrikainen is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Vitrikainen blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vitrikainen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vitrikainen has escaped and now he's on top!
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Vitrikainen slips an elbow through the middle.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vitrikainen manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie won't allow Vitrikainen to get back to his feet.

Gracie stands up and waves to Vitrikainen to follow him.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Vitrikainen as Gracie shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Vitrikainen.
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vitrikainen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vitrikainen tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vitrikainen to the ground. Vitrikainen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Vitrikainen.
Vitrikainen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Palle Vitrikainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie defending well as Vitrikainen loads up on a big left hand.
Nice jab there from Vitrikainen.
Vitrikainen misses with an uppercut. Gracie saw that one coming.
Vitrikainen looks gassed!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vitrikainen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Vitrikainen tries to escape but Gracie is in control.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Vitrikainen is defending well.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vitrikainen has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie blocks a jab.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vitrikainen was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into 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.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie gets to his feet. Vitrikainen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vitrikainen but Vitrikainen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vitrikainen tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vitrikainen to the ground. Vitrikainen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vitrikainen.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Vitrikainen which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vitrikainen misses the shot to the body.
Vitrikainen takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Vitrikainen lands a right hook to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Vitrikainen. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vitrikainen lands the left hand.

Vitrikainen cracks Gracie with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Vitrikainen has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Gracie to stand back up!

Gracie is rocked!
Are you kidding me?! Vitrikainen ducked down and unloaded an uppercut from hell that sent Gracie clean off his feet! Someone make me a GIF - that's knockout of the night for sure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Palle Vitrikainen!