PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Kova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to we'll be alright - Travie McCoy. Kova has chosen Jääkärimarssi as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Kova

175 cm
22
155 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

180 cm
21
169 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ralph Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Seppo Kova!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kova misses with a wild body shot.

Gracie gets a takedown 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.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Kova has hold of Gracie's hands but Gracie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kova wants to get back to full guard.

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

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kova wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kova is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Gracie is staying active.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kova is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kova defends it well.
Kova keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Kova is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kova avoid being mounted?

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kova is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Kova slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kova seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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 wants to pass the guard but Kova is keeping the position.
Kova pulls Gracie in close to his closed guard and prevents Gracie from doing any damage or advancing position.
Let's hope that Kova has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Seppo Kova.
Kova is looking to slow Gracie down with leg kicks.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kova.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Kova scores with a shot to the body.
Kova feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
Seppo Kova is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Seppo Kova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Kova, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kova fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
A good leg kick by Kova.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kova throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Kova looks to land a combination. Gracie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kova scores with a body shot.
Kova fails to land with a series of punches.
Kova misses with the combination.
Kova throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Kova misses with a few strikes there.
Kova fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gracie looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kova misses with a double jab.
Kova throws a one two combo.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Gracie is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Kova is trying to escape and Gracie transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Kova is forced to tap! Nice work there by Gracie! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ralph Gracie!