PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralf Laakkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the ring it seems that Aaron Gracie has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Aaron Gracie seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Gracie
vs
Laakkonen

185 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown 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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aaron Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ralf Laakkonen!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laakkonen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Laakkonen persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.
Laakkonen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Laakkonen throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.

Laakkonen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Laakkonen prevents Gracie from improving his position.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Laakkonen pulls his head out easily.
Laakkonen controlling the pace.
Laakkonen is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie is staying active underneath Laakkonen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Laakkonen controlling him for the moment.

Gracie working for a triangle but Laakkonen defends it easily.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laakkonen trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Laakkonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Laakkonen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Laakkonen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Laakkonen landing some decent shots from guard.
Laakkonen slips nicely into half guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Laakkonen trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Laakkonen pulls his head out easily.
Laakkonen working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Laakkonen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Laakkonen not doing much here.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Gracie moves into range and clinches up with Laakkonen.
Gracie stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is pressed up against the ropes. Laakkonen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gracie down to the mat. Gracie avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aaron Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralf Laakkonen.
Laakkonen closes the distance and clinches up with Gracie, looking for a takedown. Laakkonen pushes Gracie against the ropes but Gracie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Gracie has Laakkonen up against the ropes in a clinch.
Gracie prevents the takedown attempt.

Gracie ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gracie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Laakkonen wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Laakkonen looking to pass the guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Laakkonen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Laakkonen's back instead.

Gracie has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Laakkonen has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Gracie is persistently looking for the submission but Laakkonen is defending it well.

Laakkonen is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laakkonen looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Laakkonen breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Laakkonen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Laakkonen passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gracie is in trouble now - Laakkonen has advanced to mount!
Laakkonen lands with some strikes.
Laakkonen with good strikes from the mount here!

Laakkonen has control of Gracie's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gracie regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Laakkonen has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ralf Laakkonen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Laakkonen shoots in and bounces Gracie off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

Laakkonen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Laakkonen pushes his legs off easily.

Laakkonen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Laakkonen passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Laakkonen is breathing heavily.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie working for a choke but Laakkonen is defending well.

Gracie looking for the RNC.
Laakkonen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Gracie is working for a guillotine from mount but Laakkonen frees his head quite easily.
Laakkonen has given up his back. Will we see Gracie going for some submissions?

Gracie working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Gracie has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Laakkonen! Can he survive? No! He's out! Gracie gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Aaron Gracie!