PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Kimmo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Kimmo will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gracie
vs
Kimmo

180 cm
26
179 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

188 cm
26
180 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Kimmo!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Kimmo lands but Gracie takes it in his stride.

It looks like Royce Gracie has been cut.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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 thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kimmo trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Kimmo is keeping the position.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Kimmo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kimmo manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Kimmo's 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kimmo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kimmo working a defensive guard here.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kimmo is keeping the position for now.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Kimmo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kimmo manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Kimmo's guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Kimmo is keeping the 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.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Kimmo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kimmo manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Kimmo's guard.
Kimmo trying to control the position.

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.

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.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimmo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kimmo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kimmo is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four 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 Kimmo is keeping the position.

Kimmo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gracie off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kimmo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kimmo wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kimmo pinned against the cage. Kimmo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kimmo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kimmo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Royce Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kimmo thuds his shin into the meat of Gracie's side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Kimmo.
Kimmo tests Gracie's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kimmo throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kimmo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Royce Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kimmo wants to try and get back to his feet.
Kimmo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kimmo wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.

Gracie goes for an armbar but Kimmo turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kimmo.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kimmo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kimmo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kimmo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimmo wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kimmo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kimmo wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Kimmo slips an elbow through the middle.
Kimmo controlling from the top position.
Kimmo is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kimmo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gracie has his foot on Kimmo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kimmo works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kimmo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Kimmo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kimmo is one step ahead there.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie wants to improve his position but instead Kimmo has moved into half guard.
Kimmo slows the pace down in half guard.
Kimmo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Kimmo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Royce Gracie's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kimmo circles away.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Kimmo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kimmo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Michael Kimmo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Kimmo does no damage.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kimmo circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kimmo looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Kimmo throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Kimmo cracks Gracie with a right hand to the side of the head.

Oooooh!!! Kimmo has knocked Gracie down with a huge combo! Kimmo steps away and waves a wobbly Gracie back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Michael Kimmo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kimmo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kimmo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kimmo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kimmo scores with a nice body kick.
Kimmo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimmo connects with an inside leg kick.
Kimmo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kimmo scores with a jab to the head.
Gracie takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kimmo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kimmo wants it to stay on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Kimmo. Those never looked like landing.

Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gracie is pushing down on Kimmo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kimmo is fighting to maintain full guard but Gracie has managed to sneak the leg through.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Kimmo is defending well.

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 is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Kimmo is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kimmo is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Kimmo is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kimmo avoid being mounted?
Kimmo tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Kimmo tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kimmo has managed to free his arm - good work.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Kimmo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Kimmo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Kimmo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kimmo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Kimmo!