PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flako Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Pull Me Under - Dream Theater kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Bruce Li has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Li
vs
Gracie

198 cm
26
264 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

195 cm
35
265 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruce Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Flako Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li moves out of range as Gracie strikes.
Gracie uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Li lands with an uppercut that bounces Gracie off the cage and back into range.

It looks like Flako Gracie has been cut.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Li avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Li looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gracie pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Li tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Li lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Li throws a head kick that misses.
Li throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Good leg kick by Li there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Li clinches up against the cage.
Li lands with a light punch inside.
Li blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Li has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A solid leg kick lands there for Li.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Li steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Li bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Li defending well as Gracie loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
A low kick from Gracie is predictable there
and Li counters with a leg kick.
Gracie lands a head kick!
Li misses with a low kick as Gracie jumps back.
Li misses with a low kick.
Li tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gracie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good work by Gracie as he checks the leg kick.
Li throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Li throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Li misses with a head kick.
Gracie misses with a body punch
and Li counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Gracie is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Gracie takes a swing at Li's ribcage but misses.
Li tries a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie throws out a leg kick but Li moves out of range and Gracie only half commits.
Li avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Li throws a chopping leg kick but Gracie manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Li rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Li is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Li is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Li's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a body punch.
Gracie scores with a shot to the side of Li's head.

Li manages to break the clinch.
Bruce Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Li pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Li avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Li motions for Gracie to come forward. Li throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Li throws a front kick aimed at Gracie's knee but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Li manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gracie.
Li with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Li moves out of range of the body kick from Gracie.
Li thumps Gracie with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li avoids a punch combination nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Li.

Li lands a big head kick that sends Gracie tumbling to the mat! Li takes a step backwards and waves Gracie back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Li throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Li throws out the jab.
Li misses with a left hand
enabling Gracie to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Li. That one must have hurt.
Li throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gracie looks winded!
Gracie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Li keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li blocks a jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Li.

Li lands a big head kick that sends Gracie tumbling to the mat! Li takes a step backwards and waves Gracie back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Gracie is rocked!
Li takes a body punch but keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Li dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Flako Gracie's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Li throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Li wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
A jab from Gracie does it's job there.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie throws a front kick aimed at Li's knee but Li avoids it well.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Li sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Li slips under a jab from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.

Gracie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Li on his heels. He'll look to pass Li's guard now, I'm sure.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Li is adopting a defensive guard.
Li is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li pushes Gracie off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A big left from Gracie misses.
Li takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gracie defending well as Li loads up on a big left hand.
Li throws a head kick that misses.
Li throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
Bruce Li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie throws a hook but Li avoids it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Li blocks the leg kick.
Li tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Li.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.
Li dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gracie. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li misses with the combination.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Li moves away and avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some bone on bone action there as Gracie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gracie lands a nice hook to Li's body. Li takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gracie lands an overhand right.

It looks like Bruce Li has been cut.
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Li will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Li is looking to land body kicks.
Gracie digs a good body shot into Li's ribs.
A lazy body kick from Li
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Li slips under a jab from Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gracie. That did some damage!
Li throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gracie checks a leg kick.
Li avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Gracie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on Li's shoulder, as Li tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
Li throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Li scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Li scores with a push kick.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
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!
Li cracks the inside of Gracie's front leg.

Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Li lands a knee to the body.
Li with a knee to the head.
Gracie being controlled against the cage.
Li wants to stall.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Bruce Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Flako Gracie.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li blocks a jab.
Li cracks the inside of Gracie's front leg.
Li lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie's sensitive parts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Li dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Li connects with a solid leg kick.
Li fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gracie checks it well.

Gracie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Li is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Li decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Li rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie misses with a body punch.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Li misses with a knee strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gracie checks a leg kick.
Gracie lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bruce Li is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice inside leg kick there by Li. That's going to slow Gracie down.
Li will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Li connects with an inside leg kick.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Li throws a nice outside leg kick.
Li throws a leg kick that misses.
Gracie connects with a single shot there.
Gracie thuds his right hand into Li's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Li throws a low kick but Gracie moves out of range easily.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Li lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a leg kick
and Li counters with a nice kick to the body.
Li goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Li. Li obviously looking to wear him down.
Li looks for the body kick but Gracie saw that one coming.
Li throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Li wants to clinch
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Li defends it nicely.
Gracie throws a hook but Li blocks it.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Li misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gracie is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws out a leg kick but Li moves out of range and Gracie only half commits.
Gracie's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Li swinging wildly here.
Li throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie throws a lazy right hand but Li sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie throws a low kick but Li avoids it.
Li swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gracie lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Flako Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Li throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Li moves away.
Li throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.

Li gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Li pushes Gracie off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Li throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Bruce Li is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Li circles away and keeps his distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Li does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Li can pounce on him.
Gracie swings for the body but Li moves out of range.
Li looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gracie tries to land a leg kick but Li saw it coming and moves away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick
and Li counters with a flying knee. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Li showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Li, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Li!
Our winner, Bruce Li, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.