PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antero Vipunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vipunen
vs
Gracie

182 cm
23
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Fighters Formula

Demonic Clothing
MMA's Best Nutrition

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antero Vipunen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aaron Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vipunen pinned against the cage. Vipunen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vipunen swinging wilding here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vipunen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Antero Vipunen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vipunen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ground and pound from Vipunen.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie tries to roll over but Vipunen keeps him under control.
Vipunen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vipunen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Vipunen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen 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.
Vipunen working the head and body with strikes.
Vipunen working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Vipunen pulls his head out easily.
Vipunen drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.

Vipunen is working for a submission of some sort.
Vipunen working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
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.
Vipunen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vipunen slips nicely into half guard.
Vipunen trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vipunen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Vipunen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Vipunen is working for a submission of some sort.
Vipunen is breathing heavily.

Vipunen wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Vipunen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Vipunen gets to his feet. Gracie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Vipunen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gracie's guard now.
Vipunen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Vipunen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Vipunen 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 Vipunen's back instead.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie looking for the RNC.
Vipunen turns into Gracie and is now in his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gracie pushes a forearm under Vipunen's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Vipunen is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Aaron Gracie!