PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mateus Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Vesala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Broke & Hungry . Vesala has chosen Bomfunk MC's - Freestyler as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Vesala

179 cm
27
170 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

160 cm
31
140 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

KAISER
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Namunamu Clothing

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Mateus Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Timo Vesala!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie swings for the body but Vesala moves out of range.
Vesala slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And Vesala tries to counter it with a takedown but Gracie pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vesala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gracie swings for the body but Vesala moves out of range.
Gracie misses with a shot to the body
enabling Vesala to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie is looking to chop away at Vesala's legs.
Gracie has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Scotty's Yard in the buildup to the fight.
Gracie connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vesala. Vesala circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mateus Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie pushes Vesala up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vesala prevents a body shot from Gracie.
A right hand to the body from Gracie.
Gracie throws a head punch that misses.
Vesala lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with some punches.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vesala lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
A short right from Vesala.
Gracie trying to stall but Vesala improves his position.
Vesala trying to stall but Gracie improves his position.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Vesala forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Vesala lands a nice uppercut.
Gracie misses with some punches.
Vesala swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie working aggressively here.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vesala's elbow.
Nice body punch from Gracie.
Vesala's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Vesala throws a head punch that misses.
Vesala working aggressively here.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie scores with a shoulder strike.
Vesala throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gracies head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie presses Vesala against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gracie misses with some punches.
Gracie gets through Vesala's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gracie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vesala misses with some punches.
Vesala fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vesala can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Gracie lands a shot to the body.

Gracie manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vesala trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vesala trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Vesala controlling him for the moment.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Vesala from controlling successfully.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Vesala has passed into half guard!

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

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie is looking to get back to full guard here but Vesala has managed to pass to side control instead.

Vesala is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vesala wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.

Vesala wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Vesala trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

Vesala 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 trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mateus Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vesala scores with a body shot.
Gracie getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gracie tries to clinch but Vesala moves out of range.
And Vesala tries to counter it with a takedown but Gracie pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gracie scores with a shot to the body.
Gracie lands with a nice body punch.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Gracie sets himself, and Vesala steps forward looking for the clinch! Gracie avoids it this time.
Vesala uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vesala can do to turn this around?
Gracie misses with an attempted mid kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Vesala does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vesala lands with a straight right. Gracie didn't see that one coming.
Gracie shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Vesala drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gracie defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gracie is looking to wear down Vesala with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Vesala lands a nice hook to Gracie's body. Gracie takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gracie tries to land a body kick
and Vesala counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesala is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gracie slips under a jab from Vesala.
Vesala slips a straight right by Gracie.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie thows a leg kick but Vesala checks it
and Vesala makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gracie throws a leg kick which misses Vesala's front leg but catches the back leg as Vesala tries to avoid it.

Vesala scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Vesala looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vesala trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.
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!
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Timo Vesala has got the better of the ground game so far.

Vesala is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Vesala wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Gracie is working an open guard so Vesala takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Gracie - just one landing.
Gracie misses with the body kick
and Vesala counters with a nice uppercut.
Gracie lands a lovely overhand right.
Gracie takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Vesala has one foot on Gracie's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vesala throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.

Vesala closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gracie's guard.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vesala is aware though and is defending well.

Gracie throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Vesala escapes and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Vesala looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Vesala keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.

Vesala is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Vesala is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Vesala.
Vesala sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Vesala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A clash of legs there as Vesala blocks the low kick.
Vesala tries to counter with a clinch but Gracie shakes him off and moves away.
Vesala scores with a shot to the body.
Vesala moves out of range of the strikes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vesala! But no joy.
Vesala looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Gracie throws a sloppy body shot

and Vesala holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Vesala avoiding damage.
Vesala is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Vesala scores with a shot to the side of Gracie's head.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Vesala. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Gracie can't find room to land a body shot as Vesala controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to work over Vesala's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.
Gracie is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Vesala working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vesala just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vesala's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesala lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Gracie fails to land.
Vesala softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gracie softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Vesala trying to stall but Gracie improves his position.
Vesala working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short uppercut from Vesala.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Vesala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vesala is looking for a takedown.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vesala doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Vesala has him pressed against the cage.

Gracie decides to pull guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vesala defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

Vesala has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Vesala is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracie with a nice head shot there.

Vesala is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vesala is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Vesala wants to get back to his feet.

Vesala looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vesala makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vesala.
Gracie landing some decent shots from guard.

Vesala had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.

Vesala escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie chips away with some ground and pound.

Vesala is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Vesala working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Vesala takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie stands up over Vesala, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Timo Vesala.
I think Vesala has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timo Vesala!
An out of breath Timo Vesala thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
The defeated Mateus Gracie had this to say: 'Oh man will this mean another damn thread...'.