PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raymondo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Apanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Gracie
vs
Apanson

186 cm
26
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raymondo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johan Apanson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Apanson slips the punch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gracie enables Apanson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gracie manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Apanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apanson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Apanson stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Apanson wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Johan Apanson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Both fighters circling a little - Apanson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gracie missing with a left hand there. Apanson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.

Apanson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Apanson is in Gracie's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Apanson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Apanson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Apanson has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Apanson tries to pass.
Apanson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gracie wants to control but Apanson postures up.
Apanson working the head with strikes.
Apanson landing a few strikes.
Gracie prevents Apanson from moving into mount.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie is staying active underneath Apanson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Apanson drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie wants to sweep but Apanson has passed to side control!
Apanson cracks Gracie with a big right hand but Gracie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Apanson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Apanson cracks Gracie with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Apanson trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
Gracie is working to avoid the ground and pound but Apanson connects with a decent elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Apanson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Apanson lands some shots froms side control.
Apanson working the head with strikes.
Apanson in side control lands a decent elbow.
The referee asks Apanson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Apanson prefers to stall for the moment though.
Apanson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Apanson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gracie will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apanson lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Apanson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Apanson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Apanson wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.
Apanson trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Apanson is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Apanson in particular looking to stall.
Apanson 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Apanson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Apanson wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Apanson works his way into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Apanson trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Apanson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Apanson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Apanson lands with a thumping leg kick.

Apanson has Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Apanson lands a body shot in the clinch.

Apanson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie throws a right hand that misses

and Apanson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.

Apanson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Apanson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Apanson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Apanson trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apanson advances nicely into full mount.
Apanson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Apanson landing strikes from the mount and Gracie is in trouble!
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Apanson lands a big shot there that rocks Gracie but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Apanson controlling from mount.
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apanson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.

Apanson has hold of Gracie's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gracie manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Apanson lands a big elbow.
Apanson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Apanson landing strikes from the mount and Gracie is in trouble!
Apanson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Apanson wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Apanson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Gracie is rocked!
Apanson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Apanson with shots to the head and body - Gracie looks very uncomfortable down there.
Oh Gracie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apanson postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Gracie in real trouble here! The ref calls for Gracie to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Johan Apanson!