PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Westling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricky Westling struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.8lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Ricky Westling is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gracie
vs
Westling

188 cm
24
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roger Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Westling!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Westling counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Westling in side control lands a decent elbow.
Westling misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Westling throws an elbow but Gracie slips to the side and avoids it well.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Westling scores with a couple of short elbows.
Westling in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Westling misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Westling working the ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Westling creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gracie sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Westling misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Westling cracks Gracie with a big right hand but Gracie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Gracie is not content to let Westling control the position.
Westling throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Westling is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Westling lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Westling creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Westling working the head with strikes.
Westling in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Westling's best efforts.
Westling not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Westling scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Westling looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Westling pulls his head out easily.
Westling trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.
Westling working Gracie over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Westling is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Westling looks gassed!
Westling looks to land a strike but Gracie avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Westling 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.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Westling must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Westling is aware though and is defending well.
Westling in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Westling chips away with some ground and pound.
Westling working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Westling loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Westling thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Westling is aware though and is defending well.
Westling lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Westling's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Westling cracks Gracie with a solid left hand.
Westling with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Westling is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Westling lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Westling dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Westling closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie taking punishment in the form of punches.
Westling works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Gracie is not content to let Westling control the position.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Westling's best efforts.
Westling throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Westling is breathing heavily.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Westling working some strikes from top position.
Gracie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Westling throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Westling with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Westling trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Westling can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Westling is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Westling defends well.
Westling is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Westling connects with a couple of short punches.
Westling missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Westling lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Westling lands a couple of digs.

Westling throws a sloppy strike and Gracie has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Westling is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Roger Gracie!