PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raul Gracie (ranked 158 p4p, 26 weight class) and Verneri Ahma (ranked 787 p4p, 99 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Jiu Jitsu-Apaga Mas Não Bate. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Ahma

175 cm
27
165 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
160 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
KAISER

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Raul Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Verneri Ahma!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahma tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.
Ahma loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gracie.
Ahma looks to throw a body kick

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie pushes down on Ahma's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Ahma is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gracie takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahma is trying to get back to full guard.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ahma sees it coming and defends easily.
Gracie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ahma makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Gracie moves away from the strike by Ahma.
Ahma goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gracie attempts a counter takedown but Ahma avoids it well and moves away.
Gracie moves out of range as Ahma strikes.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ahma's waist but Ahma gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Ahma tries a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie tries to counter with a takedown but Ahma is quick to defend against it.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Ahma manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Verneri Ahma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ahma throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahma throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ahma misses with a hook.
Gracie tries to counter with a takedown but Ahma is quick to defend against it.
Gracie defending well as Ahma loads up on a big left hand.
Ahma misses the shot to the body.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big right from Ahma misses.
Gracie changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gracie keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ahma takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahma throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ahma.
Ahma lands a high kick!
Ahma scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Ahma throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Gracie seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Ahma takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Gracie moves into range and clinches up with Ahma.
Ahma has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ahma just stands there and leans against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Ahma.
A shot in the inside from Ahma.

Ahma breaks the clinch.
Gracie on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ahma connects with a nice looking jab.
Ahma misses with a head kick.
Gracie feinted with a counter takedown.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Ahma.
Ahma throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Ahma tries to get set, Gracie tries to push him back and clinch up but Ahma manages to avoid the attempt.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Ahma moved away.
Ahma scores with a shot to the body.
Gracie shoots in but Ahma avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Verneri Ahma dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ahma lands with a nice body punch.
Ahma throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Ahma throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Ahma circles away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ahma.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie blocks a jab.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ahma defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahma wants to get back to his feet.
Ahma is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ahma is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Gracie jumps into side control!
Ahma has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ahma is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Gracie! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Ahma has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Raul Gracie!
Our winner, Raul Gracie, 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.