PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alessio Maximus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maximus comes to the cage accompanied by Oh Fortuna - Carl Orff. Mauricio Gracie will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Maximus
vs
Gracie

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
19
221 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

MMA's Best Nutrition The PIT INC
Takomo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alessio Maximus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mauricio Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries to clinch but Maximus is having none of it.
Maximus scoring well with a low kick there.
Maximus misses with a few strikes there.

Gracie has managed to clinch.

Gracie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maximus throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Maximus against the cage.

Gracie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gracie closes the distance and pushes Maximus back into the cage.

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
An inside leg kick lands from Maximus.
Maximus throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Maximus lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.

Gracie has closed the distance and engaged Maximus in a clinch.

Gracie breaks the clinch.
Gracie lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maximus circles away quickly and effectively.
Maximus throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters circling a little - Gracie finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie scores with a spinning back kick!
Maximus is breathing heavily.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Maximus pushes him off.
Gracie is looking to clinch but Maximus is avoiding it.
An inside leg kick lands from Gracie.
Good shot there by Gracie.

It looks like Alessio Maximus has been cut.
Gracie wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Maximus.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Maximus circles away.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Maximus keeps it at a distance.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Maximus circles away.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Maximus.
Maximus circles away from the clinch attempt.

Gracie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gracie keeps control of Maximus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maximus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gracie scores with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gracie.
Gracie lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie throws a push kick but Maximus slaps the foot to one side.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gracie.
Maximus circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Gracie moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maximus takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gracie throws an elbow but misses.
Gracie's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gracie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maximus.
Maximus takes an elbow to the forehead.
Maximus managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Maximus wants to break free but Gracie has control.
Gracie keeps control of Maximus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maximus wants to get back to striking at distance but Gracie won't allow it.
Gracie misses with an elbow strike.
Gracie misses with a knee strike.

Gracie breaks from the clinch.
Maximus fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maximus throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gracie moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gracie throws an elbow but misses.
Gracie unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maximus lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gracie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Alessio Maximus's cut is getting worse.

Gracie manages to break the clinch.

Gracie rushes Maximus and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maximus lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Maximus on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maximus avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Gracie throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Maximus avoids the damage to the body.
Maximus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gracie creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Maximus wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.

Maximus manages to break the clinch.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maximus lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gracie will feel that in the morning.
Alessio Maximus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maximus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Maximus!
Maximus misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maximus moves out of range of the leg kick from Gracie.
Maximus throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Maximus lands a nice looking body kick.
Maximus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maximus throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Maximus scores with a nice body kick.
Maximus cracks Gracie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maximus.
Maximus swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Maximus throws out a powerful jab.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Maximus.
Gracie thumps Maximus with a low kick.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Maximus circles away.
Maximus throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maximus throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Maximus. Gracie shrugs it off though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Gracie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alessio Maximus's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie misses with a double jab.
Maximus lands a with a good body shot.
Maximus swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Maximus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maximus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gracie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maximus can pounce on him.
Maximus misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Maximus.
Maximus uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
Maximus throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Maximus throws a body kick that misses.
Gracie works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Maximus swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Maximus keeps it at a distance.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
No joy there for Maximus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maximus thuds his shin into the meat of Gracie's side.
Maximus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maximus scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Mauricio Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximus misses with a two punch combination.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Maximus circles away and keeps his distance.
Maximus throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Maximus circles away and keeps his distance.
Maximus throws a combination. Gracie tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Maximus misses with a head kick.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maximus.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Maximus.
Maximus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maximus fails to land with a series of punches.
Maximus throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maximus.
Maximus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie connects with a solid leg kick.
Maximus throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
A punch combination from Maximus misses.
Maximus takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gracie connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gracie throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maximus's sensitive parts.

Gracie closes the distance and pushes Maximus back into the cage.
Maximus avoids the elbow strike from Gracie, against the cage.
Maximus takes an elbow to the temple.
Gracie landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gracie crunches a lovely knee into Maximus's ribcage.

Maximus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie blocks a leg kick.

Gracie rushes Maximus and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maximus managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.

Gracie breaks the clinch.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Maximus.
Maximus lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Maximus.
Maximus lands a head kick. Gracie smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Maximus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Maximus circles away.
Gracie tries to clinch but Maximus is having none of it.
A left and a right from Maximus both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Alessio Maximus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Maximus.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Maximus circles away.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maximus scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Maximus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maximus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Maximus throws a leg kick that misses.
Gracie lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Maximus circles away.
Maximus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Maximus.
Maximus thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Gracie if he has to take too many more of those.
Maximus rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from Maximus does no damage.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Maximus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A right-left combo lands from Gracie.
Maximus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Gracie misses.
Maximus misses with a head kick.
Maximus throws a nice outside leg kick.
Maximus cracks the inside of Gracie's front leg.
Maximus misses with a head kick.
Good leg kick by Maximus there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Maximus looks to throw a body kick

and Gracie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Maximus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gracie keeps control of Maximus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maximus wants to break free but Gracie has control.
Gracie misses with an elbow strike.
Gracie prevents Maximus from breaking the clinch.
Maximus tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.
Gracie wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maximus has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maximus is trying to break free.
Maximus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maximus wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Maximus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mauricio Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alessio Maximus's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Maximus.

Gracie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracie has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Maximus.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Maximus misses.
Maximus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie tries to clinch but Maximus is having none of it.
Maximus feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gracie's calf.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Maximus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maximus rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Maximus.
Maximus lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A shot to de liver by Maximus. Beautiful body shot.
Maximus scoring well with a low kick there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Crunch! Maximus slams his shin into Gracie's torso.
Maximus lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximus fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Maximus throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Maximus circles away and keeps his distance.
Maximus scores with a kick to the body.
Maximus lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Maximus throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
Maximus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick by Maximus misses
and Gracie counters with a good, hard body kick but Maximus shrugs it off.
Maximus cracks a nice hook into Gracie's ribs.
Maximus misses with a wild combination.
Maximus swinging wilding here.
Maximus tries a head kick but it misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maximus blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Gracie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maximus can pounce on him.
Maximus misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice body kick there by Maximus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maximus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick by Maximus misses

and Gracie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gracie's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Maximus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maximus tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No joy there for Maximus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maximus swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.

Gracie takes the fight into the clinch.
Maximus wants to get back to striking at distance but Gracie won't allow it.
Maximus is trying to break the clinch but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Maximus avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie is pushing Maximus up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Maximus avoids the damage to the body.
Maximus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Maximus breaks from the clinch.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Maximus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maximus throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Maximus throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Maximus keeps it at a distance.
Maximus moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gracie closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Maximus lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gracie takes a step back to recover.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maximus.
Maximus throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Maximus keeps the fight on the outside.
Maximus pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gracie gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maximus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maximus tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.

Maximus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maximus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some bone on bone action there as Maximus checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maximus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maximus throws a shot to the body.
Maximus misses with a two punch combination.
Maximus stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gracie.
Maximus throws a leg kick that misses.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Maximus circles away.
Maximus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maximus throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.

Gracie has managed to clinch.

Gracie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Maximus.
Mauricio Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maximus takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maximus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gracie tries to clinch but Maximus is having none of it.
Maximus throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Alessio Maximus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maximus walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gracie tries to clinch but Maximus is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alessio Maximus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gracie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Gracie!