PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kari Peippo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hoger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peippo comes into the arena with Public Enemy - Terminator X to the Edge of Panic blaring out of the sound system. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Peippo
vs
Gracie

175 cm
23
172 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Peippo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hoger Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Peippo misses
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Peippo misses with a body punch
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Peippo throws an off balance right hand
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gracie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Peippo throws a right hand that misses

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Peippo's guard.

Peippo 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.

Peippo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Peippo is keeping the position.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Peippo dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peippo looking to pass the guard.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Peippo controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peippo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Peippo drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Peippo off! Peippo jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Peippo passes into half guard.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Peippo won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Peippo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Peippo passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Gracie working for a triangle but Peippo defends it easily.
Peippo wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Peippo manages to get himself to full guard.
Peippo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.

Peippo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Peippo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Peippo manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Peippo's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Peippo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Peippo is retaining full guard.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Peippo is adopting a defensive guard.

Peippo 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.

Peippo 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.
Peippo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Peippo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Peippo keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Peippo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Peippo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Peippo!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Peippo keeps moving and retains side control.
Peippo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Peippo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Peippo is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Peippo winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
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 Kari Peippo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Peippo throws an off balance right hand

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Peippo fights it but they end up in guard.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Peippo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Peippo's legs - danger averted.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie pushes down on Peippo's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Peippo is defending well.
Peippo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Peippo trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Peippo tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Peippo defending well.
Peippo gets back to full guard.

Peippo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gracie has gone for a leg lock! Peippo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.
Peippo throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Peippo connects with a couple of short punches.
Peippo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Peippo landing some decent shots from guard.
Peippo looking to pass the guard.
Peippo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Peippo defends easily.
Peippo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peippo is pushing down on Gracie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gracie is fighting to maintain full guard but Peippo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hoger Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Peippo wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Peippo moves into full guard.

Peippo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Peippo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Peippo makes his way to full guard, as Gracie worked for a kimura.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Peippo dives on top into guard.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Peippo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Peippo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Peippo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Peippo's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Peippo is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Peippo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Peippo in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hoger Gracie 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!

Peippo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kari Peippo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Peippo misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peippo falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Peippo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Peippo has escaped and now he's on top!
Peippo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Peippo working some strikes from top position.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Peippo tries to pass.
Peippo passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Peippo is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Peippo is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Peippo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Peippo tries to pass.
Gracie wants to hit a switch here but Peippo passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gracie there!
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
Peippo lands with some strikes.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Peippo lands a nice shot to the head.
Peippo trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Peippo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.

Gracie has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Peippo doesn't defend quickly enough and Gracie has managed to lock this one up! Can Peippo escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Gracie on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Hoger Gracie!