PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jari Koivusalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manny Gracie is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Koivusalo
vs
Gracie

178 cm
24
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
165 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jari Koivusalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivusalo just misses with a punch to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Koivusalo.
Koivusalo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koivusalo stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koivusalo sprawls well. Koivusalo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Koivusalo throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivusalo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Koivusalo as he avoids it easily.
Jari Koivusalo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Gracie.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Koivusalo is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.
Koivusalo is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie punching from mount but Koivusalo doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Koivusalo is looking to get to half guard.

Gracie is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Koivusalo to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Koivusalo shrugs it off.
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
BOOM! Gracie connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Koivusalo is trying to escape the mount.
Koivusalo is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
Gracie looking to ground and pound but Koivusalo is blocking nicely.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Koivusalo is squirming around nicely.
Koivusalo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Koivusalo is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.
Gracie looks gassed!
Gracie throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
You get the feeling that Koivusalo really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Koivusalo working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Koivusalo is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.
Gracie trying to control but Koivusalo is having none of it.
Koivusalo is wriggling around trying to escape.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Koivusalo is in no mood to give up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koivusalo wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Gracie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Koivusalo throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Koivusalo tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Koivusalo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jari Koivusalo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Koivusalo. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Koivusalo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Koivusalo wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jari Koivusalo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Gracie.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Koivusalo is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
Koivusalo is looking to get back to full guard here but Gracie has managed to pass to side control instead.

Gracie has control of Koivusalo's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Koivusalo regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Koivusalo manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Koivusalo is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Koivusalo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Koivusalo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Koivusalo wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for submissions but instead, Koivusalo has regained full guard.
Koivusalo is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Koivusalo dives on top into guard.
Koivusalo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Koivusalo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gracie struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Koivusalo easily slips into full mount!
Koivusalo avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
Gracie throwing hammer fists to the chest of Koivusalo. What's that going to do exactly?
Koivusalo prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Gracie tries to hold on but Koivusalo postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jari Koivusalo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gracie avoids the head kick by Koivusalo.
Gracie blocks a leg kick.
Koivusalo tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koivusalo is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivusalo throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
Koivusalo slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Koivusalo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Koivusalo shows good takedown defense.
Jari Koivusalo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Gracie.
Koivusalo doesn't succeed with the takedown

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivusalo wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie stands up over Koivusalo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Koivusalo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Koivusalo manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Koivusalo's guard.
Koivusalo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gracie prevents Koivusalo from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gracie scores with punches from side control.
Koivusalo wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie working the strikes but Koivusalo uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie stalling away here and it's allowed Koivusalo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Koivusalo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Koivusalo wriggles free and stands up.
Koivusalo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Koivusalo counters with a thumping low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

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