PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kron Gracie (ranked 712 p4p, 1594 weight class) and Takeshi Takamura (ranked 95 p4p, 199 weight class). Takamura comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Inner Light - Shocking Lemon kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gracie
vs
Takamura

174 cm
23
152
6 - 3 - 0

173 cm
23
155
3 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
Brooklyn Apothecary

Savage Fightwear
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kron Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Takamura!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takamura lands a really nice looking cross but Gracie seems unphased.
Takamura throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Takamura is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Takamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takamura is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Takamura wriggles free and stands up.
Takamura fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Takamura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Takamura throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
Takamura just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takamura as he avoids it easily.
Takamura tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Takamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takamura lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gracie will feel that in the morning.
Gracie takes a swing at Takamura's ribcage but misses.
Takamura swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Takamura rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Takamura didn't expect that.
Takamura wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Takamura keeps moving.
Gracie is really struggling to control Takamura but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takamura wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takamura is keeping the position for now.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie prevents Takamura from standing back up.

Takamura has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Gracie is on him like a limpet, forcing Takamura back against the cage.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Takamura.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie blocking some punches.
Takamura misses with an elbow strike.
Takamura misses with an elbow over the top.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracie takes a shot to the head.
Takamura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takamura lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Takamura forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kron Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Takamura has him pressed against the cage.
Takamura scores with a shoulder strike.
Takamura swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gracie takes a shot to the head.
Takamura lands an elbow inside.
Takamura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Takamura won't allow it.
Takamura lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Takamura lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Takamura on the inside.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takamura looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Gracie has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Takamura uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Takamura gets to his feet - Gracie follows without any prompting.
Takamura with a hook.
A good leg kick by Takamura.
Takamura throws a predictable looking body shot

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Takamura's guard.
Takamura wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Takamura keeps moving.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie prevents Takamura from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Takamura dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Takamura connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie. Gracie circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Takamura misses with a leg kick

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Takamura won't be happy with that.
Takamura is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Takamura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Takamura is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Takamura pushes Gracie away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gracie gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gracie passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Takamura!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takamura tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie takes his back!

Gracie is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Gracie tries to keep control of the position but Takamura is staying busy.
Gracie seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Takamura is trying to get back to his feet but Gracie has full control of the position and if anything, Takamura has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Takamura has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Takamura is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Takamura trying to get back to his feet but Gracie is in full control for now.
Gracie trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Takamura doesn't escape.
Takamura trying to get back to his feet but Gracie is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to keep control of the position but Takamura is staying busy.
Takamura is trying to get back to his feet but Gracie has full control of the position and if anything, Takamura has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Gracie working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Takamura is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Gracie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Takamura waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Gracie changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Takamura scores with a sloppy right hand. Gracie should have avoided that one.
Takamura misses with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice straight punches there by Takamura. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Takamura.
Takamura throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Takamura is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Takamura is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Takamura is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gracie asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Takamura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takamura is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Takamura is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takamura wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Takamura is trying to stand and escape here. He's got onto all fours but that's just let Gracie take his back! Uh oh - Gracie has got a rear naked choke here! Takamura is forced to tap! It's all over! One monent is all it takes in this sport!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kron Gracie!
Post fight, Kron Gracie stared into the camera and said 'I'll give a choke to anyone on the roster who wants it!!!'.