PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aoki Shinya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki Shinya told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Gracie
vs
Shinya

180 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roger Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aoki Shinya!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie is keen to just control but Shinya is a slippery customer.
Shinya is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Shinya is in no mood to give up.
Shinya tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shinya tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Shinya is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shinya wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie tries to control but Shinya wriggling away.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Shinya is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Shinya is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Shinya is squirming around nicely.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Shinya is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shinya is trying desperately to improve position.

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Shinya manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Shinya rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Shinya has Gracie pressed against the cage, preventing Gracie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shinya is trying to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling him.
Shinya is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gracie pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Shinya jumps guard.

Shinya escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Shinya is retaining full guard.

Shinya looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie won't allow Shinya to sweep him here.
Shinya looks gassed!
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shinya swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Shinya keeps moving.
Shinya throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Shinya is retaining full guard.

Shinya is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Shinya keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Shinya is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shinya sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Shinya is having none of it.
Gracie takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shinya slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shinya is aware though and is defending well.
Shinya is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Shinya trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Shinya pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Shinya thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.
Shinya wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie moves into full guard.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Shinya defends easily.
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 Roger Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shinya decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Shinya 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.
Shinya missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Shinya passes into side.
Shinya working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Shinya tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie is not content to let Shinya control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Shinya is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Shinya eventually gives up the hold.

Shinya is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Shinya is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie is pressing down on Shinya's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shinya manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shinya seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Shinya 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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shinya is keeping the position for now.

Shinya is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie trying to control but Shinya is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Shinya keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Shinya bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.
Roger Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gracie has his foot on Shinya's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shinya works his way back into a safe position though.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Shinya is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Shinya's back instead.
Gracie doesn't have the hooks in and Shinya manages to turn into his guard.
Shinya forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinya thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.

Shinya is looking for a kimura but Gracie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shinya to get the leverage.

Shinya seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
Shinya prevents Gracie from improving his position.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

Shinya is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shinya sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

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 passes into half guard.
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 Roger Gracie 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. This is the final round!

Shinya gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Shinya really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shinya is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Gracie prevents Shinya from getting the reversal.

Gracie has control of Shinya's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Shinya regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shinya is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie controlling from mount.
Shinya slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shinya does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shinya wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Shinya has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Shinya is defending well.
Shinya missing with punches from the bottom.
Shinya slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie postures up.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Shinya.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shinya swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Shinya closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie tries to break free but Shinya pushes him back against the cage.

Gracie has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Shinya regains guard immediately.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Shinya is retaining full guard.

Shinya working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.

Shinya 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shinya working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.

Shinya is looking to sinch up a triangle. Gracie throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Shinya's body to avoid the submission. Shinya has instead reached around Gracie's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Shinya arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Aoki Shinya!