PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Celso Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uematsu Nomura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Jiu Jitsu - Apaga mas não bate blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Nomura

193 cm
23
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Celso 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, Uematsu Nomura!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nomura.
Gracie looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Nomura counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gracie!

Nomura moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Gracie has worked his arm free - good work by Gracie!

Nomura tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.

Nomura is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.

Nomura tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Nomura keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nomura tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

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

Nomura goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gracie rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Nomura's guard! Nice work there by Gracie!
Gracie passes Nomura's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nomura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gracie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nomura wants to sweep but Gracie has passed to side control!

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nomura is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nomura manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Nomura decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gracie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nomura tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Nomura can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nomura manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nomura doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Nomura moves into full guard.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Nomura isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Gracie stacks Nomura on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Gracie!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nomura is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uematsu Nomura dominated that round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nomura has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Nomura didn't expect that.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nomura manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Nomura in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Nomura 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie working for a triangle but Nomura defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nomura stands up and waves to Gracie to follow him.

Nomura closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gracie did well to prevent Nomura getting side control.

Nomura is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nomura seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nomura is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Nomura is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nomura seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Gracie has recovered full guard.

Nomura has gone for a leg lock! Gracie slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nomura's guard.

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.
Nomura manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nomura goes for an armbar but Gracie turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gracie.
Nomura wants to sweep but no luck.

Nomura looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into side control.
A control attempt from Nomura but he's now mounted!
Nomura is desperately trying to get back to 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 Celso Gracie will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nomura counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.

Nomura looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Nomura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nomura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Nomura is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nomura moves into full guard.
Uematsu Nomura has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie stands and throws Nomura's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nomura tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Gracie in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Nomura is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Celso Gracie!