PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuki Noshikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aaron Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Noshikawa

185 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
193 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aaron Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuki Noshikawa!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Noshikawa.
Gracie looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Noshikawa blocks a jab.
Noshikawa throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
No joy there for Noshikawa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Noshikawa tests Gracie's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Noshikawa.
Noshikawa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Noshikawa circles away.
Noshikawa tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Noshikawa tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Noshikawa to the ground. Noshikawa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Noshikawa.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Noshikawa.
Noshikawa lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Aaron Gracie has been cut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Noshikawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Noshikawa.
Gracie is looking to clinch.

Gracie clinches up with Noshikawa and pushes him back against the ropes.
Noshikawa has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.
A short right from Noshikawa on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Noshikawa looking to stall.
A head punch on the inside from Noshikawa fails to land.
Noshikawa stalling in the clinch but Gracie improves position.
Noshikawa has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.
A head punch on the inside from Noshikawa fails to land.
Gracie blocks an elbow strike.
Noshikawa stalling against the ropes.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Noshikawa should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Noshikawa stalling in the clinch.
Noshikawa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Noshikawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from Gracie.
Noshikawa lands with a left to the head.
Noshikawa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Noshikawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Noshikawa working aggressively here.
Noshikawa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie blocking some punches.
Noshikawa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.
Noshikawa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.
Noshikawa misses with a hook from the clinch.

Gracie works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Noshikawa is controlling Gracie's posture.
Noshikawa looking to control.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Noshikawa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Noshikawa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Noshikawa!
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Noshikawa keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Noshikawa is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Noshikawa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Noshikawa controlling the position easily from mount.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Noshikawa prevents Gracie from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Noshikawa works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
Noshikawa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Noshikawa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Noshikawa raining down shots from the mount!
Noshikawa lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Noshikawa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Gracie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Noshikawa as he avoids it easily.
Noshikawa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Noshikawa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gracie shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Noshikawa misses with the combination.
Noshikawa misses with a double jab.
Noshikawa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Noshikawa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noshikawa tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Noshikawa throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Noshikawa blocks the move with his legs.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Noshikawa is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noshikawa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Noshikawa defends the submission attempt.
Noshikawa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

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.
Gracie is pressing down on Noshikawa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Noshikawa is holding on for now.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Noshikawa keeping control of the position.

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

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Noshikawa is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Noshikawa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Noshikawa won't allow it.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Noshikawa trying to control from the bottom.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Noshikawa lands a nice shot that snaps Gracie's head back.
Noshikawa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Noshikawa throws a right and a left that both miss.

Gracie shoots in and bounces Noshikawa off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Gracie advances position into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Noshikawa is defending well.
Noshikawa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Gracie dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A combination from Noshikawa does no damage.
Noshikawa clinches but Gracie breaks the clinch

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Noshikawa just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Noshikawa throws a head punch that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Noshikawa.
Noshikawa trying to stall but Gracie improves his position.
Noshikawa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Noshikawa prevents a body shot from Gracie.
Noshikawa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Noshikawa won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Noshikawa gets through Gracie's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gracie looking to slow down the pace here.
Noshikawa lands an uppercut.
Noshikawa gets through Gracie's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noshikawa wants to stall.
Noshikawa is working Gracie over against the ropes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Noshikawa misses with the head strike.
Noshikawa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie is trying to stall.
Noshikawa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Noshikawa swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Noshikawa gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the ropes.
Noshikawa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Noshikawa tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Noshikawa stalling in the clinch but Gracie improves position.
Noshikawa is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Gracie has denied him.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Noshikawa.
Noshikawa lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Noshikawa throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Noshikawa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Noshikawa has him pressed against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Nice body punch from Noshikawa.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Noshikawa smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noshikawa misses with the combination.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Noshikawa pinned against the cage. Noshikawa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Noshikawa throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
Noshikawa throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
A combination from Noshikawa does no damage.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.

Gracie has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Noshikawa regains guard immediately.
Noshikawa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!
Noshikawa controlling from the full mount.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Noshikawa has a good base and remains in mount.
Noshikawa looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Noshikawa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Noshikawa tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Noshikawa punishing his opponent with strikes.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.

That's four 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.
Noshikawa content just to control the position here.
Let's hope that Noshikawa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Noshikawa has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Noshikawa's attempts to control the action.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuki Noshikawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Noshikawa 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuki Noshikawa!