PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiroki Katsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Katsu has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. 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
Katsu

178 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Attliction

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroki Katsu!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katsu moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie thows a body kick. Katsu tries to catch it but that hurt him.
An inside leg kick lands from Gracie.
Katsu looks gassed!
Gracie throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Katsu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gracie.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gracie.
Gracie wants to clinch

and Katsu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Katsu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie is trying to keep Katsu in close.
Gracie is really struggling to control Katsu but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Katsu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gracie striking off his back but it's not causing Katsu any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsu won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gracie throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gracie needs to keep his hands up - Katsu had a free shot at his head there.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Katsu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Katsu in particular looking to stall.
Katsu is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.
Katsu controlling the action here.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Katsu is very close to passing his half guard.
Katsu prevents Gracie from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsu prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie is looking to score with low kicks.
Katsu misses with a wild combination.
Gracie misses with a hook

and Katsu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Katsu working away.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katsu lands some shots froms side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie wants to control but Katsu postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Katsu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Katsu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Katsu avoids the strikes from the bottom by Gracie.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.

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

Gracie gets caught flat footed, as Katsu shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Katsu trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Katsu postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Katsu wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Katsu controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Katsu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet but Katsu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Katsu scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Katsu's guard.

Gracie stands and steps away. Katsu gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Katsu circles away easily

and Katsu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie wants to control but Katsu postures up.
Gracie is working to avoid the ground and pound but Katsu connects with a decent elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Katsu gets to mount! Gracie was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Katsu wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroki Katsu 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.

Some wild striking there from Gracie.
A head kick from Katsu lands but Gracie takes it in his stride.
Royce Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice takedown defense from Katsu. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Katsu throws a head kick that Gracie semi-blocks.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Katsu shows good takedown defense.
Gracie looks to land a right hand but Katsu moved out of range.
Gracie throws a jab but it's blocked by Katsu.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Katsu defends it.
Gracie winds up and cracks Katsu with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Katsu is defending it quite comfortably.
Katsu is breathing heavily.
Katsu is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Katsu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Katsu tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Katsu is looking to improve his position.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Katsu is defending the position.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Katsu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Katsu tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Katsu to the ground. Katsu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Katsu fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracie sprawls well initially but Katsu persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Katsu defending well though.
Katsu 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.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Katsu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Katsu wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie works his way into full mount!
Katsu keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Katsu is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Katsu is looking to escape.
Gracie throwing strikes here but Katsu is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

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.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie throwing strikes but Katsu recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Katsu wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.

Katsu darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hiroki Katsu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gracie throws out a loose jab but Katsu uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gracie.
Gracie tries to clinch but Katsu moves out of range.

Gracie darts in and clinches Katsu up against the cage.

Gracie drags the fight down to the ground.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Katsu is squirming around nicely.
Gracie has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Katsu's face.
Gracie is landing with some decent strikes but Katsu is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Katsu swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Gracie tries to control but Katsu wriggling away.
Katsu regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie working Katsu over with strikes.
Katsu is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Gracie avoids the attempt from Katsu to control.

Katsu tries to improve his position but Gracie has taken his back! Gracie has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Katsu tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Gracie pushes Katsu away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Royce Gracie!