PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grecko Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nariaki Kasai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grecko Gracie has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gracie
vs
Kasai

190 cm
24
280 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

194 cm
19
264 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grecko Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nariaki Kasai!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie moves out of range as Kasai strikes.
Grecko Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kasai throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Gracie counters with a head kick.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kasai throws a good cross that connects.
Nice uppercut there from Gracie.
A jab from Gracie misses.
Gracie misses the jab.

Kasai closes the distance and clinches.

Kasai gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Kasai trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kasai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kasai trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gracie tries to get out of the position.
Kasai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Kasai tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kasai is one step ahead there.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice uppercut there from Gracie.
Kasai dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Kasai's head and hops out.
Gracie with a jab.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kasai was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gracie enables Kasai to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gracie manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasai postures up.
Kasai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kasai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kasai throwing strikes but missing.
Kasai lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gracie has control of Kasai's left arm, preventing Kasai from doing any damage.
Kasai is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Kasai landing with the ground and pound.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kasai is one step ahead there.
Kasai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie controls Kasai momentarily but Kasai frees himself.
Kasai missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Kasai from controlling successfully.
Kasai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kasai with a nice head shot there.
Kasai looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kasai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Kasai can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.
Kasai keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Grecko Gracie has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kasai throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie lands a body shot.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Kasai. Kasai gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gracie throws a hook to the side of Kasai's head but Kasai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kasai throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Kasai has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kasai there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gracie lands with a nice body kick.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie connects with a body shot that sends Kasai's belly button to the back.
Kasai is breathing heavily.
Gracie takes a swing at Kasai's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kasai.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gracie. That's going to slow Kasai down.
Kasai wants to clinch
and Gracie counters with a left to the body.
Gracie connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kasai's hands.

It looks like Nariaki Kasai has been cut.
Kasai takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gracie lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kasai moves away.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice body punch from Gracie.
Kasai misses with a body shot
and Gracie counters with a leg kick.
Gracie lands the left hand.
Kasai leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Grecko Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.
Sloppy strikes from Kasai. Those never looked like landing.
A jab from Gracie finds it's way through Kasai's defenses.
Gracie with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gracie is looking to wear down Kasai with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kasai circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Kasai. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grecko Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie lands a head kick!
Gracie scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gracie fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gracie cracks Kasai with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A head kick from Gracie lands but Kasai takes it in his stride.
Nariaki Kasai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slow jab from Kasai misses its intended target.
Gracie lands a head kick. Kasai smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kasai ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie.
Kasai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gracie scores with a one two! Kasai had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gracie scores with a hook to the body. Kasai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie misses with a two punch combination.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Kasai avoids it well.
Gracie wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kasai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kasai takes one to the chin there.
Kasai takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kasai was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kasai is striking off his back. Gracie thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kasai wants to control but Gracie passes into side.
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grecko Gracie dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nariaki Kasai's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab from Gracie misses.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kasai.
Gracie scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kasai takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
No luck for Kasai with that takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Kasai.
Kasai takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gracie lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kasai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kasai ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Kasai blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kasai.
Kasai shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Gracie gets a clinch.
Nice body punch from Gracie - that landed with a thud.
Gracie stalling against the cage.
Gracie seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Gracie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kasai walks forward, straight into a front kick from Gracie.
Gracie fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kasai tries to sprawl but Gracie drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Kasai dodges it nicely.
Kasai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Gracie prevents Kasai from improving his position.
Kasai has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
Gracie stalling.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kasai can do to turn this around?
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gracie lands a nice short elbow.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control. Kasai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kasai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kasai is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A low kick from Kasai is predictable there
and Gracie counters with a one-two to the body.

That has opened up Nariaki Kasai's cut even more.
Kasai misses with a combination
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.
Gracie lands with a right hand.
Kasai has his takedown stuffed
enabling Gracie to counter with a crisp jab.
Grecko Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nariaki Kasai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kasai looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kasai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie wants to control but Kasai is keeping him busy.
Kasai tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie lands a few punches from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grecko Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gracie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:26
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:26
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grecko Gracie!