PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gregor Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazunari Tashiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregor Gracie could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kazunari Tashiro's chin.

Gracie
vs
Tashiro

180 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

197 cm
32
185 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gregor Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazunari Tashiro!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tashiro throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Tashiro throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Tashiro has closed the distance and engaged Gracie in a clinch.

Gracie works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Tashiro looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Tashiro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Tashiro keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Tashiro looking to control.

Tashiro looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tashiro is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Tashiro throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Tashiro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tashiro stuffs the takedown.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.
Tashiro trying to control the position.
Tashiro has control of Gracie's left arm, preventing Gracie from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tashiro is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Tashiro throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gracie escapes and throws Tashiro's legs to the side, diving into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tashiro can't do much from the bottom here.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Tashiro is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Tashiro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tashiro wants to control but Gracie postures up.

Gracie is working to tighten is grip on Tashiro's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Tashiro has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Gracie is really squeezing tight and eventually Tashiro passes out! Gracie breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Gregor Gracie!