PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Katsu Higashikuni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen Bring Da Ruckus as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Higashikuni
vs
Gracie

162 cm
27
146 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

170 cm
37
146 lbs
29 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Brute

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Katsu Higashikuni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Renato Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higashikuni misses with a low kick.
Renato Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higashikuni misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Higashikuni checks a low kick from Gracie.
Gracie throws a jab but it's blocked by Higashikuni.

Higashikuni closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Higashikuni throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Higashikuni is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Higashikuni is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gracie keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Higashikuni is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Higashikuni has control of the leg.
Higashikuni not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie is trying to stand.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higashikuni winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gracie is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Higashikuni jumps into side control!
Higashikuni advances to mount.
Higashikuni sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Higashikuni is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gracie can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Higashikuni landing strikes from the mount.
Higashikuni prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Gracie manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Higashikuni lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gracie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Higashikuni tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but Higashikuni is having none of it.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Higashikuni from controlling successfully.
Higashikuni won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Gracie pulls Higashikuni in close to prevent any damage.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Renato Gracie wasn't active enough on the ground.
Higashikuni misses with a straight left.
Higashikuni ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Higashikuni throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Higashikuni throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Higashikuni misses with a straight left.
Higashikuni checks the leg kick nicely there.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Higashikuni misses.
Gracie sizes up Higashikuni with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Renato Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Higashikuni looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Higashikuni tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie has one of Higashikuni's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Higashikuni has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Gracie in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni throwing strikes here but Gracie is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Higashikuni 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.
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Higashikuni isn't that keen on the idea.
Gracie is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Higashikuni wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.
Gracie trying to control but Higashikuni postures up.
Higashikuni throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Higashikuni is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Higashikuni has control of the leg.
Gracie holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gracie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Higashikuni tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Higashikuni trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie has his hands on Higashikuni's head, controlling the position.
Higashikuni wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Higashikuni manages to get himself to full guard.
Higashikuni wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie stands and throws Higashikuni's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gracie working the ground and pound but Higashikuni is defending the strikes.
Higashikuni tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie working the ground and pound but Higashikuni is defending the strikes.
Gracie tries to score with some ground and pound. Higashikuni controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Higashikuni manages to get back to half guard.
Higashikuni gets back to full guard.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Higashikuni tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Higashikuni tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Higashikuni wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Higashikuni blocks nicely.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Higashikuni looking for a sweep. Not yet Higashikuni, not yet.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
Higashikuni looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie won't allow Higashikuni to sweep him here.

Higashikuni is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Higashikuni keeps moving.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Higashikuni has wrist control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Higashikuni keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Higashikuni.

Higashikuni escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Higashikuni 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 avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Higashikuni.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Higashikuni prevents Gracie from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie trying to control here.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Higashikuni has control of the leg.
Gracie keeping hold of Higashikuni's head, controlling as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Katsu Higashikuni will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Higashikuni misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie checks a leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Gracie.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Higashikuni is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Gracie's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Higashikuni scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Gracie lands with a hook. Higashikuni tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Higashikuni moved out of range nicely.
Gracie bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Higashikuni's head.

Higashikuni looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Higashikuni scoring with strikes.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Higashikuni tries to move into full mount but can't pass Gracie's legs.
Higashikuni lands some shots froms side control.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie wants to control but Higashikuni postures up.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie wants to control but Higashikuni postures up.
Higashikuni working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Gracie tries to buck Higashikuni off but Higashikuni is having none of it.
Higashikuni controls the position.
Gracie takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie holds on to Higashikuni's head and controls the position momentarily.
Higashikuni tries to move into full mount but can't pass Gracie's legs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie wants to control but Higashikuni postures up.
Higashikuni tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Higashikuni scores with punches from side control.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Higashikuni scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gracie tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Higashikuni dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gracie looks a forlorn figure.

Gracie is rocked!
Higashikuni landing punches.
Gracie is still in real trouble! Can Higashikuni finish him?
Oooooh, big shot lands for Higashikuni! Gracie is hurt baaadly! Higashikuni is firing away with more strikes - Gracie is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Katsu Higashikuni!
An out of breath Katsu Higashikuni thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.