PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Watanabe comes to the cage accompanied by Tan Dun- Night Flight. Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Kickstart kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Watanabe
vs
Gracie

174 cm
29
160 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
35
170 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Just Fight (Everything 7$)
GREEN!160

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Watanabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Gracie. Those never looked like landing.
Watanabe tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Royce Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Watanabe misses the target.
Watanabe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie lands with an uppercut that bounces Watanabe off the cage and back into range.
Watanabe tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Watanabe on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Hiro Watanabe has been cut.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.

Gracie fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Watanabe to the ground. Gracie is now in Watanabe's guard.
Watanabe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Watanabe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Gracie is pushing down on Watanabe's leg trying to pass to half guard. Watanabe is fighting to maintain full guard but Gracie has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watanabe is trying to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Watanabe's head.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Watanabe's head.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Watanabe defending well though.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Watanabe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Watanabe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Watanabe defends it.
Watanabe trying to control here.
Gracie seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Watanabe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Watanabe trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Watanabe defending well though.
Watanabe tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Team Hopkins. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Gracie winds up and cracks Watanabe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ground and pound from Gracie.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie scoring with punches from side control.
Watanabe is breathing heavily.
Watanabe takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Watanabe gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Watanabe is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe taking shots to the head.
Gracie lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
Watanabe is looking to get to half guard.
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.
Watanabe tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Gracie goes for an armbar but Watanabe turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Watanabe.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watanabe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Gracie is tightening it up a little... Watanabe has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Watanabe reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Watanabe taps out! Nice BJJ there by Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Royce Gracie!
A relieved looking Royce Gracie thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.