PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Renato Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Watannabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gracie
vs
Watannabe

178 cm
25
197 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
197 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Top Supplements

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Renato Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shinya Watannabe!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watannabe shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Watannabe seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Watannabe pulls his head out easily.
Watannabe trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watannabe trying to control the pace.

Watannabe is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Watannabe pulls his head out easily.

Watannabe is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Watannabe sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Watannabe passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Watannabe wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Watannabe looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Watannabe is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Watannabe content to control rather than advance.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie tries to roll over but Watannabe keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Watannabe is working away from the top position though.

Watannabe is working for a submission of some sort.

Watannabe seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
Gracie is staying active underneath Watannabe, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Watannabe is very close to passing his half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gracie is not content to let Watannabe control the position.
Watannabe is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Watannabe defends easily.
Watannabe wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Watannabe dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Watannabe fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gracie to the ground. Watannabe is now in Gracie's guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Watannabe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Watannabe trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Watannabe defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watannabe stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Watannabe trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Watannabe off and has taken his back!
Gracie keeps control of the position as Watannabe tries to break free.
Watannabe just trying to survive but Gracie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
You can see the frustration on Watannabe's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoiding Watannabe 's attempts to control his hands.

Gracie looking for the choke but no joy.
Shinya Watannabe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Watannabe tries to escape the position.
Watannabe tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Gracie wants to control the pace but Watannabe is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watannabe tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but Watannabe doesn't allow it.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Watannabe is looking to escape.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Watannabe is squirming around nicely.
Watannabe is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie fails to advance to Watannabe's back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Watannabe is in no mood to give up.
Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but Watannabe doesn't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watannabe tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Watannabe is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Gracie is staying active.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Gracie dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

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

Watannabe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Watannabe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Watannabe is posturing up here but Gracie has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Watannabe tries to roll out but it's too tight and Watannabe has to tap! Slick submission there by Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Renato Gracie!
Renato Gracie took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.