PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mateus Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keisuke Takasugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Broke & Hungry . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Takasugi

179 cm
26
170 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

177 cm
28
179 lbs
15 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Mateus Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Takasugi!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takasugi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Takasugi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gracie defends it nicely.
A solid body kick from Gracie.
Gracie pushes Takasugi away with a front kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Takasugi on that attempt.
Gracie cracks Takasugi with an open hand slap.
We've been informed that Takasugi has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Gracie cracks the inside of Takasugi's front leg.
Gracie has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Wolf Training Lair in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takasugi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Mateus Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keisuke Takasugi.
Gracie throws a head kick but Takasugi moves out of range.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Gracie scores with a kick to the midsection.
Good shot there by Gracie.

Takasugi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working for a triangle but Takasugi defends it easily.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Takasugi from controlling successfully.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Takasugi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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 is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Takasugi postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.

Takasugi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Takasugi trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gracie holds on and takes a little breather.

Takasugi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Takasugi has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Takasugi trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Takasugi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Takasugi wants to stand up but Gracie has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Gracie trying to control but Takasugi postures up.

Takasugi is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Takasugi trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Takasugi wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Takasugi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateus Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Takasugi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie wants to slow Takasugi down by chopping away at his legs.
Keisuke Takasugi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie cracks Takasugi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gracie is looking to slow Takasugi down with leg kicks.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takasugi ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Takasugi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gracie misses with a body shot

and Takasugi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Takasugi.
Takasugi tries to pull guard but Gracie forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gracie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Still in the clinch, Gracie scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gracie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Takasugi.
Gracie cracks Takasugi with a nice body shot.
Gracie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Takasugi.
Takasugi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mateus Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keisuke Takasugi.
Gracie misses with a punch to the body.
Takasugi tries to pull guard but Gracie holds him up against the cage and eventually Takasugi drops back down to his feet.
Gracie lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie effectively controlling the action here.
Gracie misses with some punches.
Gracie works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takasugi can do to turn this around?
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gracie obliges.
A short body shot lands from Gracie as the two fighters clinch.
Takasugi is breathing heavily.
Gracie lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takasugi backwards.
Gracie presses Takasugi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short left from Gracie.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takasugi tries to pull guard but Gracie holds him up against the cage and eventually Takasugi drops back down to his feet.
A left hand lands to the body for Gracie.
Gracie lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Takasugi backwards.
Gracie lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Takasugi backwards.
Gracie blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gracie struggles to land a body shot inside as Takasugi controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Gracie.
Takasugi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
A left hand lands to the body for Gracie.
Gracie stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Takasugi moves out of range easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gracie.
Mateus Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.

Gracie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Takasugi is trying to pull guard but Gracie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracie lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takasugi backwards.
Takasugi can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Takasugi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gracie prevents it.
Gracie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Gracie.
A right hook to the body lands for Gracie.
Gracie misses with a body punch.
Gracie lands a left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takasugi can't get the takedown.
Gracie slows down the pace here.
Gracie struggles to land a body shot inside as Takasugi controls his hands.
Gracie lands with a left to the head.
Gracie lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mateus Gracie has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gracie lands a shot to the body.
Gracie lands a left hand that snaps the head of Takasugi backwards.
Takasugi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mateus Gracie dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gracie throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.

Takasugi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracie sprawls well initially but Takasugi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takasugi pulls his head out easily.
Keisuke Takasugi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Takasugi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is not content to let Takasugi control the position.
Takasugi slips a nice elbow through Gracie's hands, connecting with Gracie's forehead.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie pulls Takasugi in close to his closed guard and prevents Takasugi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Takasugi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Takasugi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Takasugi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Takasugi wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Takasugi trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mateus Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Takasugi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gracie working for submissions but it's allowed Takasugi to get to half guard.
Gracie holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Takasugi working Gracie over with strikes.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Takasugi is controlling well.
Takasugi trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takasugi stops Gracie from getting back to his feet.
Gracie wants to stand back up but Takasugi manages to pass into side control.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie trying to control here.

Gracie looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Takasugi pushes past his half guard into mount!
Gracie has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Takasugi tightening his grip on Gracie, looking for the choke.
Takasugi avoiding Gracie 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takasugi has the hooks in. Gracie is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Gracie turns into Takasugi and is now in his guard.
Takasugi 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 wants to control the action here but instead Takasugi manages to pass to full mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
Keisuke Takasugi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Takasugi is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gracie to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gracie shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keisuke Takasugi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mateus Gracie!
As Mateus Gracie got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Put that shit in one of your damn forum threads!! Gracie drops the mic and walks out of the cage....'.