PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiroki Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiroki Nakamura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Nakamura

180 cm
22
178 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roger Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroki Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakamura closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.

Nakamura pulls guard successfully.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Nakamura is keeping the position.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Nakamura is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nakamura manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Nakamura's guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie prevents Nakamura from getting back to his feet.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nakamura looks for the body kick but Gracie saw that one coming.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nakamura pushes Gracie away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gracie gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nakamura is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nakamura is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Nakamura is defending well.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Nakamura is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Nakamura's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Gracie is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Nakamura is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Nakamura flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Gracie anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Nakamura and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Gracie slips an arm under Nakamura chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Gracie has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Gracie is squeezing on Nakamura like an anaconda would it's prey. Nakamura fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Roger Gracie!