PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lord Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsu Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Katsu Yamamoto was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gracie
vs
Yamamoto

165 cm
18
141 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

163 cm
20
143 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Lightning Fight Gear
Attliction

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lord Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Katsu Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yamamoto's waist but Yamamoto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Yamamoto tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Yamamoto clinches.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Yamamoto won't allow it.
Yamamoto crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lord Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Yamamoto gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Yamamoto can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracie prevents Yamamoto from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yamamoto avoid being mounted?
Yamamoto is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie stops Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.
Yamamoto wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yamamoto defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto has hold of Gracie's hands but Gracie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Yamamoto is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice sprawl there from Yamamoto as Gracie shoots in.
Yamamoto throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yamamoto is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Yamamoto circles away and we're back to standing.
Katsu Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yamamoto gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Yamamoto is keeping the position.

Yamamoto wriggles free and stands up.
Gracie walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Yamamoto lands a two punch combo.
Yamamoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Yamamoto lands with a slapping head kick.

Yamamoto forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.
Yamamoto leaning against his opponent.

Gracie pulls guard.
Yamamoto is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.

Yamamoto stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Yamamoto throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.

Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Yamamoto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Yamamoto decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Yamamoto, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Yamamoto against the cage but Yamamoto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto lands with a slapping head kick.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie blocks the body kick.
Yamamoto fails with an attempt to clinch.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gracie tries to score with some ground and pound. Yamamoto controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Yamamoto's legs.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Yamamoto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Yamamoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yamamoto is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yamamoto misses with a low kick as Gracie jumps back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yamamoto as he avoids it easily.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Yamamoto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Yamamoto sprawls well.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Katsu Yamamoto will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie shoots in but Yamamoto avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Gracie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Yamamoto has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.
Yamamoto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.
Gracie prevents Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Yamamoto is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yamamoto lands a jab to the head.
Yamamoto stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yamamoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Yamamoto throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Yamamoto's legs.
Gracie working away.
Yamamoto is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yamamoto keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working away.
Yamamoto tries to escape but Gracie is in control.
Gracie creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Yamamoto sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yamamoto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Yamamoto tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Yamamoto wants to control but Gracie postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lord Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yamamoto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Yamamoto bucks up and tries to throw Gracie off but instead Gracie has got his back!

Gracie looking to break Yamamoto's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Yamamoto remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Yamamoto is trying to stand back up.

Gracie working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Gracie trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Yamamoto doesn't escape.

Yamamoto defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Gracie trying to control momentarily.
Gracie is hanging on to Yamamoto's back as he tries to escape.
Gracie has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Yamamoto's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lord Gracie dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamamoto is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto stuffs the takedown.
Yamamoto works over Gracie's head and body with a nice combination.
Lord Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Yamamoto.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yamamoto as he avoids it easily.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Yamamoto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lord Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yamamoto as he avoids it easily.

Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamamoto trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.
Yamamoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Yamamoto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yamamoto keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Yamamoto gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Yamamoto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.

Gracie decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamamoto sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gracie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gracie is thwarting Yamamoto's attempts to control the position.
Gracie moves into full mount! Yamamoto won't be happy about that!
Yamamoto is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Yamamoto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yamamoto wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Yamamoto is in no mood to give up.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Yamamoto to control.
Yamamoto is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Yamamoto is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Gracie has taken his back!
Gracie keeps control of the position as Yamamoto tries to break free.

Yamamoto preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gracie.
Yamamoto is keeping busy.
Gracie lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Yamamoto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Yamamoto is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Yamamoto just trying to survive but Gracie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Yamamoto might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie is riding his opponent, not letting Yamamoto buck him off.
Yamamoto controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.
Gracie is not going to allow Yamamoto to sit and survive in this position.
Yamamoto trying to get back to his feet but Gracie is in full control for now.
Yamamoto trying to control the action but Gracie just sinks the hooks in.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lord Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lord Gracie!