PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zari Yasuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Fort Minor - Petrified (Gracie Remix) blaring out of the sound system. Zari Yasuda has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Gracie
vs
Yasuda

165 cm
22
135 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

182 cm
24
142 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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Koffin Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, Christopher Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zari Yasuda!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in but Yasuda avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Yasuda tries to land a leg kick but Gracie saw it coming and moves away.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Yasuda avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Yasuda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yasuda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Christopher Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yasuda will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Yasuda scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice body punch from Yasuda.
Gracie throws a body punch but Yasuda moves out of range.
Yasuda takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasuda slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
Gracie catches Yasuda with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Yasuda is just out of range.
Yasuda blocks a low kick nicely.
Yasuda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Yasuda.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Yasuda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie looks to throw the jab but Yasuda is out of range.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Yasuda tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie takes a swing at Yasuda's ribcage but misses.
Gracie throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Yasuda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two 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 catches Yasuda with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Yasuda is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yasuda as he jumps to the side.
Yasuda throws and low kick but Gracie moves out of range easily.
Yasuda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Yasuda counters with a low kick, right behind Gracie 's knee.
Gracie dips to his left and cracks Yasuda with an uppercut!
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yasuda. Yasuda obviously looking to wear him down.
Yasuda is looking to slow Gracie down with leg kicks.
Yasuda dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gracie. That did some damage!
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yasuda wants to clinch.
Gracie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yasuda can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Yasuda misses with a leg kick.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on Yasuda's shoulder, as Yasuda tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie moves out of range of the leg kick from Yasuda.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gracie, right into the meat.
Zari Yasuda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yasuda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Yasuda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Yasuda swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Yasuda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A low kick from Yasuda misses

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gracie pushing down on Yasuda's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yasuda is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Yasuda slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Yasuda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie checks a leg kick nicely.
A low kick from Gracie is predictable there
and Yasuda counters with a head kick. That will keep Gracie thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Nice defenses there by Yasuda.
Yasuda tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie checks a leg kick nicely.
Gracie ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Yasuda throws a chopping leg kick but Gracie manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yasuda manages to avoid it.
Yasuda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Gracie throws a hook but Yasuda avoids it easily.
Gracie throws a push kick but Yasuda slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasuda finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yasuda was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Gracie throws a chopping leg kick but Yasuda manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Yasuda is looking to chop away at Gracie's legs.
Yasuda circles away from the clinch attempt.

Yasuda rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Yasuda gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Yasuda lands an elbow inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gracie.
Gracie jumps guard but Yasuda stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yasuda or not.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gracie swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie working aggressively here.
Gracie tries to throw a body punch but Yasuda avoids it by throwing Gracie back against the cage.
Yasuda with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie tries to circle away but Yasuda has him pinned against the cage.
Yasuda missing with knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Yasuda.
Yasuda prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gracie is struggling to control the position.
Gracie blocks the elbow strike.
Yasuda throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie wants to break free but Yasuda has control.
Gracie lands a hook that snaps the head of Yasuda backwards.
Gracie dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yasuda using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Yasuda avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Gracie.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Yasuda holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Knees in the clinch landing for Yasuda.
Yasuda scores with a shoulder strike.
Yasuda stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yasuda's elbow.
Knees in the clinch landing for Yasuda.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gracie is working Yasuda over against the cage.
Yasuda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Gracie tries to break the clinch but Yasuda is controlling the position.
Yasuda digs a right hand underneath Gracie's ribcage. Gracie let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gracie struggles to land a body shot inside as Yasuda controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants a takedown.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yasuda circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Yasuda blocks the leg kick.
Gracie fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yasuda looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Yasuda.
Gracie moves out of range of the leg kick from Yasuda.
Yasuda misses with a head kick.
Gracie misses with a two punch combination.
Gracie misses with a body shot
and Yasuda counters with an inside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yasuda, right into the meat.
Gracie looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gracie misses with a jab to the body
and Yasuda counters with a slapping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Yasuda circles away easily
and Yasuda counters with a slapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zari Yasuda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yasuda moves away.
Yasuda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yasuda wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yasuda moves away.
Yasuda wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the body from Gracie misses
and Yasuda counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A nice combination there by Gracie.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Yasuda counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie thows a leg kick but Yasuda checks it
and Yasuda counters with a good low kick that Gracie was not able to check.
Gracie swings for the body but Yasuda moves out of range.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yasuda lands with a slapping head kick.
Yasuda lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Yasuda sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yasuda avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Yasuda won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie prevents Yasuda from standing back up.

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

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yasuda is looking to escape.
Yasuda 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.

That's three minutes 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.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Yasuda sees it coming and defends easily.
Yasuda pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Yasuda dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Yasuda to regain full guard.
Yasuda is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yasuda's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yasuda tries a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
Yasuda avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Yasuda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Yasuda.
Yasuda throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Gracie is looking to wear down Yasuda with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Yasuda scoring well with a low kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie wants to slow Yasuda down by chopping away at his legs.
Gracie checks a low kick from Yasuda.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Yasuda circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yasuda stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yasuda wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yasuda throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gracie.
Gracie misses with a takedown
and Yasuda counters with an outside leg kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Yasuda will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gracie tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Yasuda counters with a low kick, right behind Gracie 's knee.
Yasuda misses with a low kick.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yasuda was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Gracie swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Yasuda counters with a slapping leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gracie checks a leg kick.
Gracie misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Gracie.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yasuda moves away.
Gracie misses with a jab to the body
and Yasuda counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gracie's knee momentarily.
Yasuda lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie's sensitive parts.
A combination from Yasuda does no damage.
Yasuda throws and low kick but Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie misses with a hook. Yasuda ducked under it nicely.
Gracie misses with a takedown
and Yasuda makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gracie swinging wilding here.
Yasuda throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Gracie moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Gracie.
Gracie tries to break the clinch but Yasuda is controlling the position.
A short left from Yasuda.
Gracie stalling the fight.
Yasuda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Yasuda lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gracie misses with a punch to the body.
Yasuda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Yasuda lands an elbow inside.
Gracie stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gracie looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gracie takes an elbow to the temple.
Gracie avoiding damage as Yasuda throws knees to the body.
Yasuda lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Yasuda working aggressively here.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Yasuda.
Yasuda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Nice body punch from Yasuda - that landed with a thud.
Gracie takes a shot to the head.

Gracie has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Yasuda clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Gracie connects with a big shot to the side of Yasuda's head.
Gracie somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Yasuda looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Gracie missing with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gracie misses with a hook to the body
and Yasuda counters with a head kick. That will keep Gracie thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Gracie falls off balance throwing a combination
and Yasuda counters with a nice uppercut.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Yasuda circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Yasuda keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie misses with a jab to the body
and Yasuda counters with a thumping low kick.
Gracie looks to clinch
and Yasuda counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Yasuda throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Yasuda wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Gracie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yasuda blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Yasuda blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Yasuda's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Yasuda.
Yasuda is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Gracie scoring with strikes but Yasuda is staying in there.
Christopher Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gracie misses with a head shot.
Gracie postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Yasuda looks a forlorn figure.
Yasuda avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gracie.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Poor strikes thrown by Gracie there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Yasuda is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working away from the top, dropping strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yasuda can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yasuda holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Yasuda is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Gracie punching from mount but Yasuda doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Yasuda is on top in guard.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Christopher Gracie.
I think Yasuda has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 46:49
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 46:49
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zari Yasuda! Zari Yasuda retains his bantamweight title!