PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yorito Nayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nayama
vs
Gracie

180 cm
25
184 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yorito Nayama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nayama swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Nayama misses with a looping right.
Gracie with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gracie swings for the body but Nayama moves out of range.
Nayama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nayama at a distance.
Nayama just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie throws a hook to the side of Nayama's head but Nayama sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Gracie closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nayama's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Nayama is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Nayama is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Nayama keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Nayama pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nayama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie passes Nayama's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nayama is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nayama avoid being mounted?
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Nayama is defending the position.
Gracie not doing much here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nayama slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie cracks Nayama with a solid left hand.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nayama is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nayama has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nayama trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Nayama is keeping the position.
Nayama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nayama looking to control but Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gracie with the ground and pound but Nayama uses the opportunity to regain guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nayama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gracie trying to control but Nayama is working from the bottom.
Nayama looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Nayama is retaining full guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Nayama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ricardo Gracie.
Nayama takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nayama misses the shot to the body.
Nayama throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nayama takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nayama takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Nayama is breathing heavily.

Gracie closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nayama's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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 postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nayama being controlled here, momentarily.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nayama working a defensive guard here.
Nayama controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yorito Nayama just wasn't active enough.
Gracie feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nayama's calf.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracie showed some decent athleticism there.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie not doing much here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Gracie there.
Nayama is trying to control but can't.
Gracie works his way into side control.
Gracie lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gracie lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gracie working the ground and pound.
Nayama is holding Gracie down, trying to stall.
Nayama can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracie working the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Nayama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Nayama is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nayama is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Nayama is having none of it.
Gracie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Nayama dodges it nicely.
Gracie seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nayama defending well though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nayama manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Nayama is keeping the position.

Nayama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nayama is on top in guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Nayama wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nayama is one step ahead there.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Nayama tries to pass.
Gracie pulls Nayama in close to his closed guard and prevents Nayama from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Nayama wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nayama's head.
Gracie working over Nayama with some ground and pound. Nayama looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Gracie.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Nayama is working away.
Nayama is trying to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nayama is trying to control but can't.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nayama gets full guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Nayama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Nayama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Nayama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nayama's guard.
Nayama utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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

Nayama has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Nayama is keeping the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie won't allow Nayama to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

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

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nayama tries to control but Gracie manages to take his back.
Nayama tries to roll but Gracie sticks to his back.
Nayama covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Nayama just trying to survive but Gracie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Gracie struggling to keep hold of the position.
Gracie not allowing Nayama to control his hands.
Nayama is trying to break free.

Gracie looking for the choke from the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gracie is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Nayama knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Nayama for a finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Nayama. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Nayama is rocked!
Gracie scoring with big shots to the body. Nayama is looking for a way out. A despairing look towards the ref and the official steps in to stop the fight. Nayama was obviously done but didn't want to tap out.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ricardo Gracie!
Ricardo Gracie seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.