PBP Commentary

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

Katsumoto
vs
Gracie

170 cm
27
175 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

183 cm
35
185 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brute

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 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Takashi Katsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vitor Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Katsumoto circles away.
Gracie on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Katsumoto throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Katsumoto scores with a hook.
Gracie thuds a left hand into Katsumoto's body.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Takashi Katsumoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Gracie.
Katsumoto throws a head kick that Gracie semi-blocks.

It looks like Vitor Gracie has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Katsumoto.
A slapping body kick lands there for Katsumoto.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Katsumoto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie wants to clinch but Katsumoto slips to the side
and Katsumoto makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Katsumoto lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gracie tries to clinch
and Katsumoto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Katsumoto lands a leg kick that knocks Gracie off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Gracie looks gassed!
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Katsumoto is just out of range.
Gracie dives in and grabs Katsumoto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Katsumoto pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Gracie takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Katsumoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Katsumoto on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Katsumoto 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.
Katsumoto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Vitor Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Katsumoto is just out of range.
Katsumoto throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Katsumoto shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gracie tries to clinch but Katsumoto moves out of range.
Katsumoto misses with an uppercut. Gracie saw that one coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katsumoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto lands with a thumping leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Gracie.
A nice inside leg kick there by Katsumoto. That's going to slow Gracie down.
A telegraphed right hand from Gracie misses the target.
Katsumoto misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie swings for the body but Katsumoto moves out of range.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.
Katsumoto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Gracie swings for the body but Katsumoto moves out of range.
Takashi Katsumoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Katsumoto loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Katsumoto misses with a head kick.
Katsumoto throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Katsumoto on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gracie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Katsumoto throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Katsumoto circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie misses with a hook. Katsumoto ducked under it nicely.
Katsumoto finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Katsumoto sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Katsumoto is looking to score with low kicks.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Katsumoto, right into the meat.
Katsumoto stuffs the takedown.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Katsumoto was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Katsumoto misses with a head kick.

Gracie forces Katsumoto back against the cage and clinches.
Katsumoto stalls.
Katsumoto misses with an elbow strike.
Gracie is trying desperately to land a takedown but Katsumoto is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Gracie.
Gracie can't find room to land a body shot as Katsumoto controls the action.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Katsumoto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Katsumoto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Katsumoto trying to stall but Gracie improves his position.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Katsumoto.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Katsumoto gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Gracie misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie avoiding damage as Katsumoto throws knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Katsumoto.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katsumoto throws an elbow that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie tries for a takedown but Katsumoto manages to get underhooks.
Katsumoto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie tries to throw a body punch but Katsumoto avoids it by throwing Gracie back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takashi Katsumoto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vitor Gracie's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Katsumoto can pounce on him.
Gracie works Katsumoto's body with a nice hook.
Katsumoto finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Katsumoto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Katsumoto moves away from the strike by Gracie.
Gracie is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Katsumoto scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gracie in his tracks.
Katsumoto swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Katsumoto at a distance.
A good leg kick by Katsumoto.
Takashi Katsumoto is winning the standup battle so far.
Katsumoto dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gracie. That did some damage!
Katsumoto lands a jab.
Gracie misses the jab.
Katsumoto just misses with a punch to the body.
Katsumoto is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
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 closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsumoto tries to land a leg kick but Gracie saw it coming and moves away.
Katsumoto fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Katsumoto manages to avoid it.
Katsumoto wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Katsumoto, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Katsumoto against the cage but Katsumoto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Katsumoto throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gracie walks forward, straight into a front kick from Katsumoto.
Gracie punishes Katsumoto's body with a nice straight punch.
Katsumoto misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gracie lands with a right hand.
Gracie's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Katsumoto scores with a leg kick.
Katsumoto is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gracie.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Katsumoto manages to avoid it.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Katsumoto circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Katsumoto slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Katsumoto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gracie tries to clinch but Katsumoto moves away
and Katsumoto counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracie scores with a body shot.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Katsumoto throws a head kick that misses.

Gracie looking to score a takedown here. Katsumoto is defending well but Gracie drives through and ends up in Katsumoto's guard.
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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Katsumoto is on top in guard.
Katsumoto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Katsumoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Katsumoto from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Gracie working for a triangle but Katsumoto defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Katsumoto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Katsumoto has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Katsumoto passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Katsumoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Katsumoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Katsumoto throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Katsumoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Katsumoto is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Katsumoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Katsumoto pushes his legs off easily.
Katsumoto throws a big right hand that misses.
Katsumoto postures up.
Katsumoto distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That has opened up Vitor Gracie's cut even more.

Gracie working for a triangle but Katsumoto defends it easily.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Katsumoto is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takashi Katsumoto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vitor Gracie's cut.
That's time! Katsumoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Gracie looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Gracie is rocked!
Gracie misses with a shot to the body
and Katsumoto counters with a big right hand! Oh Gracie is in trouble here! Katsumoto follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:10 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Takashi Katsumoto!
In his post fight interview, Takashi Katsumoto started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.