PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethelbart Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Ethelbart Takahashi enters the ring!

Gracie
vs
Takahashi

175 cm
24
182 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
190 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brute
BioPharm Nutrition

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ethelbart Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie dives in and grabs Takahashi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Takahashi pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Check out the look on Gracie's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Takahashi has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Takahashi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Takahashi tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Takahashi is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Takahashi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Takahashi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Takahashi controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie postures up in Takahashi's guard and throws a big left but Takahashi blocks it.
Takahashi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi pulls Gracie in to control the position.
Takahashi keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ethelbart Takahashi.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takahashi was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Takahashi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.

Takahashi tries to sprawl but Gracie drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Takahashi trying to control but Gracie postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Gracie misses with a head shot. Takahashi uses the momentum to regain guard.
Takahashi looking to control.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Takahashi keeps moving.
Takahashi can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Takahashi won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Takahashi dodges it nicely.
Gracie is nestled in close to Takahashi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Takahashi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Takahashi is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takahashi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takahashi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takahashi is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab from Gracie misses.
Takahashi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ricardo Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie swings for the body but Takahashi moves out of range.
Takahashi fakes the leg kick and cracks Gracie in the body.
Takahashi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Takahashi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gracie's head.
Takahashi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Takahashi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A leg kick checked by Gracie.
Gracie blocks the body kick.
A big left from Gracie misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie avoids a kick to the body.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Takahashi ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Ethelbart Takahashi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Takahashi's guard.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Takahashi trying to control the position here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie postures up.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Takahashi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Takahashi is not content to let Gracie control the position.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Takahashi is defending well.
Takahashi is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Takahashi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Takahashi has passed into half guard!
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Takahashi is working away from the top position though.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard but Takahashi has passed into side control.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Takahashi wants to stand but Gracie has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Takahashi!
Gracie lands with some strikes.
Gracie throws some wild stikes that Takahashi manages to avoid easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie looking to control but Takahashi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie punishing his opponent with strikes.
The referee warns Takahashi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Gracie dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gracie throws an off balance right hand
and Takahashi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Takahashi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takahashi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takahashi throws a leg kick that misses.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Takahashi sprawls well.
Gracie scores with a decent looking hook.
Takahashi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie connects with a crisp jab.
Gracie throws a body punch but Takahashi moves out of range.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takahashi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Gracie.
Good shot there by Gracie.
Takahashi throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters circling a little - Gracie finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Takahashi dips to his left and cracks Gracie with an uppercut!
Good leg kick by Takahashi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gracie changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Takahashi pushes Gracie away with a front kick.
Takahashi throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie checks a leg kick.
Takahashi thumps Gracie with a low kick.
Takahashi scores with a punch to the head.
Gracie works the jab nicely.
Gracie swings widly with a right hand
and Takahashi counters with an inside leg kick.
Gracie connects with a good right hand that stumbles Takahashi. Takahashi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Takahashi misses with a head kick.
Gracie swings widly with a right hand
and Takahashi counters with a head kick.
Takahashi throws a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
Takahashi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Takahashi wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Takahashi turns into him and now he's in Gracie's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takahashi is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Takahashi is aware though and is defending well.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Takahashi defends easily.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Takahashi is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie looking to control but Takahashi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Ethelbart Takahashi just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Some bone on bone action there as Gracie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Takahashi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A head kick misses from Takahashi.
Takahashi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takahashi throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie tests Takahashi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Ethelbart Takahashi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie lands a nice looking body shot.
Takahashi throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Takahashi.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takahashi. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takahashi throws a low kick, looking for Gracie's leg but Gracie calmly moves out of range.
Takahashi scores with a leg kick.
Takahashi takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Takahashi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Takahashi misses with a wild body shot.
Takahashi throws a quick inside leg kick.

Gracie clinches with his opponent.
Takahashi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Takahashi.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Takahashi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie has picked Takahashi up - he's going for a ride! Gracie dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Takahashi wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Takahashi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Takahashi can't escape the position.

Gracie is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Takahashi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Takahashi shrugs it off.
Gracie prevents Takahashi from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
Takahashi tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Takahashi regains half guard.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Takahashi is working away.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Takahashi defends the submission attempt.
Takahashi trying to control but Gracie postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Takahashi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gracie throws a strike but Takahashi avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Gracie trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.
Takahashi keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie postures up in Takahashi's guard and throws a big left but Takahashi blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takahashi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Takahashi has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Ricardo Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Takahashi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good work by Takahashi as he checks the leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Gracie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Takahashi misses with a kick to the body.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Gracie connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gracie is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Gracie working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Takahashi is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Takahashi wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Gracie celebrates on the ropes and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ricardo Gracie!
Ricardo Gracie retains his middleweight title!
A relieved looking Ricardo Gracie thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.