Bellator 284: Sanford Pentagon; Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Goiti Yamauchi, like many in the MMA community grew up idolizing the “Gracie” mystique. In his 33rd-fight he finally first main event slot and it came against Neiman Gracie. So what happens when a pair of Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelts clash? The fight pretty much stays on the feet, till it’s over. And with a well timed right uppercut, the Bellator welterweight division shake up becomes official early next week.
Gracie did manage to come forward early, keeping Yamauchi on his heels. No that much later on he tried to start to implement a kicking game. But Gracie was deliberate with his attacks, and nothing rattled the 29-year old.
Yamauchi refused to go to the mat on Gracie’s terms, staying upright instead (and eating two-up kicks for good measure). Yamauchi switching stances showed a hole in Gracie’s defense as Yamauchi’s left stung Gracie. Especially with his head staying on the centerline.
As the duo started to exchange, and not fearing Gracie’s power, Yamauchi lowered his hands. He then used a right uppercut as a heat seeking missile, connecting to Gracie’s jaw. Yamauchi managed to land three-extra strikes on his crumbled opponent before referee JASON HERZOG was able to jump in to stop the fight at 3:58 of the second-round.
Bellator Welterweight Division Shake Up Becomes Official Next Week
It was incredibly risky for the fifth-ranked Gracie to take a fight against an unranked opponent. And during fight week he was zeroing in on a rematch he wanted against Jason Jackson. That won’t now be happening anytime soon.
Coming in unranked, Yamauchi will now jump into the thick of the rankings. At least that’s the safe bet. And he might be the one facing Jackson next. Or worst case scenario a struggling, in desperate need of a win Douglas Lima. Post fight it was no shock that Yamauchi was incredibly courteous. But he did warn the rest of the 170ers that he was coming for them.
And with the upper echelon of the division filled with wrestlers, you have to wonder if he has them all right where he wants them, being more dangerous off his back than anywhere. As for Gracie, the one-time title challenger is now starting to go on a downward slide. He’s 2-4 in his last six, dropping two-in-a-row.
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