Neiman Gracie vs Goiti Yamauchi set to headline Bellator 284
Bellator MMA has some exciting shows coming to us over the following months, and Bellator 284 is no different, as they’ve paired BJJ experts Neiman Gracie (11-3) and Goiti Yamauchi (27-5) to headline the event.
Bellator 284 is to go down on August 12, 2022, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
This is a very fun match up that’ll show Yamauchi’s sophomore effort up at 170 lbs.
Coming over to Bellator in 2013 with a record of 14-1, Yamauchi went 5-1 through his first six bouts, securing four finishes (three submissions) in that time. A defeat to PFL contender Bubba Jenkins (UD) would follow, before winning his next three-straight, all via submission, going into his fight with Michael Chandler.
Following this defeat (UD) to the former Bellator lightweight champion, Yamauchi would go on another three-fight win streak, defeating the likes on Daniel Weichel (SD), Saad Awad (armbar), and UFC veteran Daron Cruickshank (rear naked choke), before losing a very close split decision to another UFC veteran in Dan Moret.
Since then, Yamauchi TKO’d Chris Gonzalez, before moving up to the welterweight division to submit (armbar) Levan Chokheli in April.
Neiman Gracie on the other hand came to Bellator with a record of just 2-0 back in 2015, and quickly won his first seven bouts with the promotion, submitting six of those opponents. This awarded him a title shot against then champion Rory MacDonald, who defeated him via unanimous decision.
Gracie has since gone 2-2, defeating the likes of former UFC title challenger Jon Fitch (kneebar) and Mark Lemminger (TKO), whilst losing to Jason Jackson (UD) and Logan Storley (UD).
Of Gracie’s 11 career victories, nine come via submission with one knockout and one decision.
Of Yamauchi’s 27 career victories, 21 come via submission with two knockouts and four decisions.
What’s more, Gracie through his 14-fight career, nor Yamauchi through his 32-fight career has ever been finished.
Of course, it’s hard to give anyone an advantage over a Gracie when it comes to grappling.
On the contrary, Yamauchi will most likely be the better striker of the two, having gone 7-0 as a kickboxer, as well as 5-0 as an amateur boxer. This is a very exciting bout between two absolute studs on the mat, perhaps the two best BJJ fighters in all of Bellator.
Who do you see coming out on top?
If you enjoyed this piece, feel free to share it on social media!
