CHICAGO – It didn’t take a stoppage, but Goity Yamauchi’s PFL debut win was everything he could have hoped for.
A longtime Bellator contestant, Yamauchi made his PFL debut this Friday, defeating Neiman Gracie in a rematch as part of the 2024 PFL3 welterweight season opener. Yamauchi (29-6) defeated Gracie (12-5). The unanimous decision earned them three points this season.
While some might see victory as not the best scenario, given that Yamauchi would have been awarded additional points if he completed the race, it was perfect for Yamauchi.
“Oh, I’m really glad to be back,” Yamauchi said in the post-game interview. “This was a much needed fight for me and a really good win for me to get back in the cage and get this win after this serious injury. I couldn’t have asked for a better result tonight. I’m really happy.”
This was Yamauchi’s first fight since suffering a serious knee injury in March 2023, when he lost by TKO to Michael Page. This injury became one of the strangest and worst injuries in MMA that year.
While Yamauchi’s main focus is on winning, as he looks to advance to the 2024 PFL Welterweight Finals for a chance to become champion and win $1 million in prize money, he also focuses on not getting injured in the process. There is. That’s why he was so happy with his performance against Gracie.
“It’s all about being healthy until the end of the tournament, so we have to take a new approach and a new strategy,” Yamauchi explained. “Of course we wanted six points, but it’s hard to deal with this new thing in the PFL. Sometimes you play tougher opponents, opponents like Niemann who are difficult to finish. Niemann is tough to finish. It’s very difficult. No one has finished him except me. Niemann is a tough guy and it’s hard to finish him, but thanks to God we were able to get the win.”
For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s PFL 2024 Week 3 event hub.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and other content with mixed martial arts fans.
