PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Sakuraba (ranked 4472 p4p, 4503 weight class) and Roberto Vieira (ranked 420 p4p, 422 weight class). Roberto Vieira is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sakuraba
vs
Vieira

175 cm
23
265
3 - 0 - 0

184 cm
23
280
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kazuo Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roberto Vieira!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Vieira sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Sakuraba shoots in and gets a takedown into Vieira's guard.
Sakuraba with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuraba is in close to Vieira's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Vieira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuraba is working Vieira over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba preventing the sweep.
Sakuraba connects with a couple of short punches.
Vieira throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vieira can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vieira looking for a sweep. Not yet Vieira, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sakuraba has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vieira lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sakuraba wants to sweep but no luck.
Sakuraba is looking to sweep but instead, Vieira has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sakuraba is working hard here to advance position.
Vieira seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakuraba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Vieira working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sakuraba manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking to sweep but instead, Vieira has passed into half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sakuraba is pressing down on Vieira's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vieira lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Vieira wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba wants to sweep here but Vieira controlling him for the moment.
Sakuraba doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vieira trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vieira is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieira lands a couple of digs.
Vieira scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.
Vieira lands a couple of elbows.
Vieira lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Vieira is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vieira is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Vieira from controlling successfully.
Vieira scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vieira lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Vieira is working Sakuraba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vieira keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Vieira working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieira chips away with some ground and pound.
Vieira keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Vieira from controlling successfully.
Vieira has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakuraba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vieira's guard.

Sakuraba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vieira works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
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!
Vieira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sakuraba stopping the sweep attempt from Vieira.
Sakuraba landing some decent shots from guard.
Sakuraba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Vieira blocks nicely.
Vieira looking to control.
Sakuraba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vieira seems keen to control Sakuraba's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roberto Vieira will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sakuraba shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Vieira moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Vieira is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sakuraba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sakuraba wants to hit a sweep here but Vieira passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sakuraba there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vieira takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sakuraba bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vieira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sakuraba throws an elbow that misses. Vieira uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sakuraba's guard. Nice move by Vieira!

Vieira with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vieira lands a couple of digs.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.
Sakuraba is striking from the bottom but Vieira uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Sakuraba flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sakuraba wants to sweep but Vieira has passed to side control!
Vieira avoids the strikes from the bottom by Sakuraba.
Vieira moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieira lands an elbow.
Sakuraba tries to buck Vieira off but Vieira is having none of it.
Vieira working the head with strikes.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep but Vieira has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Vieira is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sakuraba really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vieira is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vieira lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Vieira looking to control but Sakuraba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieira lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sakuraba hang on?
Sakuraba taking shots to the head.
BOOM! Vieira connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Sakuraba is rocked!
Sakuraba is working to get back to half guard.
Vieira wants to control the pace but Sakuraba is squirming around nicely.
Vieira landing punches.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vieira working the ground and pound effectively.
Sakuraba is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Vieira working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sakuraba regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vieira trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuraba is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vieira cracks Sakuraba with a solid left hand.
Sakuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vieira trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vieira landing with the ground and pound.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Vieira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.

Vieira closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sakuraba to the mat! Sakuraba manages to get full guard.
Vieira lands a couple of digs.
Vieira with a nice head shot there.
Vieira won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.
Sakuraba lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Vieira blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vieira tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vieira controls Sakuraba momentarily but Sakuraba frees himself.
Vieira is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking to get back to full guard here but Vieira has managed to pass to side control instead.
Vieira scores with a couple of short elbows.
Vieira working the head with strikes.
Roberto Vieira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakuraba tries to buck Vieira off but Vieira is having none of it.
Vieira working the ground and pound.
Vieira scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sakuraba to see if he's OK.
Vieira is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vieira has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vieira scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sakuraba to see if he's OK.
Sakuraba tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Vieira presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Sakuraba can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba regains half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.
Vieira working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Vieira working over Sakuraba with some ground and pound. Sakuraba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sakuraba is looking for a sweep. Vieira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Vieira is keen to just control but Sakuraba is a slippery customer.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vieira lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba tries to roll over but Vieira keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieira working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Vieira seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakuraba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sakuraba is pressing down on Vieira's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sakuraba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vieira is one step ahead there.
Vieira postures up and lands a big shot to Sakuraba's brow.
Sakuraba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vieira lands a couple of digs.
Vieira won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.
Sakuraba is looking to sweep but instead, Vieira has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to get back to full guard but Vieira has mounted him!
Vieira unloading with bombs!
Vieira cracks Sakuraba with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Oh Sakuraba is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sakuraba regains half guard.
Vieira lands strikes from half guard.
Sakuraba has hold of Vieira's hands but Vieira slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Vieira lands with a punch from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vieira sitting in half guard here. He lands a big elbow that has hurt Sakuraba! Oh, Sakuraba is in big trouble! Vieira lands more strikes and the ref dives in to save him! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Roberto Vieira!