PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fabian Gammad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazuushi Sakuraba struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gammad
vs
Sakuraba

180 cm
18
170 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

175 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fabian Gammad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Sosuke Kotani and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gammad's half guard.
Gammad keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Sakuraba escapes and gets back to his feet.
Gammad has his takedown stuffed

and Sakuraba counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gammad's guard now.
Sakuraba would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sakuraba is fighting to break Gammad's control of his arms but Gammad is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sakuraba with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Gammad keeps moving.
Gammad trying to keep a closed guard but Sakuraba is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control but Gammad is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gammad will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sakuraba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gammad decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sakuraba's guard.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
Sakuraba working a defensive guard here.
Gammad's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Gammad from controlling successfully.

Gammad gets to his feet. Sakuraba looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sakuraba prevents Gammad from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gammad desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Sakuraba wants to stand up but Gammad is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gammad wants to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba wants to take a breather but Gammad is having none of it.
Gammad tries to kick Sakuraba off but Sakuraba keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sakuraba has his takedown stuffed

and Gammad counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gammad.
Sakuraba has Gammad pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gammad manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Fabian Gammad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazuushi Sakuraba.
Sakuraba wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sakuraba is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gammad is keeping busy.
Sakuraba can't get the takedown.
Sakuraba tries to score a body lock takedown but Gammad shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sakuraba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gammad gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gammad looking to throw knees to the head but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakuraba has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gammad is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Gammad manages to get underhooks.
Sakuraba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gammad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kazuushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gammad with a poor takedown

and Sakuraba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gammad's guard.
Sakuraba's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Sakuraba is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gammad is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gammad has escaped and now he's on top!
Gammad stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.

Sakuraba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to control but Gammad passes into half guard.
Sakuraba won't allow Gammad to pass to mount.
Sakuraba wants to improve his position but Gammad is controlling well.
Sakuraba is trying to stand back up but Gammad is controlling him
Gammad is keen to just control but Sakuraba is a slippery customer.
Gammad is thwarting Sakuraba's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gammad doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sakuraba counters with a takedown into side control.
Gammad is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sakuraba's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gammad trying to control here.
Gammad keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sakuraba tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gammad knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sakuraba is stalling here. Gammad is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sakuraba seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gammad has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kazuushi Sakuraba has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba can't do much from the bottom here.
Sakuraba is trying to improve his position.

Gammad stands up.

Sakuraba drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sakuraba controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gammad is looking for a sweep.
Gammad tries to control but Sakuraba manages to take his back.
Gammad staying busy and making it hard for Sakuraba to control.
Gammad trying to control the action but Sakuraba just sinks the hooks in.
Gammad is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sakuraba is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuushi Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gammad's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt

and Gammad counters with a single leg into guard. Sakuraba didn't expect that.

Sakuraba is working an open guard so Gammad takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Gammad misses with a takedown

and Sakuraba counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sakuraba.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sakuraba stands and throws Gammad's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sakuraba trying to control the position but Gammad is working away.
Sakuraba tries to advance to mount but Gammad denies him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gammad taking a bit of punishment here - Sakuraba scoring with strikes.
Sakuraba working away.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gammad keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sakuraba doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gammad counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sakuraba!
Gammad takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gammad avoids the attempt from Sakuraba to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gammad sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gammad tries to control but Sakuraba wriggling away.
Gammad controlling from mount.
Gammad prevents Sakuraba from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sakuraba is trying to stand up.
Gammad avoids the attempt from Sakuraba to control.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakuraba is trying to stand up.
Sakuraba is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Gammad pushes him away.
Gammad can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakuraba is looking to escape.
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Gammad postures up.
Sakuraba is trying to escape the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabian Gammad showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sakuraba has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Fabian Gammad!