PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kim Gauthier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuri Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gauthier
vs
Sakuraba

187 cm
22
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kim Gauthier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuri Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Sakuraba misses.
Gauthier tries to clinch up.
Sakuraba stuffs the takedown.
Gauthier looks for a takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well.
Gauthier throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sakuraba's waist but Gauthier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gauthier off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kim Gauthier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gauthier looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakuraba fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gauthier showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gauthier shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sakuraba but Sakuraba pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gauthier is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gauthier shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sakuraba pinned against the cage. Sakuraba gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gauthier fails with the takedown.

Sakuraba drives through and clinches with Gauthier against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gauthier has had enough of the clinch but Sakuraba keeps him there for the moment.

Sakuraba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gauthier showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakuraba.

Sakuraba clinches.

Sakuraba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sakuraba thuds his shin into the meat of Gauthier's side.
Sakuraba misses with the combination.
Gauthier tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sakuraba counters with a left and a right that stings Gauthier.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sakuraba misses with a low kick as Gauthier jumps back.
Gauthier fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuraba misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sakuraba falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gauthier counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sakuraba tries to kick Gauthier off but Gauthier keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gauthier is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakuraba is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gauthier wants to work for an arm triangle but Sakuraba is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Gauthier is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba is trying to stand.

Sakuraba manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sakuraba misses with a double jab
and Gauthier counters with a two punch combo.
Gauthier scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Sakuraba is rocked!
Gauthier lands a big head kick that sends Sakuraba to the canvas! Gauthier follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kim Gauthier!