PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darque Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hidehiko Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hidehiko Sakuraba will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Knight
vs
Sakuraba

175 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
26
189 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darque Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hidehiko Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sakuraba circles away.
Knight changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sakuraba tries to avoid it but Knight manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sakuraba to the ground. Sakuraba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sakuraba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darque Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight shoots for a takedown but Sakuraba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Knight shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakuraba defends it nicely.

Sakuraba shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Knight is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakuraba pulls his head out easily.
Knight might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sakuraba seems to be working for a kimura but Knight defends the submission attempt.
Knight has a hand on Sakuraba's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Sakuraba takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight is squirming around, avoiding Sakuraba's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sakuraba working for a submission but Knight is keeping him at bay.
Sakuraba looking to ground and pound but Knight is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight gets back to half guard.

Knight looking for submissions off his back.
Sakuraba is trying to control. Knight wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two 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.

Knight looking for a kimura from the bottom but Sakuraba passes into side control!
Knight is looking to regain half guard here but Sakuraba keeps moving and retains side control.

Sakuraba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Knight, who protects the arm well.
Knight manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.

Knight is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sakuraba doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Knight.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is defending against the submission attempts here by Knight.

Sakuraba is defending against the submission attempts here by Knight.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.

Sakuraba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Knight pulls his head out easily.
Sakuraba looks gassed!

Sakuraba actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Knight looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Knight is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sakuraba doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Knight.

Knight is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Knight is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakuraba sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hidehiko Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Knight gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Sakuraba counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sakuraba stays in close to Knight's body and controls the position.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knight is keeping the position for now.

Knight looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Knight is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuraba is aware though and is defending well.
Sakuraba trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.

Sakuraba got a little sloppy there for a moment and Knight has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sakuraba has managed to get both his arms back between Knight's legs - danger averted.

Knight throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sakuraba lying in Knight's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Knight decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Sakuraba taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Darque Knight!