PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba has chosen speed tk remix as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Sakuraba

185 cm
25
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Sakuraba.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Sakuraba's guard.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie throwing shots but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Sakuraba's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is looking to get to half guard.
BOOM! Gracie connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee warns Sakuraba that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gracie controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba is working to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Gracie.
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sakuraba in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gracie throws some wild stikes that Sakuraba manages to avoid easily.
Sakuraba gets back to half guard.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Sakuraba!
Sakuraba is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sakuraba in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sakuraba really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.
Sakuraba takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Sakuraba is squirming around nicely.
Gracie with good strikes from the mount here!
Sakuraba working to try and regain half guard.
Sakuraba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.

Gracie with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Sakuraba is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sakuraba wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sakuraba.

Sakuraba closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.

Gracie makes his way to full guard, as Sakuraba worked for a kimura.
Sakuraba postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sakuraba is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakuraba manages to get himself to full guard.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
Gracie distracts Sakuraba with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control the position.
Gracie is pushing down on Sakuraba's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sakuraba is fighting to maintain full guard but Gracie has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Sakuraba dodges it nicely.
Well, if Gracie is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sakuraba wants to get back to full guard but Gracie has mounted him!
Sakuraba tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Gracie trying to control but Sakuraba is having none of it.

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 crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gracie cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Gracie quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Gracie but it's paid off an Sakuraba is forced to tap! Nice work by Gracie.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Royce Gracie!