PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gouki Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernard Vice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sakuraba
vs
Vice

177 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gouki Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bernard Vice!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Damien Edna and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vice throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sakuraba's waist but Sakuraba gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vice off to one side.
Vice fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sakuraba avoids it really well and circles away.
Sakuraba wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sakuraba cracks Vice with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Vice throws a one two combo.

It looks like Gouki Sakuraba has been cut.
Vice throws a right hand that Sakuraba ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakuraba also avoids with ease.
Donk. Vice catches Sakuraba right on the button with a cross.
Sakuraba lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Bernard Vice has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Vice.
Sakuraba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vice moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vice swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Vice gets a takedown into half guard.
Vice is stalling here. Sakuraba is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Vice seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sakuraba has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sakuraba remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Sakuraba tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Vice's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vice is looking to reverse the position.
Vice is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vice can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sakuraba tries to stand but Vice is controlling his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vice is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba taking a breather here.
Sakuraba wants to stand but Vice is controlling his arm.
Vice is trying to improve his position.
Vice manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sakuraba's best efforts.
Vice is looking to get back to full guard here but Sakuraba has managed to pass to side control instead.
Vice tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba decides to stand back up.
Sakuraba stalks Vice and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Vice's face. Vice staggers backwards, shaken.
Sakuraba misses with a double jab.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
Sakuraba dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Gouki Sakuraba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuraba throws a series of strikes that have Vice backpedaling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vice shoots in for a double leg but Sakuraba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gouki Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernard Vice.
Vice looks gassed!
Sakuraba comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sakuraba ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sakuraba lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vice.
Vice needs to keep his hands up - Sakuraba had a free shot at his head there.
Gouki Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left and a right from Sakuraba both land. Nice combination.
Vice shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sakuraba but Sakuraba pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sakuraba fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sakuraba misses with a two punch combination.
Sakuraba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vice circles away quickly and effectively.
Sakuraba gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Vice eats them both and turns towards Sakuraba to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A cross from Sakuraba lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gouki Sakuraba dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sakuraba lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sakuraba displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Vice is rocked!
Sakuraba feints a jab promting Vice to slip. Sakuraba then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Vice slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Vice is still on wobbly legs! Can Sakuraba finish him?
Vice takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba connects with a jab.
Sakuraba connects with the punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vice takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sakuraba is working the combinations to good effect here.
Vice shoots in for a takedown but Sakuraba shows good takedown defense.
Sakuraba ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Vice is breathing heavily.
Vice fails to land the takedown.
Sakuraba feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vice's calf.
Vice seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba feints a jab promting Vice to slip. Sakuraba then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Vice slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sakuraba lands with a nice body punch.
Vice has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sakuraba lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Vice backs up against the cage.

That has opened up Bernard Vice's cut even more.
Sakuraba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakuraba clobbers Vice with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakuraba fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba connects with a single shot there.
Vice on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sakuraba.
Sakuraba lands a leg kick that knocks Vice off balance momentarily.
Sakuraba fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vice looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vice with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sakuraba to score with a decent uppercut.
Vice avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuraba throws a shot to the body.
Vice has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sakuraba throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gouki Sakuraba is winning the standup battle so far.
Sakuraba tries to bum rush Vice with a series of wild strikes but Vice uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vice has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sakuraba scores with a leg kick.
Sakuraba is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vice can do to turn this around?
Sakuraba misses with the combination.
Sakuraba lands a jab to Vice's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vice has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sakuraba!
Sakuraba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vice.
Sakuraba misses with a double jab.
Gouki Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuraba throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vice stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Vice's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sakuraba lands a jab to Vice's midsection.
Vice takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sakuraba cracks Vice with an open hand slap.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sakuraba scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sakuraba scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba lands a body shot.
Sakuraba displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sakuraba works over Vice's head and body with a nice combination.
Sakuraba scores with a three punch combo!

The cut above Bernard Vice's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
Vice takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sakuraba moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sakuraba connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Vice's hands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vice takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Vice shoots in for a takedown but Sakuraba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gouki Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernard Vice.
Sakuraba throws a one two combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gouki Sakuraba dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Vice avoids them all with ease.
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Vice moves out of range.
Vice fails to land the takedown.
Sakuraba misses with a few strikes there.
A left and a right from Sakuraba both land. Nice combination.
Vice is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba stuffs the takedown attempt from Vice. Vice gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakuraba shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Vice eats them both and turns towards Sakuraba to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Vice shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakuraba defends it nicely.
Gouki Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernard Vice.
Vice takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sakuraba fakes the leg kick and cracks Vice in the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba drops Vice with a beautiful combination! Vice stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Sakuraba is looking for the KO!
Sakuraba connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Vice momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right-left combo lands from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a wild combination.
Sakuraba connects with an inside leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Sakuraba. That snapped Vice's head back.
Vice takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sakuraba lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Vice at a distance.
Vice on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Vice moves out of range.
Sakuraba goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a series of strikes that have Vice backpedaling.
Sakuraba's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sakuraba duly obliges.
Sakuraba connects with a right that clearly hurt Vice. He's backed up against the cage with nowhere to go as Sakuraba proceeds to tee off with vicious combinations till Vice collapses and taps out under the pressure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gouki Sakuraba!
Our winner, Gouki Sakuraba, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.