PBP Commentary

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

Graciem
vs
Sakuraba

150 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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 Graciem!
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 Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graciem moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sakuraba doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Graciem counters with a right hand to the body.
Sakuraba throws a head kick but Graciem moves out of range.

Sakuraba closes the distance and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Graciem.
A short right from Graciem.
Graciem scores with a shoulder strike.
Graciem lands a right hand.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Graciem just stands there and leans against the cage.
Graciem lands with a left to the head.
Graciem gets through Sakuraba's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sakuraba pushes off an throws an elbow but Graciem leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Graciem pushes Sakuraba back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graciem works on Sakuraba's body with a couple of short punches.
Graciem presses Sakuraba against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Graciem gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Royce Graciem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Graciem lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Graciem stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Graciem pushes Sakuraba back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Graciem pushes Sakuraba back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Graciem lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Graciem blocks an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Graciem.
Graciem lands with a light punch inside.
Graciem lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sakuraba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graciem lands with a left to the head.
Graciem content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Graciem lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Graciem - that landed with a thud.
Graciem lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Graciem really is a fat lump.
Graciem lands a shoulder strike.
Graciem throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sakurabas head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Still in the clinch, Graciem scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Graciem.
A hook to the body from Graciem.
Graciem lands with a left to the head.
Sakuraba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Graciem smiles and moves away.
Sakuraba looks winded!
Sakuraba doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sakuraba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graciem lands a head shot.

Sakuraba tries to keep at a distance but Graciem has taken the fight into the clinch.
Graciem cracks Sakuraba with a nice body shot.
Graciem digs a right hand into Sakuraba's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sakuraba's gas tank.
A nice left hand lands by Graciem.
Graciem stops a takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Graciem gets through Sakuraba's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Graciem lands a hook to the side of the head.
Graciem gets through Sakuraba's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Graciem lands with a light punch inside.
Graciem working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Graciem lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Graciem.
Sakuraba looking to slow down the pace here.
Graciem lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Graciem softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Graciem softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Graciem.

Sakuraba is rocked!
Graciem working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sakuraba is still on wobbly legs! Can Graciem finish him?
Sakuraba looking for a takedown.
Graciem lands with a light punch inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A short left from Graciem.
Graciem lands an uppercut.
Graciem lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Graciem dominated that round.
That's time! Graciem's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Graciem rushes Sakuraba with punches - Sakuraba moves straight backwards instead of circling and gets clipped by the second strike... and the third... and the fourth! Oh, Sakuraba goes down! Graciem follows up with more strikes and the ref steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Royce Graciem!