PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dr Acula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Sakuraba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Acula
vs
Sakuraba

195 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dr Acula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sakuraba is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Acula is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Acula has escaped and now he's on top!

Sakuraba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Acula gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Acula trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Acula is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sakuraba can't keep his opponent in guard - Acula advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acula tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sakuraba controls his leg.
Sakuraba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Acula will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Sakuraba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Acula can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Acula won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.
Sakuraba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Acula's guard.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Acula's guard.
Sakuraba is looking to pass Acula's guard but actually Acula recovers to full guard.
Sakuraba stopping the sweep attempt from Acula.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Acula is keeping the position for now.

Sakuraba thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Acula is keeping the position for now.

Sakuraba postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Acula is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sakuraba, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Acula controls the pace.
Sakuraba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle here but Acula uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Acula controlling the position from side mount.
Acula wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Acula landing strikes.
Acula wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling his arm.
Sakuraba is trying to improve his position.
Acula controlling the position from side mount.
Acula knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakuraba on the ground.
Sakuraba is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Sakuraba swats away the attempt to clinch by Acula.
Acula tries to clinch up but Sakuraba circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakuraba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Acula's waist but Acula gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sakuraba off to one side.
Acula scores with the left hand. Sakuraba knows he should have avoided that one.
Acula pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sakuraba darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Sakuraba is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Acula has managed to free his arm - good work.
Acula wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba seems to be working for a kimura but Acula defends the submission attempt.

Sakuraba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Acula doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakuraba.
Sakuraba looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Acula is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Sakuraba seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Acula is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Kazushi Sakuraba!