PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akira Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai's entrance music is Pride FC Theme. A fine choice. Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Born To Win kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sakurai
vs
Gracie

184 cm
25
185 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

175 cm
20
175 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Win Nutritional

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryan Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakurai instigates a clinch.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sakurai fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sakurai's waist but Sakurai gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Sakurai sprawls well.
Akira Sakurai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Gracie.

Sakurai clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Sakurai manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sakurai throws an elbow that misses.
Sakurai lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Ryan Gracie has been cut.

Sakurai has hold of one of Gracie's legs. Gracie is fighting the takedown attempt but Sakurai gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakurai is aware though and is defending well.
Sakurai chips away with some ground and pound.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sakurai throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Sakurai pushes his legs off easily.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sakurai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracie looks gassed!
Sakurai stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Sakurai from controlling successfully.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sakurai controls the pace.
Sakurai distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sakurai landing some decent shots from guard.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Sakurai pushes his legs off easily.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakurai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai stays in close to Gracie's body and controls the position.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakurai is one step ahead there.
Sakurai 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.
Sakurai trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Sakurai pushes his legs off easily.
Sakurai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sakurai lands a nice shot to the body.
Gracie misses with a looping right.
Sakurai lands with a right hand.
Sakurai bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gracie's head backwards.
Gracie tries to bum rush Sakurai with a series of wild strikes but Sakurai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sakurai lands an overhand right.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Good shot there by Sakurai.

Sakurai drops Gracie with a left and a right! Oh, Gracie is hurt - Sakurai dives into side control looking to finish!

Gracie is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakurai in side control lands a decent elbow.
Gracie is still in real trouble! Can Sakurai finish him?
Gracie is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Gracie takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gracie takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sakurai working the ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai controls the position.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie seems to have recovered his senses.
Nice strikes from Sakurai there.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Sakurai.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakurai scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ground and pound from Sakurai.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Sakurai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Gracie's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gracie as he jumps to the side.
Sakurai misses with a hook.
Gracie shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sakurai stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sakurai wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Sakurai moves out of range.
Sakurai tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sakurai throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Sakurai is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Sakurai misses with a wild body shot.
Sakurai moves out of range as Gracie strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gracie as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Sakurai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Sakurai as Gracie shoots in.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Sakurai sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakurai.
Sakurai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gracie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Sakurai sprawls well.
Sakurai lands a jab to the nose.
Sakurai lands with a nice body punch.
Sakurai lands with a cross.
Sakurai misses with a body shot.
Sakurai tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Sakurai sprawls well.
Sakurai is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Sakurai pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai lands an elbow inside that Gracie shrugs off.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sakurai throws an elbow but misses.

Sakurai is trying to trip Gracie. He has hold of a leg but Gracie is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Sakurai persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Sakurai drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!
Sakurai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sakurai is not content to let Gracie control the position.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sakurai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sakurai, who protects the arm well.
Sakurai regains half guard.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sakurai is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gracie's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sakurai keeps control of the position as Gracie tries to break free.
Sakurai is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Gracie is keeping busy.
Sakurai is punishing Gracie with strikes - can he finish him?!

Sakurai looking for the choke but no joy.
Gracie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakurai's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakurai's back!
Gracie misses with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Sakurai dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Gracie's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie lands with a shot to the body.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sakurai counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Sakurai wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakurai sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gracie working for a triangle but Sakurai defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Sakurai is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Sakurai eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Gracie wants to control but Sakurai is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Sakurai has control of the leg.

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.

Sakurai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakurai.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Sakurai postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Sakurai has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Sakurai slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Akira Sakurai is winning the standup battle so far.
Sakurai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Sakurai sprawls well.
Gracie closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sakurai avoids a punch combination nicely.

Sakurai scores a takedown into full mount!
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Sakurai working for a guillotine from mount but Gracie is in no mood to give up.

Sakurai goes for an armbar but Gracie turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gracie.
Akira Sakurai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie postures up.
Ryan Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakurai is retaining full guard.
Sakurai is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Gracie seems to have locked his on tight now - Sakurai screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Gracie, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Ryan Gracie!