PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hayate Sakurai (ranked 2619 p4p, 228 weight class) and Robin Gracie (ranked 2561 p4p, 221 weight class). Gracie has chosen Olha a Explosão as his entrance music. Robin Gracie has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Hayate Sakurai's chin.

Sakurai
vs
Gracie

166 cm
25
151 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

168 cm
25
152 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hayate Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Robin Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakurai shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

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 trying to control from the bottom.
Gracie is holding on to half guard well.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura here.

Sakurai seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is pressing down on Sakurai's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sakurai is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakurai is aware though and is defending well.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Sakurai pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Sakurai looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gracie trying to hold on to Sakurai's head to control him but Sakurai postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sakurai is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.

Sakurai wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sakurai is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Gracie as he works his way to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Sakurai defends easily.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sakurai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakurai definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sakurai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sakurai drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.

Gracie trying to control but Sakurai is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.

Sakurai looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sakurai is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Sakurai working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.

Sakurai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
My spies in Yaw-Yan MMA inform me that Gracie has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Sakurai is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sakurai can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayate Sakurai dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sakurai shoots and misses

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.

Sakurai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sakurai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gracie passes Sakurai's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sakurai is not content to let Gracie control the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sakurai has managed to free his arm - good work.

Sakurai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sakurai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sakurai tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Sakurai is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Sakurai wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Sakurai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Sakurai looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sakurai looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sakurai has managed to free his arm - good work.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie is taking a breather. Sakurai says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Sakurai manages to get to full guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Sakurai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Sakurai working for submissions but it's allowed Gracie to get to half guard.

Sakurai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sakurai is trying to get back to full guard.

Sakurai actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sakurai is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Gracie controlling the pace.

Gracie has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Sakurai defend it? Gracie steps over the head and cranks it - Sakurai is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Robin Gracie!
Our winner, Robin Gracie, 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.