PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tamao Serizawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Royce Gracie will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Serizawa
vs
Gracie

184 cm
24
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tamao Serizawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fails with the takedown

and Serizawa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Serizawa wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Gracie has his foot on Serizawa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Serizawa works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Serizawa has passed into side control.
Serizawa taking a breather here.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Serizawa off and has taken his back!
Serizawa tries to break free.

Gracie tightening his grip on Serizawa, looking for the choke.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Serizawa breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Serizawa sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Serizawa tries to pass.
Serizawa stays in close to Gracie's body and controls the position.
Serizawa looking to pass the guard.

Tamao Serizawa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Serizawa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Gracie isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Serizawa stacks Gracie on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Serizawa!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Serizawa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.

Serizawa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie is being controlled here.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Serizawa off and has taken his back!
Serizawa rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Serizawa is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Serizawa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serizawa moves into full guard.

Serizawa working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Serizawa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Serizawa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Serizawa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Serizawa manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Serizawa's guard.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Serizawa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Serizawa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Serizawa!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Serizawa tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.

Serizawa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Serizawa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Serizawa is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Gracie's shoulder. That is not cool.
Gracie tries to buck Serizawa off but Serizawa is having none of it.
Serizawa advances nicely into full mount.
Serizawa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie has given up his back. Will we see Serizawa going for some submissions?
Gracie is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tamao Serizawa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie misses with a takedown

and Serizawa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Serizawa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Serizawa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Serizawa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Serizawa.
Tamao Serizawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Gracie.
Serizawa is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Serizawa is stalling here.
Gracie is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Serizawa is defending well.

Serizawa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie moves out of range of the leg kick from Serizawa.
Serizawa throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Gracie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Serizawa pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Serizawa passes to side control.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Serizawa off and has taken his back!
Serizawa rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Serizawa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Serizawa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Serizawa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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.
Serizawa has control of Gracie's left arm, preventing Gracie from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Serizawa looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Serizawa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serizawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Serizawa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Serizawa's legs - danger averted.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gracie has gone for a leg lock! Serizawa slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.
Serizawa sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serizawa works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Serizawa jumps into side control!
Serizawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Serizawa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Serizawa controls the position.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Serizawa is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Serizawa is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tamao Serizawa dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Serizawa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Serizawa trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Serizawa content to control rather than advance.
Serizawa tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tamao Serizawa.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Serizawa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
Serizawa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie regains half guard.
Serizawa controlling the pace.
Serizawa prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Serizawa passes to full mount!

Serizawa is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Serizawa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Tamao Serizawa!