PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver Schwalle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Schwalle has chosen Max Payne theme as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Sakuraba
vs
Schwalle

183 cm
34
175 lbs
32 - 20 - 0

188 cm
31
183 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

VIRAL COMBAT

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 32 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Oliver Schwalle!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Schwalle.
Schwalle fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Schwalle closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sakuraba quickly recovers to half guard.
Sakuraba tries to get to full guard but Schwalle has control of the leg.

Schwalle seems to be working for a kimura but Sakuraba defends the submission attempt.
My spies in Facebreaker Academy - Striking inform me that Schwalle has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Sakuraba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Schwalle.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sakuraba working for a triangle but Schwalle defends it easily.
Sakuraba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Schwalle defends easily.
Schwalle content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

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

Schwalle got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sakuraba has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Schwalle has managed to get both his arms back between Sakuraba's legs - danger averted.
Sakuraba seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Sakuraba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sakuraba looking to control but Schwalle passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwalle looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Schwalle is working for a submission of some sort.
Schwalle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakuraba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Schwalle takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Schwalle.
Ground and pound from Schwalle.
Sakuraba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Schwalle.
Schwalle not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba actively working from the bottom here.
Schwalle moves into full mount! Sakuraba won't be happy about that!
Sakuraba regains half guard.
Schwalle passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sakuraba!
Schwalle with a couple of short strikes.
Sakuraba taking shots to the head.

Sakuraba is rocked!
Schwalle lands a big elbow - Sakuraba is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Sakuraba is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Oliver Schwalle!
After winning the bout, Oliver Schwalle thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.