PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salimo Tam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hidehiko Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tam comes to the cage accompanied by holding out for a hero. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tam
vs
Sakuraba

174 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salimo Tam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hidehiko Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tam wants to stand up but Sakuraba is controlling him.
Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba won't allow Tam to get back to his feet.

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

Tam looking for a guillotine here but Sakuraba defends easily.
Sakuraba prevents Tam from getting back to his feet.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Tam is retaining full guard.
Sakuraba stops Tam from standing up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Tam gets a clinch.
Sakuraba is looking to break free of the clinch but Tam has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to land knees in the clinch but Tam avoids the damage to the body.
Sakuraba looks gassed!

Tam breaks the clinch.
Tam wants to clinch.
Tam tries for a takedown but Sakuraba circles away easily

and Sakuraba counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tam's guard now.
Sakuraba stops Tam from standing up.

Sakuraba drops back looking for a leg! Tam is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tam manages to kick Sakuraba off! Sakuraba jumps back into Tam's guard.
Tam is looking to stand up but Sakuraba isn't so interested in that idea.
Tam is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Sakuraba dives into side control.
Tam wants to get back to his feet but Sakuraba drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is trying to get an arm triangle but Tam is defending well.

Sakuraba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tam is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tam knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakuraba on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tam tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

Sakuraba is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Tam is trying to escape and Sakuraba transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Tam is forced to tap! Nice work there by Sakuraba! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hidehiko Sakuraba!