Post by The Sandmen on Apr 8, 2013 18:56:18 GMT -5
Josh Koscheck is calm in his corner. He looks convinced of his abilities.
Ferocious staredown by Sakuraba while Mario Yamasaki recites the rules.
This is the first time they meet inside the cage
The bets gives an equal chance to both fighters to score the win today.
Josh Koscheck comes with a 2 fight winning streak.
The referee of the bout is Mario Yamasaki.
=========================================
Round 1
=========================================
The bell announces the first round!
0:12 Round 1 and Koscheck is still in good shape. He sure has trained hard for this fight.
Josh Koscheck tries to bring the fight to the ground
Sakuraba goes down.
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck is moving on the ground...
Ouch! That was a headbutt! Did he do that intentionally?
Mario Yamasaki didn't see the foul!
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck tries to open up Kazushi Sakuraba's defense faking a few punches.
He is aggressively and repeatedly punching Sakuraba in the side of the head
Sakuraba has a small cut in his Forehead
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Sakuraba tries to stand up!
Koscheck doesn't allow him!
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Stand up! This is what Koscheck's cornermen are shouting. Kazushi Sakuraba is a submission master and he can finish the fight if you mess with him on the ground.
Sakuraba tries to stand up!
he is now on his feet
Josh Koscheck doesn't want to continue the fight in this position and tries to get back on his feet
He moves fast and now he is standing
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in Gwangmyeong Velodrome (Gwangmyeong, South Korea) are cheering for the fighters.
Sakuraba is holding Josh Koscheck's left leg... He's trying to take him down.
Josh Koscheck shows great balance while pushing away Kazushi Sakuraba
Josh Koscheck tries to take the fight to the ground with a one leg takedown...
Sakuraba is unable to remain on his feet and falls to the ground
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck launches a barrage of elbows over Sakuraba's face!
Those elbows may finish the fight soon if Sakuraba doesn't fight back!
Sakuraba's Right eye is bruised after the punishement he's received!
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Josh Koscheck pushes Kazushi Sakuraba against the fence and then tries to improve his position.
Koscheck jumps and tries to free his leg! Sakuraba doesn't allow this but Josh Koscheck is able to get half guard here.
The clock says 1:55 in the 1 round
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Kazushi Sakuraba attempts to move to full guard
Josh Koscheck keeps good control and remains in half guard.
The clock says 2:05 in the 1 round
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck is looking to end this fight with strikes
He starts to pound away at Kazushi Sakuraba, who is barely covering up!
Sakuraba's Right cheek is beginning to swell
Sakuraba has a small cut in his Right cheek
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck positions himself for a round of ground and pound and tries to finish the fight with some precise elbows!
One, two, three! Sakuraba's being punished here!
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck is trying to better his position on the ground and launches a couple of elbows against Sakuraba's ribs.
Sakuraba is noticing that and his face shows the pain.
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Sakuraba tries to stand up!
Koscheck doesn't allow him!
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Sakuraba tries to move on the ground and shows Josh Koscheck a crack in his guard which he uses for a big elbow!
Bang! Sakuraba's forehead receives a strong elbow that rocks his head against the mat! Mario Yamasaki knows he may be calling off the fight soon!
Sakuraba's Forehead is bruised after the punishement he's received!
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck sits over his knees and pushes away Sakuraba's leg!
Josh Koscheck is able to put away his leg and then jumps to side mount.
The clock says 3:10 in the 1 round
Josh Koscheck is in side mount over Kazushi Sakuraba
Koscheck is looking to end this fight with strikes
He starts to pound away at Kazushi Sakuraba, who is barely covering up!
This is over! That impact from Josh Koscheck has left Sakuraba laying flat on the mat!
Sakuraba has a small cut in his Left eye
Winner is Josh Koscheck by KO (GnP) at 3:18 Round 1
Statistics: Josh Koscheck
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 1/1 (100%)
Takedowns 2/2 (100%)
GnP strikes 21/25 (84%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 154 s
Statistics: Kazushi Sakuraba
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/1 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 154 s
Okay, here's the thing. I'm not sure what the deal is with Sakuraba, because he is one of the higher rated MWs right now - on par with Koscheck (really, in terms of overall, he is). But it seems like since he excels at nothing, but is very good at everything, people who excel in anything dominate him in that area - like Kos and takedowns/GnP here.
Don't give up on Sakuraba. He is legit, and close. He just needs to find his offense.
Ferocious staredown by Sakuraba while Mario Yamasaki recites the rules.
This is the first time they meet inside the cage
The bets gives an equal chance to both fighters to score the win today.
Josh Koscheck comes with a 2 fight winning streak.
The referee of the bout is Mario Yamasaki.
=========================================
Round 1
=========================================
The bell announces the first round!
0:12 Round 1 and Koscheck is still in good shape. He sure has trained hard for this fight.
Josh Koscheck tries to bring the fight to the ground
Sakuraba goes down.
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck is moving on the ground...
Ouch! That was a headbutt! Did he do that intentionally?
Mario Yamasaki didn't see the foul!
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck tries to open up Kazushi Sakuraba's defense faking a few punches.
He is aggressively and repeatedly punching Sakuraba in the side of the head
Sakuraba has a small cut in his Forehead
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Sakuraba tries to stand up!
Koscheck doesn't allow him!
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Stand up! This is what Koscheck's cornermen are shouting. Kazushi Sakuraba is a submission master and he can finish the fight if you mess with him on the ground.
Sakuraba tries to stand up!
he is now on his feet
Josh Koscheck doesn't want to continue the fight in this position and tries to get back on his feet
He moves fast and now he is standing
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in Gwangmyeong Velodrome (Gwangmyeong, South Korea) are cheering for the fighters.
Sakuraba is holding Josh Koscheck's left leg... He's trying to take him down.
Josh Koscheck shows great balance while pushing away Kazushi Sakuraba
Josh Koscheck tries to take the fight to the ground with a one leg takedown...
Sakuraba is unable to remain on his feet and falls to the ground
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck launches a barrage of elbows over Sakuraba's face!
Those elbows may finish the fight soon if Sakuraba doesn't fight back!
Sakuraba's Right eye is bruised after the punishement he's received!
Josh Koscheck is in open guard over Sakuraba
Josh Koscheck pushes Kazushi Sakuraba against the fence and then tries to improve his position.
Koscheck jumps and tries to free his leg! Sakuraba doesn't allow this but Josh Koscheck is able to get half guard here.
The clock says 1:55 in the 1 round
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Kazushi Sakuraba attempts to move to full guard
Josh Koscheck keeps good control and remains in half guard.
The clock says 2:05 in the 1 round
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck is looking to end this fight with strikes
He starts to pound away at Kazushi Sakuraba, who is barely covering up!
Sakuraba's Right cheek is beginning to swell
Sakuraba has a small cut in his Right cheek
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck positions himself for a round of ground and pound and tries to finish the fight with some precise elbows!
One, two, three! Sakuraba's being punished here!
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck is trying to better his position on the ground and launches a couple of elbows against Sakuraba's ribs.
Sakuraba is noticing that and his face shows the pain.
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Sakuraba tries to stand up!
Koscheck doesn't allow him!
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Sakuraba tries to move on the ground and shows Josh Koscheck a crack in his guard which he uses for a big elbow!
Bang! Sakuraba's forehead receives a strong elbow that rocks his head against the mat! Mario Yamasaki knows he may be calling off the fight soon!
Sakuraba's Forehead is bruised after the punishement he's received!
Josh Koscheck is in half guard over Sakuraba
Koscheck sits over his knees and pushes away Sakuraba's leg!
Josh Koscheck is able to put away his leg and then jumps to side mount.
The clock says 3:10 in the 1 round
Josh Koscheck is in side mount over Kazushi Sakuraba
Koscheck is looking to end this fight with strikes
He starts to pound away at Kazushi Sakuraba, who is barely covering up!
This is over! That impact from Josh Koscheck has left Sakuraba laying flat on the mat!
Sakuraba has a small cut in his Left eye
Winner is Josh Koscheck by KO (GnP) at 3:18 Round 1
Statistics: Josh Koscheck
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 1/1 (100%)
Takedowns 2/2 (100%)
GnP strikes 21/25 (84%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 154 s
Statistics: Kazushi Sakuraba
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/1 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 154 s
Okay, here's the thing. I'm not sure what the deal is with Sakuraba, because he is one of the higher rated MWs right now - on par with Koscheck (really, in terms of overall, he is). But it seems like since he excels at nothing, but is very good at everything, people who excel in anything dominate him in that area - like Kos and takedowns/GnP here.
Don't give up on Sakuraba. He is legit, and close. He just needs to find his offense.