PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Yushi Sakura (ranked 4168 p4p, 5124 weight class) and Charles Mason (ranked 371 p4p, 404 weight class). Charles Mason looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Sakura
vs
Mason

180 cm
23
152
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
145
1 - 2 - 0

Decent elbows
Good chin

Good kicks
Granite chin

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 Tokyo, Yushi Sakura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Charles Mason !
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakura circles away.
Sakura keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A low kick from Mason is predictable there
and Sakura counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sakura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Mason paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mason throws a body kick that misses.
Charles Mason seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mason swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mason is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sakura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mason throws a head kick that half lands.
Mason looks winded!
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mason tries a quick counter leg kick but Sakura is wise to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mason rushes Sakura and presses him up against the ropes.
Mason lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakura backwards.
Sakura is looking to break free of the clinch but Mason has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason misses with a body punch.
Mason avoiding damage.

Mason escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sakura with a nice calf kick.
Sakura tries to clinch there but Mason circles away.
Mason keeps the fight on the outside.
Mason throws a counter combo.

Sakura tries to keep at a distance but Mason has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mason told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Sakura lands a nice uppercut.
Sakura wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sakura misses with a punch on the inside.
Sakura lands a hook that snaps the head of Mason backwards.
Mason prevents Sakura from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakura struggles to land a body shot inside as Mason controls his hands.
Mason blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sakura misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sakura can't break the clinch.
Sakura wants to break free but Mason has control.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sakura.
Sakura throws a punch but it's blocked by Mason .
Mason missing with knees to the body.
Mason is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sakura is defending well for now.
A short right from Sakura on the inside.
Sakura lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Sakura fails to land.
Mason blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mason prevents a body shot from Sakura.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yushi Sakura will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sakura checks a leg kick.
Sakura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A low kick from Mason misses
and Sakura counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Sakura instigates a clinch.

Sakura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sakura is looking to clinch but Mason is avoiding it.

Mason gets a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Sakura creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sakura lands a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakura lands a knee to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakura.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Mason is breathing heavily.
Sakura makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Sakura on the inside.
Sakura lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Mason .
A short uppercut from Sakura.
Sakura wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mason has him pressed against the ropes.
Sakura working aggressively here.
Sakura lands a right hand.
A frustrated look appears on Sakura's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sakura lands with a short shot to the head.
Mason wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knees to the body from Sakura.
Sakura misses with the head strike.
Sakura misses with a short punch on the inside.

Sakura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakura cracks a nice hook into Mason 's ribs.
Sakura doesn't manage to clinch there - Mason circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakura lands with a kick to the temple. Mason shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mason tries to clinch up.
Yushi Sakura is winning the standup battle so far.
Sakura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yushi Sakura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mason .
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yushi Sakura dominated that second round.
That's time! Sakura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Crunch! Sakura slams his shin into Mason 's torso.
Sakura is looking to clinch.
Mason throws a counter combo.
Sakura lands a two punch combo.
Mason looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sakura tries to clinch but Mason moves out of range.
Mason keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakura keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Mason is looking to clinch.
Sakura seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Sakura closes the distance and pushes Mason back into the ropes.
Mason takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mason misses with a body punch.
Mason wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason blocking some punches.
Sakura fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mason tries to circle away but Sakura has him pinned against the ropes.
Sakura lands a nice uppercut.
Sakura is looking to break free of the clinch but Mason has double underhooks.
Sakura lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sakura makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Sakura breaks from the clinch.
Yushi Sakura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakura tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Mason manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sakura tries to clinch but Mason is having none of it.
Mason unleashes a big counter combination but Sakura bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Mason swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakura.
Mason is looking for the big counter here.
Sakura wants to clinch but Mason slips to the side
and Mason counters with a series of strikes. Sakura will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakura doesn't manage to clinch there - Mason circles away.
Sakura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mason throws a counter combo.
Sakura is looking to clinch but Mason is avoiding it.
Despite the aggression on Mason 's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Mason takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sakura tries to clinch but Mason moves out of range.
Mason avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sakura clinches up against the ropes.
Yushi Sakura has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sakura misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sakura makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sakura scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mason .
Charles Mason has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yushi Sakura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakura is trying to push Mason away but Mason has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yushi Sakura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sakura has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yushi Sakura!