PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Gonzales (ranked 3687 p4p, 23938 weight class) and Yushi Sakura (ranked 338 p4p, 431 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gonzales
vs
Sakura

188 cm
25
154
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
152
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Gonzales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yushi Sakura!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzales fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sakura.
Gonzales throws a leg kick
and Sakura counters with a two punch combo.
Sakura slips a jab from Gonzales.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gonzales misses with a shot to the body
and Sakura counters with a body kick that stops Gonzales in his tracks momentarily.
Gonzales throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
enabling Sakura to counter with a crisp jab.
Gonzales throws a lazy uppercut
and Sakura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gonzales thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sakura if he has to take too many more of those.
Gonzales misses with a kick to the body.

Gonzales pushes Sakura up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakura can't find room to land a body shot as Gonzales controls the action.
Sakura working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by Gonzales.
Gonzales unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakura lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gonzales.
Gonzales lands a nice knee to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Gonzales.
Sakura looks winded!
Gonzales lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A frustrated look appears on Sakura's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzales scores a nice knee to the body.
Gonzales cracks Sakura with a nice body shot.
Gonzales lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sakura takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sakura takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gonzales lands with a short shot to the head.
Gonzales using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Gonzales lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gonzales works on Sakura's body with a couple of short punches.
Sakura wants to get back to striking at distance but Gonzales won't allow it.
Sakura takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gonzales really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gonzales lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sakura.

Gonzales has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sakura regains guard immediately.

Gonzales stands up from Sakura's guard - Gonzales perhaps looking for a knockout.
A nice leg kick from Gonzales, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Sakura blocks the low kick.
Gonzales walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sakura checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sakura is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Gonzales gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Sakura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sakura pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Gonzales back to the cage. Sakura follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Gonzales throws a half hearted mid kick.
Despite the aggression on Sakura's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sakura scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gonzales doesn't seem bothered though.
Gonzales scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gonzales throws a body punch but Sakura moves out of range.
Sakura tries a head kick but it misses.
James Gonzales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gonzales has managed to clinch.
Sakura on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sakura can't break the clinch.
Gonzales looking to throw knees to the head but Sakura is blocking nicely.
Gonzales tries a knee to the head but Sakura blocks it.
Gonzales is working Sakura over against the cage.
Gonzales lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sakura takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sakura fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Gonzales has Sakura pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gonzales pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sakura tumbling to the mat - Gonzales dives into Sakura's guard.

Gonzales gets to his feet. Sakura looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Sakura tries to keep at a distance but Gonzales has taken the fight into the clinch.

Gonzales gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sakura regains guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

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

Gonzales gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sakura stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gonzales shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A jab lands there for Gonzales.

Gonzales has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sakura is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gonzales tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gonzales tries to land knees in the clinch but Sakura avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sakura creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sakura has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gonzales lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gonzales utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakura can't break the clinch.
Gonzales with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gonzales connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakura's face.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gonzales takes a swing at Sakura's ribcage but misses.
Sakura unleashes a big counter combination but Gonzales bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sakura scores with a spinning back kick!
Sakura moves out of range of the body kick.
Sakura feints the counter takedown.
Gonzales shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Gonzales moves into the clinch successfully.
Gonzales tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gonzales lands a shoulder strike.
Gonzales makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Gonzales.
Gonzales lands with a light punch inside.
Sakura wants to get back to striking at distance but Gonzales won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakura throws a punch but it's blocked by Gonzales.
Gonzales blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gonzales using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sakura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gonzales presses Sakura against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
James Gonzales has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sakura is breathing heavily.
Gonzales lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakura.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gonzales with a knee to the head.

Sakura is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzales gets through Sakura's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sakura is still on wobbly legs! Can Gonzales finish him?
Gonzales jerks Sakura's head down, straight into the path of a devastating knee! Sakura drops to the floor in a crumpled heap! Gonzales goes to throw a finishing haymaker but pulls out - good sportsmanship from Gonzales because Sakura was completely out of it. That was a nice finish - just the right level of brutality to send everyone home happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:12 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). James Gonzales!
A very excited looking James Gonzales made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.