PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Crowder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Brandon Sakuraba has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sakuraba
vs
Crowder

188 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brandon Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Crowder!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crowder.
Crowder stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakuraba. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.

Crowder shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Crowder has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sakuraba's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Sakuraba is bucking up trying to escape but Crowder cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Crowder stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Nice takedown defense from Crowder. No joy for Sakuraba on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crowder swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Crowder tries to bum rush Sakuraba with a series of wild strikes but Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Crowder misses with a double jab.
Good leg kick by Sakuraba there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sakuraba lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt

and Crowder counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sakuraba scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Crowder tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sakuraba is able to avoid easily.
Crowder swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking to clinch.
Crowder chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sakuraba can pounce on him.
Crowder throws a series of punches but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Sakuraba shoots and misses
and Crowder counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sakuraba shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Crowder counters with a straight right hand.
Crowder misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakuraba.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Crowder.
Sakuraba can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crowder trying to control the position but Sakuraba is working away.
Crowder grinds an elbow into Sakuraba's temple.
Sakuraba wants to control but Crowder postures up.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakuraba can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sakuraba moves in looking to clinch but Crowder pushes him off.
Crowder looks to land a combination but Sakuraba avoids it well.
Crowder misses with a double jab.

Sakuraba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Crowder has picked Sakuraba up - he's going for a ride! Crowder dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sakuraba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Crowder's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Crowder's back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crowder is in bad spot here.
Sakuraba avoiding Crowder 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Crowder dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Crowder throws a head kick but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Sakuraba closes the distance but Crowder moves to the side

and Crowder counters with a single leg into guard. Sakuraba didn't expect that.

Sakuraba has his foot on Crowder's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Crowder works his way back into a safe position though.
Sakuraba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Crowder's guard.
Crowder wants to sweep but no luck.
Sakuraba trying to control but Crowder is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba won't allow Crowder to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crowder manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sakuraba squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Crowder postures up.
Crowder wants to control the pace but Sakuraba is squirming around nicely.

Crowder wants to finish this one by submission but Sakuraba is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Crowder.
Sakuraba wants to control but Crowder is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position but Crowder isn't that keen on the idea.
Crowder tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Crowder prevents Sakuraba from getting the reversal.
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Crowder pushes him away.

Crowder is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Sakuraba is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Sakuraba flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Crowder anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Sakuraba and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Crowder slips an arm under Sakuraba chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Crowder has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Crowder is squeezing on Sakuraba like an anaconda would it's prey. Sakuraba fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). John Crowder!