PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Genki Sodo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buhawi Baracael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buhawi Baracael told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sodo
vs
Baracael

176 cm
24
154 lbs
6 - 6 - 1

180 cm
23
155 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Genki Sodo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Buhawi Baracael!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baracael doesn't manage to clinch there - Sodo circles away.
Sodo tries to close the distance and clinch but Baracael swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sodo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Baracael pinned against the cage. Baracael gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sodo shoots in and drives through. Baracael sprawls well.
Sodo avoids the head kick by Baracael.

Sodo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Baracael!
Baracael wants to control but Sodo is having none of it.
Baracael is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Sodo is staying active.
Sodo controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sodo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Baracael is squirming around, avoiding Sodo's attempts to control the action.
Baracael is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sodo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Baracael can't escape the position.
Poor strikes thrown by Sodo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sodo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Sodo is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Baracael can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Baracael sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Baracael gets back to full guard.

Sodo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baracael is on top in guard.

Baracael is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Baracael wants to pass the guard but Sodo is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sodo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Baracael is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sodo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Baracael controls the pace.
Baracael trying to control but Sodo is working from the bottom.
Baracael stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sodo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baracael wants to control from the top but Sodo keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Baracael shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Baracael was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sodo has given up his back here. Will Baracael look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Baracael wants to control but Sodo is keeping busy.
Sodo looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sodo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Baracael gets his way!
Baracael gets his hands free as Sodo looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buhawi Baracael dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sodo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Baracael looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Sodo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Baracael trying to control the position.

Sodo drops back looking for a leg! Baracael is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Baracael manages to kick Sodo off! Sodo jumps back into Baracael's guard.
Sodo distracts Baracael with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Baracael is looking for a triangle but Sodo pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baracael looking for a sweep. Not yet Baracael, not yet.
Sodo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baracael is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sodo has his takedown stuffed

and Baracael counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Baracael.
Sodo keeping full guard, as Baracael tries to pass.
Baracael trying to control but Sodo is working from the bottom.
Baracael with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baracael wants to control from the top but Sodo keeps moving.

Baracael is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sodo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sodo has escaped and now he's on top!
Baracael throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sodo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sodo passes into half guard.
Sodo is looking to advance position but Baracael won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baracael is looking for a sweep. Sodo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sodo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Baracael!
Sodo trying to control but Baracael is having none of it.

Sodo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Baracael is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baracael passes Sodo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sodo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sodo is in trouble now - Baracael has advanced to mount!
Sodo is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sodo is working hard here to advance position.
Baracael controlling from mount.

Baracael goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sodo is on top in guard.
Baracael looking for a sweep. Not yet Baracael, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Buhawi Baracael will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sodo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Baracael misses with a takedown attempt
and Sodo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sodo doesn't manage to clinch there - Baracael circles away.
Baracael doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sodo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sodo wants to take a breather but Baracael is having none of it.
Baracael is trying to maintain the position but Sodo is very close to passing his half guard.
Baracael won't allow Sodo to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baracael manages to get to full guard.
Baracael manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Baracael can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sodo is looking to escape.

Sodo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Baracael.
Baracael takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sodo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baracael is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Sodo looking for submissions off his back.
Sodo is looking for a sweep. Baracael is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sodo is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Buhawi Baracael has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sodo moves into full guard.
Baracael showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baracael pushing down on Sodo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sodo tries to roll over but Baracael keeps him under control.
Baracael is thwarting Sodo's attempts to control the position.
Buhawi Baracael is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Baracael is trying to control the action in half guard but Sodo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sodo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Baracael with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sodo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Baracael is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sodo tries to roll over but Baracael keeps him under control.
Baracael passes to full mount!
Baracael trying to control but Sodo is having none of it.
Sodo wants to control but Baracael is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Genki Sodo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Baracael has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buhawi Baracael!