PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Herro Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon Sakuraba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rice
vs
Sakuraba

182 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Herro Rice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brandon Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rice misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rice swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rice catches Sakuraba with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Sakuraba lands a big head kick that sends Rice tumbling to the mat! Sakuraba takes a step backwards and waves Rice back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Rice is rocked!

It looks like Herro Rice has been cut.
Rice swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Oh Rice is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rice throws a big shot that misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Rice scores with a jab to the body.
Rice seems to have got his legs back now.
Sakuraba moves out of range as Rice strikes.
Rice is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba scoring well with a low kick there.
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!
Rice leaves Sakuraba with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rice circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rice looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rice lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rice.

It looks like Brandon Sakuraba has been cut.

Rice moves into range and clinches up with Sakuraba.
Sakuraba tries to score a body lock takedown but Rice shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Herro Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Sakuraba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice tries to break the clinch but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
Sakuraba wants to stall.
Rice fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rice taking a breather.
Rice tries to circle away but Sakuraba has him pinned against the cage.
Sakuraba tries to break free but Rice pushes him back against the cage.
Rice looking to slow down the pace here.
Sakuraba is trying to break free.
Sakuraba wants to break free but Rice has control.
Sakuraba is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rice tries to circle away but Sakuraba has him pinned against the cage.
Sakuraba looking to slow down the pace here.
Sakuraba goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rice prevents it.
Sakuraba blocks the elbow strike.
Sakuraba takes a shot to the head.
Rice is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sakuraba wants a takedown but no success here.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
Rice throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rice trying to stall but Sakuraba improves his position.
Rice stalling the fight.
Rice is pressed up against the cage. Sakuraba has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rice down to the mat. Rice avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rice swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rice.
Rice throws the left hand but Sakuraba avoids the punch easily.
Rice throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rice throws the left hand but Sakuraba avoids the punch easily.
Sakuraba closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown.
A swing and a miss from Rice.
Nice jab there from Rice.
Sakuraba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sakuraba finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Sakuraba ducks under a wild hook from Rice.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Rice.
Rice keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sakuraba dodges the punch combination from Rice.
Rice digs a good body shot into Sakuraba's ribs.
Sakuraba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rice.
Rice misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rice sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sakuraba somewhat.
Rice misses with a combination
and Sakuraba counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rice misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rice tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakuraba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rice uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sakuraba has time to react.
Sakuraba takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rice misses with a few strikes there.
Rice misses with a straight right.
Sakuraba tries to close the distance and clinch but Rice swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rice is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rice.
Sakuraba slips a straight right by Rice.
Rice scores with a jab. Sakuraba acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakuraba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rice misses with a double jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakuraba uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rice.
Rice bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sakuraba's head backwards.
Sakuraba fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brandon Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rice throws a shot from downtown. Sakuraba moves away and avoids it.
Brandon Sakuraba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sakuraba tries to clinch up but Rice circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Rice sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rice scores with a jab to the body.
Nice shot lands for Rice.
Sakuraba defending well as Rice loads up on a big left hand.
Sakuraba is looking to clinch but Rice is avoiding it.
Herro Rice seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rice lunges at Sakuraba with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sakuraba's hand.
Brandon Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rice fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Rice lands the left hand.
Sakuraba staying out of range there.
Rice swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rice wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice connects with a body shot.
Rice misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rice fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakuraba lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rice lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rice dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rice scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rice throws a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head but Sakuraba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rice goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A cross from Rice lands.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt - Rice sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Herro Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Sakuraba.
Rice scores with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice keeps the fight on the outside.
Rice swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rice misses with a series of wild punches.
A slow jab from Rice misses its intended target.
Rice swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakuraba.
A big right from Rice misses.
Sakuraba gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sakuraba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rice avoids it really well and circles away.
Rice fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice wants to clinch.
A slow jab from Rice misses its intended target.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rice throws an overhand right that lands on Sakuraba's shoulder, as Sakuraba tries to avoid the shot.
Rice dips to his left and cracks Sakuraba with an uppercut!
A telegraphed right hand from Rice misses the target.
Rice misses with a few strikes there.
Rice with a hook.

Rice closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rice lands in his opponent's guard.
Sakuraba wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Rice stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Rice shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sakuraba is trying to escape back to his feet but Rice uses the scramble to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herro Rice dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rice lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A big right from Rice misses.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Rice.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rice counters with a straight right hand.
Rice bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Rice misses with a straight right.
Rice is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakuraba.
Rice takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rice misses with a straight right.
Sakuraba defending well as Rice loads up on a big left hand.
Rice connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rice scores with a jab. Sakuraba acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakuraba tries to clinch up but Rice circles away and keeps his distance.
Rice circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rice counters with a shoot takedown. Sakuraba fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling his posture from full guard.

Sakuraba has his foot on Rice's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rice works his way back into a safe position though.
Sakuraba is looking to stand up but Rice isn't so interested in that idea.
Sakuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Sakuraba is working an open guard so Rice takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rice throws a hook but Sakuraba blocks it.
Rice looks to land a body kick but Sakuraba moved away.

Rice shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sakuraba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sakuraba is trying to control the position but Rice postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Rice pushes his legs off easily.
Sakuraba trying to keep a closed guard but Rice is proving a slippery customer.

Rice gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rice tries to clinch there but Sakuraba circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nice shot lands for Rice.
Sakuraba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakuraba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rice.
Rice scores with a body shot.
Sakuraba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rice thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rice takes a swing at Sakuraba's ribcage but misses.
Sakuraba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rice.
Rice keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown but Rice shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rice pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rice.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakuraba is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herro Rice showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rice 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Herro Rice!