PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mayato Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Figueroa Mordante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Figueroa Mordante will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sakurai
vs
Mordante

185 cm
24
250 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
224 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mayato Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Figueroa Mordante!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakurai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mordante thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sakurai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mordante pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mordante connects with the punch.
Mordante throws a right and a left that Sakurai avoids nicely.
Figueroa Mordante seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakurai works the jab nicely.

It looks like Figueroa Mordante has been cut.
Mordante connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Mordante lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
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!
Mordante lands with a nice combination. Sakurai backs away looking to recover.

Sakurai drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Mordante is working from the bottom.

Sakurai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mordante, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sakurai is trying to get an arm triangle but Mordante is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mordante has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mordante wants to control but Sakurai postures up.

Sakurai decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Sakurai is breathing heavily.
Mordante lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sakurai circles away quickly and effectively.
Sakurai tries to move into range but Mordante moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mordante scores with a nice right hand.
Mordante works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Mordante moves away from the strike by Sakurai.
Mordante tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakurai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sakurai shoots for a double leg takedown but Mordante sprawls well. He's pushed Sakurai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mordante closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mordante misses with a wild combination.
Mordante misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mordante throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakurai.
Mordante keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mordante looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mordante tries to clinch but Sakurai is having none of it.
Mordante throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sakurai misses with a body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Mordante. That snapped Sakurai's head back.
A telegraphed right hand from Mordante misses the target.
Mordante displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mordante displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sakurai tests Mordante's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sakurai swats away the attempt to clinch by Mordante.
Mordante rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sakurai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mordante throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakurai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mordante avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakurai misses with an uppercut.
Sakurai throws a looping overhand right but Mordante ducks down to avoid it.
Mordante throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sakurai on the side of the head.
Sakurai shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Mordante gets a clinch.
Mordante goes for a takedown attempt but Sakurai pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mordante tries to bum rush Sakurai with a series of wild strikes but Sakurai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sakurai swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Mordante closes the distance and pushes Sakurai back into the cage.
Sakurai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mordante lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mordante jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sakurai walks away with a smile on his face. Mordante gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sakurai has a takedown stuffed.
Mordante tries to bum rush Sakurai with a series of wild strikes but Sakurai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mordante sprawls well. Mordante wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sakurai gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mayato Sakurai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakurai drops his hands momentarily and Mordante takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mordante throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sakurai counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mordante won't be happy with that.
Sakurai working the ground and pound but Mordante is defending the strikes.
Sakurai trying to control the position but Mordante is working away.

Sakurai has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mordante looks to land a combination but Sakurai avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mordante works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sakurai takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mordante misses with a straight left.
Mordante takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Figueroa Mordante will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Figueroa Mordante's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mordante lands a two punch combo.
Mordante takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mordante misses with a few strikes there.
Sakurai swinging wilding here.
Mordante might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Mordante lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sakurai throws a jab but it's blocked by Mordante.
Sakurai lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mordante darts in trying to clinch

and Sakurai decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mordante's guard.

Mordante is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sakurai advances to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Mordante is working from the bottom.
Mordante really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakurai. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai is really struggling to control Mordante but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sakurai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mordante wants to improve his position but Sakurai is controlling well.
Sakurai wants to control but Mordante is keeping him busy.
Mordante is looking for a sweep. Sakurai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sakurai takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A jab from Mordante finds it's way through Sakurai's defenses.
Mordante moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mordante tries to clinch

and Sakurai decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mordante's guard.
Mordante keeping moving, preventing Sakurai from controlling successfully.
Mordante not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai stands and throws Mordante's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Sakurai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mordante, who protects the arm well.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Mordante is working from the bottom.
Mordante is trying to control Sakurai's posture but Sakurai avoids it.
Mordante is trying to get back to half guard.

Sakurai looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakurai circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sakurai counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mordante won't be happy with that.

Sakurai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Sakurai tries for a kimura but Mordante is defending well.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Mordante is working from the bottom.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mordante has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mordante is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mordante keeps working.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mordante lands a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mayato Sakurai dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Figueroa Mordante's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Mordante swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sakurai.
Figueroa Mordante seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sakurai misses with an uppercut.
Mordante misses with a few strikes there.
Sakurai looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Mordante throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakurai lands with a shot to the body.
Sakurai lands a head shot.
Mordante throws a hook but Sakurai blocks it.

Mordante gets caught flat footed, as Sakurai shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Mordante keeps moving.
Mordante wants to sweep but no luck.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mordante can do anything to dispel that myth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mordante looking for a sweep. Not yet Mordante, not yet.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mordante has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sakurai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sakurai drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakurai jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mordante keeping full guard, as Sakurai tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakurai throws a right hand that Mordante ducks under and follows up with a left that Mordante also avoids with ease.
Mordante lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sakurai circles away quickly and effectively.
Mordante works over Sakurai's head and body with a nice combination.
Sakurai walks into a jab.
Mordante throws a hook but Sakurai avoids it easily.
Sakurai looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

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.
Sakurai throws a hook but Mordante avoids it easily.
Mordante takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mordante thuds his right hand into Sakurai's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sakurai misses with a straight right.
Mordante lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mordante.
Mordante throws a series of punches but Sakurai avoids them all with ease.
Sakurai throws out a loose jab but Mordante uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mordante avoids the body shot from Sakurai.
Mordante ducks under a wild hook from Sakurai.
Mordante tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakurai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mordante with a nice cross.
Mordante getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sakurai fails to land the takedown.
Figueroa Mordante is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mordante throws a hook but Sakurai blocks it.

Sakurai fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mordante sprawls well initially but Sakurai persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sakurai has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sakurai avoids the attempt from Mordante to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mordante is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Sakurai has taken his back.
Mordante looking very determined here, making life difficult for Sakurai.
Sakurai throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Sakurai is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Mordante defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Mordante is in bad spot here.

That's four 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.

Sakurai looking for the RNC.
Sakurai is hanging on to Mordante's back as he tries to escape.
Mordante is keeping busy.
Sakurai could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Sakurai tightening his grip on Mordante, looking for the choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mayato Sakurai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sakurai has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mayato Sakurai!