PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Zafran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mabishiro Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mabishiro Sakamoto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zafran
vs
Sakamoto

180 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Zafran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mabishiro Sakamoto!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Steve Montenegro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakamoto gets caught flat footed, as Zafran shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sakamoto looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Sakamoto looking to control.
Zafran is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Zafran is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakamoto has wrist control.
Zafran sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakamoto throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Zafran sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sakamoto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakamoto looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakamoto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zafran controls the pace.
Zafran has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. James Zafran just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Sakamoto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sakamoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zafran is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zafran stays in close to Sakamoto's body and controls the position.
Zafran's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Zafran trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zafran stays in close to Sakamoto's body and controls the position.
Zafran has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. James Zafran just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Zafran jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Zafran fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sakamoto sprawls well initially but Zafran persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zafran stalling.
Sakamoto wants to control but Zafran is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zafran looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Zafran knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakamoto on the ground.
Zafran seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sakamoto for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto is trying to get back to full guard.
Zafran performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sakamoto is trying to control but can't.
Zafran performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Zafran dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zafran feints and as Sakamoto raises his hands in defense, Zafran changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. James Zafran just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sakamoto throws a head kick but Zafran moves out of range.

Zafran shoots in and bounces Sakamoto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zafran sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakamoto trying to keep a closed guard but Zafran is proving a slippery customer.
Zafran controlling from the top position.
Sakamoto trying to keep a closed guard but Zafran is proving a slippery customer.
Zafran trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zafran slips nicely into half guard.
Sakamoto is trying to control but can't.
Zafran trying to pass the guard but Sakamoto defending well.
James Zafran overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zafran performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Sakamoto makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A combination from Zafran does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Zafran.

Zafran looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zafran pushing down on Sakamoto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sakamoto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zafran's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zafran's back!
Sakamoto wants to control but Zafran is keeping busy.

Zafran is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Sakamoto lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Zafran hold on?!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Sakamoto is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Zafran is defending well though. Sakamoto let's go of the attempt for now.

Sakamoto tightening his grip on Zafran, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Zafran dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sakamoto misses with a takedown attempt

and Zafran counters with a shoot takedown. Sakamoto fights it but they end up in guard.
Zafran is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Zafran tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakamoto is retaining full guard.
Zafran sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. James Zafran just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Zafran feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sakamoto is trying to control the position but Zafran postures up.
Sakamoto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zafran is staying active underneath Sakamoto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zafran is looking to escape.
Sakamoto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sakamoto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zafran knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sakamoto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sakamoto thows a huge punch but Zafran dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto is looking to stall here but Zafran recovers full guard.
Sakamoto prevents Zafran from getting back to his feet.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zafran fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sakamoto doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zafran counters with a shoot takedown. Sakamoto fights it but they end up in guard.
Sakamoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zafran looking to pass the guard.
Zafran trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zafran controlling from the top position.
Sakamoto keeping moving, preventing Zafran from controlling successfully.
Mabishiro Sakamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Zafran is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zafran controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Zafran showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zafran 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:26
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Zafran!