PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Takuma Sakazaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Torsten Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takuma Sakazaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sakazaki
vs
Karlsson

195 cm
23
235 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
24
265 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

[MMABR] WIN Nutritional

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Takuma Sakazaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Torsten Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlsson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakazaki shoots in but Karlsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sakazaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karlsson but Karlsson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Karlsson shoots and misses

and Sakazaki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Karlsson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Karlsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sakazaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Karlsson looking to control.
Karlsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakazaki connects with a couple of short punches.
Sakazaki chips away with some ground and pound.
Karlsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Karlsson is trying to keep Sakazaki in close.
Karlsson wants to stand up but Sakazaki is controlling him.
Karlsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakazaki is one step ahead there.
Karlsson is trying to keep Sakazaki in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakazaki.
Karlsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sakazaki gets the takedown into side control.
Sakazaki throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sakazaki is trying to ground and pound but Karlsson uses the momentary lack of control by Sakazaki to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karlsson is pressing down on Sakazaki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Karlsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakazaki is one step ahead there.
Sakazaki prevents Karlsson from getting back to his feet.
Karlsson working a defensive guard here.
Sakazaki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakazaki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Karlsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakazaki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sakazaki is breathing heavily.
Sakazaki working the strikes but Karlsson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Karlsson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Sakazaki looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Karlsson trying to keep a closed guard but Sakazaki is proving a slippery customer.
Karlsson has a closed guard, preventing Sakazaki from standing up.
Karlsson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Karlsson working a defensive guard here.
Sakazaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karlsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Karlsson trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sakazaki is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karlsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sakazaki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakazaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horrible takedown by Karlsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Sakazaki which made him look bad.
Takuma Sakazaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Torsten Karlsson.
Karlsson looks to clinch

and Sakazaki counters with a takedown into side control.
Karlsson is trying to buck Sakazaki off.
Karlsson can't do much from the bottom here.
Karlsson holding on.
Karlsson struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Sakazaki is staying active.
Karlsson tries to escape but Sakazaki is in control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sakazaki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Takuma Sakazaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakazaki stuffs the takedown.
Sakazaki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karlsson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karlsson looks for the body kick but Sakazaki saw that one coming.

Sakazaki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Karlsson's guard.
Sakazaki looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takuma Sakazaki dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Karlsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakazaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karlsson shoots and misses

and Sakazaki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sakazaki blocks the strikes from Karlsson.
Karlsson is trying to stand back up but Sakazaki is controlling him
Takuma Sakazaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Karlsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sakazaki.
Karlsson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakazaki is working away from the top position though.
Karlsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sakazaki.
Karlsson wants to control but Sakazaki is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Karlsson is looking for a sweep. Sakazaki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Karlsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakazaki is fending him off so far but Karlsson persists. Nope, Sakazaki circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakazaki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakazaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karlsson but Karlsson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson tries to clinch

and Sakazaki counters with a single leg into guard. Karlsson didn't expect that.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Karlsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakazaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Karlsson wants to get back to his feet but Sakazaki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Karlsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sakazaki stopping the sweep attempt from Karlsson.
Sakazaki thows a big elbow that misses.
Karlsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sakazaki throwing strikes from guard but Karlsson blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karlsson doesn't succeed with the takedown

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karlsson throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Karlsson pushes Sakazaki away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sakazaki gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Karlsson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sakazaki.
Karlsson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Karlsson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Karlsson striking from the bottom here.
Sakazaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakazaki prevents Karlsson from getting back to his feet.
Sakazaki postures up in Karlsson's guard and throws a big left but Karlsson blocks it.
Karlsson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sakazaki throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sakazaki wants to improve his position but Karlsson is controlling well.
Karlsson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sakazaki defending well though.
Karlsson trying to control from half guard but Sakazaki is working away.
Karlsson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sakazaki defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karlsson stalling.
Karlsson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sakazaki tries to get to full guard but Karlsson has control of the leg.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Karlsson tries to clinch up.
Sakazaki leaves Karlsson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Karlsson has a takedown stuffed.
Sakazaki stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takuma Sakazaki dominated that second round.
That's time! Sakazaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Karlsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakazaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakazaki stuffs the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Karlsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sakazaki is defended easily by Karlsson.
Karlsson misses with a takedown

so Sakazaki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sakazaki prevents Karlsson from getting back to his feet.
Sakazaki scoring with punches to the head and body.
Karlsson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Karlsson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sakazaki tries to free his leg and advance position but Karlsson is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karlsson wants to stand and escape but Sakazaki is having none of it.
Karlsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Karlsson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karlsson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sakazaki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Karlsson won't be happy with that.
Takuma Sakazaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Torsten Karlsson.
Sakazaki in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Karlsson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sakazaki is controlling him well.
The strikes coming from Sakazaki are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sakazaki throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Karlsson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Karlsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sakazaki.
Karlsson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Karlsson tries to kick Sakazaki off but Sakazaki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sakazaki looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Karlsson!
Karlsson trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Karlsson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Karlsson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Karlsson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Karlsson tries to hold on but Sakazaki pushes him away.
Karlsson is trying to stand.
Sakazaki with shots to the head and body - Karlsson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Karlsson wants to hold on but Sakazaki pushes him away.
Sakazaki dominating with strikes here.
Karlsson tries to hold on but Sakazaki pushes him away.
Sakazaki lands a nice shot to the head.
Sakazaki unloads with some shots from mount but Karlsson bucks and avoids them well.
Sakazaki avoids the attempt from Karlsson to control.
Sakazaki throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Karlsson because Sakazaki loaded up on that one.
Karlsson tries to hold on but Sakazaki pushes him away.
Karlsson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sakazaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is trying to escape the mount.
Sakazaki thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Poor strikes thrown by Sakazaki there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Karlsson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Karlsson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Sakazaki avoids the attempt from Karlsson to control.
Sakazaki punishing his opponent with strikes.
Karlsson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Karlsson can't escape the position.
Torsten Karlsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karlsson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Karlsson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakazaki lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Karlsson hang on?
Karlsson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Sakazaki breaks from Karlsson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Sakazaki misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sakazaki throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Karlsson because Sakazaki loaded up on that one.
Karlsson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sakazaki tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Karlsson tries to lock up and control but Sakazaki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sakazaki thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Karlsson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Takuma Sakazaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakazaki wants to control the pace but Karlsson is squirming around nicely.
Karlsson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takuma Sakazaki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sakazaki 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takuma Sakazaki!