PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua has chosen Ain't No Sunshine as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sakamoto
vs
Rua

180 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Sakamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Rua!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakamoto shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sakamoto content to control rather than advance.
Sakamoto is thwarting Rua's attempts to control the position.
Rua is looking to improve his position.
Sakamoto not doing much here.
Rua misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Rua looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakamoto is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to control but can't.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sakamoto in particular looking to stall.
Sakamoto tries to stand and escape but Rua is controlling the position.
Sakamoto sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rua trying to control but Sakamoto postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sakamoto trying to pass the guard but Rua defending well.
Still in half guard, Sakamoto seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.
Sakamoto controlling the pace.
Rua tries to kick Sakamoto off but Sakamoto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rua tries to roll over but Sakamoto keeps him under control.
Rua wants to control but Sakamoto is keeping busy.
Rua looks gassed!

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

Sakamoto shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rua's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sakamoto defends it easily.
Sakamoto advances to half guard.
Sakamoto takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sakamoto tries to pass to full mount but Rua defends it.
Sakamoto wants to get back to his feet.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.

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.
Still in half guard, Sakamoto seems content to control.
Sakamoto is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Sakamoto perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Sakamoto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakamoto dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Sakamoto's head and hops out.
Rua swinging wildly here.

Sakamoto looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sakamoto postures up.
Rua wants to stand and escape but Sakamoto is having none of it.
Sakamoto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sakamoto slips nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sakamoto in particular looking to stall.
Rua is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakamoto has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sakamoto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rua knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Still in half guard, Sakamoto seems content to control.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Paul Sakamoto just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sakamoto blocks a head kick by Rua.
Sakamoto tries for a takedown but Rua sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Sakamoto closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sakamoto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rua is controlling Sakamoto's trapped leg to prevent Sakamoto from advancing to side control.
Sakamoto tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Sakamoto seems content to control.
Rua pushes Sakamoto off looking to stand but Sakamoto dives back in and keeps control.
Rua is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Sakamoto sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sakamoto is pressing down on Rua's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rua is holding on for now.
Sakamoto trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakamoto is looking to advance position but Rua won't allow it.
Sakamoto passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rua!
Rua really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakamoto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Sakamoto dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua is looking to clinch.

Sakamoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sakamoto content to stall in guard here.
Sakamoto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rua on the ground.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Paul Sakamoto just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakamoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakamoto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sakamoto is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rua's shoulder. That is not cool.
Rua regains half guard.
Rua slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sakamoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakamoto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Rua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sakamoto sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua keeping full guard, as Sakamoto tries to pass.
Sakamoto sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sakamoto looking to pass the guard.
Sakamoto is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to control.
Sakamoto sitting in guard, not really doing much.

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

Sakamoto changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rua looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto controlling the position from side mount.
Rua tries to buck Sakamoto off but Sakamoto is having none of it.
Sakamoto tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Sakamoto is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rua's shoulder. That is not cool.
Rua stops Sakamoto from passing to mount.
Sakamoto wants to stand but Rua has his arm trapped.
Rua is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Sakamoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sakamoto, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Sakamoto!