PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Guevara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Guevara's entrance music is Burn the Earth. A fine choice. Kazushi Sakuraba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Guevara
vs
Sakuraba

180 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ernesto Guevara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba scores a takedown into full mount!
Sakuraba controlling from the full mount.

Sakuraba is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Guevara with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sakuraba counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Guevara is trying to stand up here but Sakuraba is controlling him well.

Sakuraba stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sakuraba counters with a single leg into guard. Guevara didn't expect that.
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!
Sakuraba sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba won't allow Guevara to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sakuraba stands up and waves to Guevara to follow him.

Sakuraba shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Guevara is trying to defend but Sakuraba finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Guevara is breathing heavily.
Sakuraba perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sakuraba thows a huge punch but Guevara dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is figuring out what he wants to do next.
I looks like Sakuraba might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Sakuraba throwing shots but Guevara is blocking nicely.
Sakuraba not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sakuraba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba uses his free foot to push down on Guevara's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Guevara.
Guevara wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sakuraba.

Sakuraba is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Guevara is surviving well by controlling Sakuraba's body position as best he can.

Sakuraba stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Guevara misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with a head kick.
Guevara swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakuraba.
Guevara misses with a double jab.

Sakuraba drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Guevara is working an open guard so Sakuraba takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Guevara smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Guevara looks to clinch

and Sakuraba counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Guevara's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuraba would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Guevara digs a good hook to Sakuraba's body.
Guevara with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sakuraba counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Sakuraba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Guevara throws a right and a left that Sakuraba avoids nicely.

Sakuraba moves into the clinch.
The referee calls for Sakuraba to work.

Sakuraba jumps guard.
Guevara wants to stand and escape but instead Sakuraba has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Guevara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guevara manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakuraba manages to get himself to full guard.
Guevara being controlled here momentarily.
Let's hope that Sakuraba has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sakuraba is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throwing shots but Guevara is blocking nicely.
Sakuraba is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Guevara is in trouble now - Sakuraba has advanced to mount!
Sakuraba controlling the pace for now.
Sakuraba fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kazushi Sakuraba just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Guevara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakuraba.

Sakuraba bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Sakuraba thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sakuraba taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Guevara dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sakuraba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Guevara preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba content to stall in guard here.
Guevara keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guevara looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Guevara can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sakuraba controls the pace.
Kazushi Sakuraba has got the better of the ground game so far.

Guevara has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sakuraba off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Guevara sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ernesto Guevara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Guevara moves into the clinch.

Sakuraba pulls guard effortlessly.
Guevara throwing strikes but missing.
Guevara tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuraba is retaining full guard.
Sakuraba is controlling Guevara's posture.
Guevara preventing the sweep.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Guevara pushes his legs off easily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sakuraba holds on and takes a little breather.

Guevara stands and steps away. Sakuraba gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guevara lands a head shot.
Guevara throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sakuraba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sakuraba staying out of range there.

Sakuraba scores with a takedown into Guevara's guard.
Guevara can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sakuraba controls the pace.
Guevara keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba pushing down on Guevara's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Guevara is defending well.
Guevara is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sakuraba lands a nice short elbow.
Sakuraba works his way into side control.
Ernesto Guevara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kazushi Sakuraba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Guevara is not content to let Sakuraba control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sakuraba winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 26:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazushi Sakuraba!