PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryu Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Great Dane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Sakurai
vs
Dane

173 cm
23
160 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Boomerang! Boomeroids! 157 Muscle PROOF

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryu Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Great Dane!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai stuffs the takedown attempt from Dane. Dane gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice uppercut there from Dane.
Dane doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakurai circles away.
Sakurai fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakurai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dane has his takedown stuffed
letting Sakurai counter with a right hand.
Sakurai shoots in looking for a takedown. Dane tries to sprawl out of it but Sakurai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dane manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dane dodges the punch combination from Sakurai.
Great Dane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dane scores with a one two! Sakurai had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Ryu Sakurai has been cut.
Dane tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sakurai counters with a takedown into side control.
Dane is looking to reverse the position.
Dane gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakurai is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Dane!
Dane is looking to improve his position but Sakurai isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai controlling his opponent.
Dane wants to control but Sakurai is having none of it.
Sakurai takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sakurai has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Dane is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sakurai controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakurai trying to control but Dane is having none of it.
Dane really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Dane taking shots to the head.
Dane wants to hold on but Sakurai pushes him away.
Dane really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Dane tries to hold on but Sakurai pushes him away.
Dane gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dane is trying to get back to full guard.
Sakurai looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sakurai controlling the action here.
Dane regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakurai is one step ahead there.
Sakurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dane is keeping the position for now.

Dane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sakurai trying to control but Dane is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dane bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakurai's guard.

Dane decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Dane wants to clinch but Sakurai slips to the side
and Sakurai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sakurai tries for a takedown but Dane sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryu Sakurai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dane moves away from the strike by Sakurai.
Dane fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Dane misses.
Sakurai is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dane sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dane tries to clinch up but Sakurai circles away and keeps his distance.
Dane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakurai takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sakurai tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dane sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sakurai somewhat.
Dane digs a good body shot into Sakurai's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Great Dane dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryu Sakurai's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sakurai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sakurai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sakurai punishes Dane's body with a nice straight punch.
Dane steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakurai.
Sakurai keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakurai looks to throw the jab but Dane is out of range.
Sakurai dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sakurai swinging wildly here.
Ryu Sakurai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakurai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dane cracks Sakurai with an open hand slap.

Dane rushes Sakurai and presses him up against the cage.
Dane drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sakurai gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sakurai is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sakurai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sakurai is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sakurai tries to work over Dane's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sakurai gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dane.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dane can't get the takedown.
Ryu Sakurai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Great Dane.
Dane wants a takedown but no success here.
A short right from Dane.
Dane is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sakurai gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dane drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sakurai pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dane is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Sakurai.
Dane connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sakurai momentarily.
A lazy left from Dane finds it's target.
Dane tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakurai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sakurai connects with a body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sakurai.
Sakurai misses with a takedown attempt - Dane sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck for Sakurai with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dane looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sakurai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dane circles away.
Dane throws a leg kick but Sakurai sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sakurai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Dane as Sakurai shoots in.
Dane misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sakurai keeps the fight on the outside.
Dane misses with a wild body shot.
Nice jab there from Dane.
Dane is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dane doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakurai circles away.
Dane misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dane tries to clinch there but Sakurai circles away.
Dane keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sakurai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dane.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai avoids a punch combination nicely.

Dane decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dane seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakurai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dane is thwarting Sakurai's attempts to control the position.
Dane seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakurai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dane is thwarting Sakurai's attempts to control the position.

Dane postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Sakurai to stand up.
Sakurai swats away the attempt to clinch by Dane.
Dane lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sakurai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dane drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sakurai trying to keep a closed guard but Dane is proving a slippery customer.
Sakurai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dane is one step ahead there.
Dane trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dane is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dane trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Great Dane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ryu Sakurai's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Dane closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sakurai counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Dane is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakurai pulls his head out easily.
Dane is refusing to be controlled, as Sakurai sits in half guard.
Sakurai is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dane is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dane moves into full guard.
Sakurai won't allow Dane to sweep him here.
Sakurai controlling from the top position.
Dane is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dane takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dane is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dane is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sakurai trying to control but Dane is working from the bottom.
Dane bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakurai's guard.
Sakurai wants to sweep but no luck.
Sakurai manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dane sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Dane wants to control but Sakurai is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Dane looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai wants to pass to mount but Dane is defending the position.
Sakurai content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dane has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakurai is working away from the top position though.
Sakurai has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dane manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Great Dane has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dane kicks off Sakurai and gets to his feet.
Dane misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dane moves in looking to clinch but Sakurai pushes him off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dane.
Dane changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sakurai cracks Dane with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sakurai circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sakurai counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ryu Sakurai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dane tries to kick Sakurai off but Sakurai keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Dane is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakurai pulls his head out easily.
Dane wants to get back to his feet.
Dane won't allow Sakurai to pass to mount.
Dane is not content to let Sakurai control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakurai stalling.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Dane closes the distance and clinches.

Dane breaks from the clinch.
Sakurai thows a body shot but no joy.
Dane misses with a wild combination.
Sakurai scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sakurai has a takedown stuffed.

Dane gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dane wants a takedown but no success here.
Great Dane is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dane drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sakurai gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ryu Sakurai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Great Dane.
Sakurai misses with some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryu Sakurai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dane has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Great Dane!