PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manny Paquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eisen Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Paquiao
vs
Sakurai

169 cm
25
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manny Paquiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eisen Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai has a takedown stuffed.
Manny Paquiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakurai takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Paquiao with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sakurai counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Paquiao's guard now.
Sakurai must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sakurai wants to stand and escape but instead Paquiao has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Paquiao wants to pass the guard but Sakurai is keeping the position.
Paquiao trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sakurai manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Sakurai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Paquiao keeping full guard, as Sakurai tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paquiao is looking to stand up but Sakurai isn't so interested in that idea.
Paquiao being controlled here, momentarily.
Sakurai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sakurai stops Paquiao from standing up.

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 decides to stand the fighters back up.
Paquiao shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakurai sprawls well. He's pushed Paquiao's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paquiao misses with a few strikes there.
Paquiao fails with the takedown

so Sakurai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Paquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Paquiao is retaining full guard.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Paquiao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Paquiao keeps moving.
Sakurai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paquiao swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Paquiao keeps moving.
Sakurai might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Paquiao kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Paquiao with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sakurai moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Paquiao working hard to break the clinch.
Sakurai tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sakurai wants a takedown but no success here.
Sakurai tries to pull guard but Paquiao holds him up against the cage and eventually Sakurai drops back down to his feet.
Sakurai is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sakurai looks gassed!
Paquiao wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sakurai tries for a takedown but Paquiao manages to get underhooks.
Sakurai is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Paquiao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Paquiao prevents the takedown attempt.

Paquiao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paquiao tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sakurai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Paquiao somewhat.
Paquiao fails with the takedown
and Sakurai counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eisen Sakurai dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sakurai is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Paquiao.
Paquiao shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sakurai counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Paquiao's guard now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sakurai stands and throws Paquiao's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sakurai throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Paquiao works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Paquiao is not content to let Sakurai control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai is looking to stall here but Paquiao recovers full guard.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Paquiao is retaining full guard.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Paquiao keeps moving.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Paquiao is retaining full guard.

That's two 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.
Sakurai looking to sit in guard and control but Paquiao gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Paquiao wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.

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

and Sakurai counters with a nice double leg into side control. Paquiao won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakurai tries to move into full mount but can't pass Paquiao's legs.
Sakurai controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sakurai throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Paquiao works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Sakurai looks to land a strike but Paquiao avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Sakurai postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Paquiao is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sakurai, into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paquiao wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.
Eisen Sakurai has got the better of the ground game so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eisen Sakurai 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! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Paquiao.
Paquiao misses with a hook to the body

and Sakurai counters with a shoot takedown. Paquiao fights it but they end up in guard.
Sakurai looking to sit in guard and control but Paquiao gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Paquiao drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sakurai looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sakurai looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sakurai!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sakurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paquiao keeps working.
Sakurai is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sakurai prevents Paquiao from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakurai throwing strikes but Paquiao manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Paquiao is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sakurai has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Sakurai's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Some wild striking there from Paquiao.
Paquiao has his takedown stuffed

so Sakurai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao wants to get back to his feet but Sakurai is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sakurai with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sakurai throwing strikes but missing.

Sakurai drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakurai jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sakurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paquiao is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Paquiao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakurai.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Paquiao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Paquiao is retaining full guard.

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

and Sakurai counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Paquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sakurai has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Paquiao clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Manny Paquiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eisen Sakurai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakurai has Paquiao flattened out and is raining down punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eisen Sakurai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sakurai 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 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eisen Sakurai!