PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nino Cabreros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takanori Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by number girl syndrome. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Cabreros
vs
Sakurai

168 cm
23
158 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

176 cm
25
148 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nino Cabreros!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Takanori Sakurai !
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakurai shoots in and bounces Cabreros off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cabreros keeping full guard, as Sakurai tries to pass.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabreros is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cabreros lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sakurai !
Cabreros connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cabreros content just to control the position here.
Sakurai working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cabreros scoring with strikes but Sakurai is staying in there.
Cabreros lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sakurai is working to get back to half guard.
Cabreros dominating with strikes here.
Cabreros fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
A nice elbow there by Cabreros.
Cabreros punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sakurai is desperately trying to improve his position but Cabreros has a good base and remains in mount.
Sakurai is squirming around, avoiding Cabreros's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai regains half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sakurai is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cabreros scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cabreros with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Sakurai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cabreros looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai taking some punishment here, with Cabreros in his half guard.
Sakurai wants to improve his position but Cabreros is controlling well.

Cabreros is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakurai sees it coming and defends easily.
Sakurai works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cabreros looking to sit in guard and control but Sakurai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cabreros tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakurai advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabreros makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cabreros.
Cabreros wants to control the position but Sakurai says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Cabreros blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sakurai .
Sakurai is taking a breather. Cabreros says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cabreros tries to roll over but Sakurai keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cabreros manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sakurai sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sakurai wants to pass the guard but Cabreros is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cabreros is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sakurai throws a lazy right hand but Cabreros sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sakurai throws a head kick that half lands.
Cabreros throws a quick inside leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cabreros.
Cabreros takes one on the button.
A low kick from Cabreros is predictable there
and Sakurai counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Takanori Sakurai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakurai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cabreros.
Sakurai blocks a head kick by Cabreros.
Cabreros with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sakurai counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cabreros is looking to improve his position.

Sakurai seems to be working for a kimura but Cabreros defends the submission attempt.
Sakurai tries to pass to full mount but Cabreros defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabreros throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Sakurai tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cabreros knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sakurai moves into full mount! Cabreros won't be happy about that!
Sakurai throwing strikes here but Cabreros is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sakurai sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Cabreros is desperately trying to improve his position but Sakurai has a good base and remains in mount.
Sakurai throwing strikes here but Cabreros is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sakurai lands with some strikes.
Cabreros bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabreros is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cabreros lands a couple of digs.
Cabreros controlling from the top position.
Cabreros wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.
Cabreros is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sakurai is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nino Cabreros wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sakurai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Sakurai !
Cabreros lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sakurai scores with a kick to the body.
Sakurai throws a leg kick
and Cabreros counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sakurai 's knee momentarily.
Cabreros fails with the takedown
and Sakurai counters with a big head kick but Cabreros shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nino Cabreros. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cabreros shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cabreros is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Sakurai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cabreros won't allow Sakurai to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai being controlled here, momentarily.
Cabreros looking to sit in guard and control but Sakurai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cabreros working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakurai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakurai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Sakurai drops back looking for a leg! Cabreros is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cabreros manages to kick Sakurai off! Sakurai jumps back into Cabreros's guard.
Sakurai passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takanori Sakurai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Cabreros.
Sakurai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cabreros.
A big left from Cabreros misses.
Nice body kick there by Cabreros.
A low kick from Cabreros misses
and Sakurai counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cabreros drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cabreros lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A lazy body kick from Cabreros
and Sakurai counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Cabreros drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cabreros looking to sit in guard and control but Sakurai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cabreros can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sakurai controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cabreros is pulling down on Sakurai 's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai pushing down on Cabreros's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sakurai trying to pass the guard but Cabreros defending well.
Nino Cabreros overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cabreros is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cabreros gets back to full guard.
Cabreros trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Cabreros keeping full guard, as Sakurai tries to pass.

Cabreros is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakurai stands up over Cabreros, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Cabreros keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakurai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Cabreros keeps moving.
Cabreros tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cabreros managing to control the position.

Sakurai got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cabreros has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sakurai has managed to get both his arms back between Cabreros's legs - danger averted.
Cabreros can't keep his opponent in guard - Sakurai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cabreros won't allow Sakurai to pass to mount.
Sakurai wants to take a breather but Cabreros is having none of it.
Cabreros wants to control but Sakurai is keeping busy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabreros pushes Sakurai off looking to stand but Sakurai dives back in and keeps control.

Sakurai is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cabreros is just riding it out for now. Sakurai eventually gives up the hold.
Cabreros gets back to full guard.
Sakurai passes Cabreros's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cabreros is trying to stand.
Sakurai is looking to take a break and control but Cabreros is keeping him honest, looking to work 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.
Sakurai passes to side control.
Sakurai working away.
Sakurai tries to advance to mount but can't.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Cabreros is working from the bottom.

Sakurai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cabreros is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sakurai misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takanori Sakurai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sakurai 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

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