PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryu Nakumura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba's entrance music is speed tk remix. A fine choice. Ryu Nakumura will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sakuraba
vs
Nakumura

183 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
18
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Nutrition Oracle

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryu Nakumura!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakumura looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Nakumura clinches.
Nakumura has Sakuraba pressed against the cage, preventing Sakuraba from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sakuraba takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nakumura misses with a punch to the body.
Nakumura scores a nice knee to the body.
Sakuraba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nakumura will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sakuraba up against the cage.
Sakuraba looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Sakuraba's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sakuraba is looking to break free of the clinch but Nakumura has double underhooks.
Nakumura misses with the head strike.
Nakumura avoiding damage.
Nakumura looking to throw knees to the head but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Nakumura landing knees to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nakumura.
Nakumura landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nakumura scores a nice knee to the body.
Nakumura working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakumura is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sakuraba working hard to break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nakumura.
Nakumura can't find room to land a body shot as Sakuraba controls the action.
Nakumura lands an elbow just above Sakuraba 's eye.
A head punch on the inside from Nakumura fails to land.
Sakuraba wants to break free but Nakumura has control.
Sakuraba is looking to break free of the clinch but Nakumura has double underhooks.
Nakumura's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nakumura connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.
Nakumura misses with a punch on the inside.
Nakumura looking to throw knees to the head but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Nakumura dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

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.
A head punch on the inside from Nakumura fails to land.
Nakumura working aggressively here.
Nakumura is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nakumura looking to throw knees to the head but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Nakumura looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sakuraba is trying to break the clinch but Nakumura is controlling him.
Nakumura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nakumura misses with a hook to the ribs.
Knees to the body from Nakumura.
Nakumura lands a nice knee to the body.
Sakuraba is looking to break free of the clinch but Nakumura has double underhooks.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nakumura.
Nakumura working aggressively here.
Sakuraba tries to break free but Nakumura pushes him back against the cage.
Nakumura's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nakumura has a couple of punches blocked by Sakuraba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakumura tries a knee to the head but Sakuraba blocks it.
Nakumura swings wildly with an uppercut but Sakuraba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nakumura prevents Sakuraba from breaking the clinch.
Sakuraba takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nakumura connects with a knee to the head.
Nakumura tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sakuraba's elbow.
Nakumura misses with a body punch.
Nakumura taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sakuraba tries to break the clinch but Nakumura is controlling the position.
Nakumura lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Nakumura throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nakumura gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nakumura lands a nice elbow.
Nakumura with a knee to the head.
Nakumura scores with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakumura misses with a punch on the inside.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sakuraba avoiding damage as Nakumura throws knees to the body.
Sakuraba is trying to break free.
Nakumura lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A knee to the head by Nakumura.
Nakumura lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Nakumura stalling in the clinch.
Sakuraba wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nakumura has him pressed against the cage.
Sakuraba tries to break free but Nakumura pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nakumura.
Nakumura tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nakumura putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakumura taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nakumura lands a right hand.
Nakumura content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Sakuraba's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sakuraba managing to block the knees to the body from Nakumura.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Nakumura dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sakuraba shoots in but Nakumura avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nakumura moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nakumura is looking to clinch.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Nakumura avoids it well.
Sakuraba throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nakumura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nakumura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sakuraba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nakumura checks the leg kick.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses.
Nakumura tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakumura slips under a jab from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nakumura moves away.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakumura fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nakumura tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nakumura wants to clinch.
Sakuraba throws a solid leg kick but Nakumura takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sakuraba.
Nakumura wants to clinch but Sakuraba slips to the side

and Sakuraba counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sakuraba.

Sakuraba stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Nakumura has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nakumura landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sakuraba wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nakumura lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The referee calls for Nakumura to work.
Nakumura with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakumura lands an elbow just above Sakuraba 's eye.
Nakumura lands a nice elbow.
Nakumura misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakumura tries a body shot but Sakuraba blocks it.
Sakuraba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sakuraba takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sakuraba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ryu Nakumura seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nakumura will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sakuraba up against the cage.
Nakumura using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sakuraba has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nakumura misses with some punches.
Sakuraba is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nakumura throws a head punch that misses.
Nakumura unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nakumura prevents Sakuraba from breaking the clinch.
Nakumura holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba prevents a body shot from Nakumura.
Nakumura is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Nakumura displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sakuraba up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nakumura obliges.
Nakumura stalling in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Nakumura.
Nakumura is pushing Sakuraba up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short right from Nakumura on the inside.
Nakumura is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sakuraba is defending well for now.
Sakuraba takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nakumura lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to circle away but Nakumura has him pinned against the cage.
Nakumura lands an elbow just above Sakuraba 's eye.
Nakumura swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nakumura lands a damaging elbow.
Nakumura tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nakumura lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nakumura lands a damaging elbow.
Sakuraba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sakuraba is trying to force a seperation but Nakumura has the dominant position.
Nakumura misses with a knee to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nakumura creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nakumura misses with a knee to the head.
Nakumura prevents Sakuraba from breaking the clinch.
Nakumura lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nakumura throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sakuraba blocks it with crossed arms.
Nakumura unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Nakumura 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! This is the final round!

Sakuraba throws a low kick but Nakumura moves out of range easily.
Nakumura tries to clinch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Nakumura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuraba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nakumura.
Sakuraba tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nakumura throws a nice outside leg kick.

Nakumura clinches up against the cage.
Sakuraba on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sakuraba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nakumura lands a knee to the head.
Nakumura swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nakumura has Sakuraba pressed against the cage, preventing Sakuraba from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sakuraba tries to break the clinch but Nakumura is controlling the position.
Nakumura is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Nakumura struggles to land a body shot inside as Sakuraba controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sakuraba misses with a wild combination.
Nakumura avoids the head kick by Sakuraba.
Nakumura wants to clinch up but Sakuraba keeps it at a distance.
Sakuraba throws a right hand that Nakumura ducks under and follows up with a left that Nakumura also avoids with ease.
Nice uppercut lands for Sakuraba. That snapped Nakumura's head back.
Ryu Nakumura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakumura tries to clinch up.
Sakuraba lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sakuraba throws a body kick that misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sakuraba lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nakumura has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nakumura and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Nakumura closes the distance and clinches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nakumura obliges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakumura lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Nakumura.
Nakumura with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Nakumura.
Nakumura softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakumura using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nakumura connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.
Nakumura lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Nakumura with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nakumura lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nakumura.
Nakumura landing knees to the body.
Nakumura misses with the head strike.
Nakumura creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sakuraba's defenses.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nakumura connects with a knee to the head.
Nakumura putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nakumura will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sakuraba up against the cage.
Nakumura scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to break the clinch but Nakumura is controlling the position.
Sakuraba tries to break the clinch but Nakumura is controlling the position.
A hook to the body from Nakumura.
A bit of stalling here from Nakumura.
The crowd are getting on Nakumura's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Sakuraba tries to circle away but Nakumura has him pinned against the cage.
Sakuraba takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nakumura content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nakumura lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Nakumura creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sakuraba's defenses.
Nakumura unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nakumura misses with a knee to the head.
Nakumura misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba avoiding damage as Nakumura throws knees to the body.
Nakumura misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nakumura will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sakuraba up against the cage.
Nakumura digs a right hand into Sakuraba's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sakuraba's gas tank.
Nakumura with a knee to the head.
Nakumura lands with a left to the head.
Sakuraba tries to break free but Nakumura pushes him back against the cage.
Sakuraba takes a shot to the head.
Nakumura stalling the fight.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch but Nakumura keeps him there for the moment.
Nakumura with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nakumura wants to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sakuraba.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryu Nakumura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nakumura 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryu Nakumura!