PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Grey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hayato Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai has chosen Holy Orders as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Grey
vs
Sakurai

181 cm
22
179 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

172 cm
23
174 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Derrick Grey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hayato Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grey misses with a lunging right hand
and Sakurai counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Grey tries for a takedown but Sakurai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sakurai.
Sakurai lands a nice shot that snaps Grey's head back.
Sakurai scores with a hook to the body. Grey takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Grey misses with a head kick.
A head kick by Sakurai misses
and Grey counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a sloppy head kick
and Grey counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sakurai tries a head kick but it misses.
Grey throws a sloppy body shot
and Sakurai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Grey walks into a straight right hand from Sakurai.
Sakurai avoids the body shot from Grey.
Sakurai ducks under a wild hook from Grey.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grey lands a slapping body shot.
Hayato Sakurai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakurai lands with a kick to the temple. Grey shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nice sprawl there from Sakurai as Grey shoots in.
Sakurai connects with a body shot that sends Grey's belly button to the back.
A head kick by Sakurai misses
and Sakurai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Grey shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sakurai throws a head kick but Grey moves out of range.
Grey throws a series of punches but Sakurai moves out of range.
Sakurai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakurai getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sakurai misses with a body kick.

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 misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakurai throws a lazy head kick

and Grey counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Grey won't allow Sakurai to get back to his feet.
Grey working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sakurai can't keep his opponent in guard - Grey advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakurai can do anything to dispel that myth.
Grey is looking to take a break and control but Sakurai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakurai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Grey.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grey takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sakurai pushes Grey off looking to stand but Grey dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayato Sakurai dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Grey scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sakurai throws a lazy head kick

and Grey counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sakurai tries to kick Grey off but Grey keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Grey tries to pass to full mount but Sakurai defends it.
Grey seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Sakurai pushes Grey off and gets back to his feet.
Grey shoots and misses
and Sakurai makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sakurai throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sakurai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grey was well out of range. Poor timing from Sakurai.
Sakurai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Grey.
Sakurai checks the leg kick.
Hayato Sakurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakurai connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A head kick by Sakurai misses
and Grey counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Grey tries for a takedown but Sakurai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derrick Grey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grey misses with a hook. Sakurai ducked under it nicely.
Sakurai blocks a head kick by Grey.
Sakurai pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a lazy uppercut
and Grey counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sakurai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakurai throws a lazy head kick
and Grey counters with a big head kick but Sakurai shrugs it off.
Sakurai lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Grey lands a nice looking body shot.
Sakurai scores with a jab. Grey acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Grey is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Sakurai tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Sakurai misses

and Grey counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sakurai won't be happy with that.
Sakurai is pushing Grey's head away, looking to escape. Grey manages to hold on to the position though.
Grey is looking to take a break and control but Sakurai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grey cracks Sakurai with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Grey dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Grey fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sakurai checks it well.
Sakurai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakurai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Grey rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sakurai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai throws a head kick that misses
and Grey counters with a straight right hand.
A shot to the liver by Grey. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakurai throws a head kick that misses
and Grey counters with a big head kick but Sakurai shrugs it off.
Grey swings widly with a right hand
and Sakurai counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Grey is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hayato Sakurai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Grey swings widly with a right hand
and Sakurai finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Sakurai misses with a head kick.

Grey closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sakurai's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai wants to stand but Grey is controlling the position.
Sakurai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Grey. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grey in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grey has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Grey tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakurai is retaining full guard.
Sakurai is looking to stand back up but Grey counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Sakurai.
Grey trying to control from half guard but Sakurai is working away.

Sakurai kicks Grey off and gets back to his feet.
Grey will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sakurai throws a head kick but Grey moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai misses with a low kick as Grey jumps back.
Grey throws a leg kick
and Sakurai counters with a head kick.
Sakurai cracks a nice hook into Grey's ribs.
Sakurai misses with an uppercut

and Grey counters with a shoot takedown. Sakurai fights it but they end up in guard.
Sakurai wants to get back to his feet but Grey is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Grey is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai is looking to stand up but Grey isn't so interested in that idea.
Grey wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.
Grey tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakurai is retaining full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Grey controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Derrick Grey wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sakurai lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrick Grey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Grey has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derrick Grey!