PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazuushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caloy Iblasin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba comes to the cage accompanied by Wax Tailor feat. The Others "Walk The Line". Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sakuraba
vs
Iblasin

175 cm
23
180 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

169 cm
26
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Caloy Iblasin!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Iblasin throws a low kick but Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Sakuraba avoids the head kick by Iblasin.
Iblasin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sakuraba stalks Iblasin and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Iblasin's face. Iblasin staggers backwards, shaken.
Iblasin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sakuraba blocks a head kick by Iblasin.
Iblasin throws a nice head kick!
Iblasin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Iblasin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Iblasin wants it to stay on the feet.
Sakuraba tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Iblasin misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba blocks a head kick by Iblasin.
A head kick misses from Iblasin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Iblasin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Iblasin avoids the head kick by Sakuraba.
Iblasin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Iblasin lands with a slapping head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iblasin lands with a right hand.
Iblasin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Iblasin missing with a left hand there. Sakuraba was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Iblasin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakuraba misses with a head kick.
Iblasin throws a head kick but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Iblasin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuraba misses with a head kick.
Iblasin throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Sakuraba misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sakuraba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Iblasin.
Sakuraba throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A head kick misses from Iblasin.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Iblasin checks a leg kick.
Sakuraba misses with a two punch combination.
Caloy Iblasin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba throws a body punch but Iblasin moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iblasin throws a sloppy head kick
and Sakuraba counters with a good, hard body kick but Iblasin shrugs it off.
Iblasin looks to throw the jab but Sakuraba is out of range.
Sakuraba avoids the head kick by Iblasin.
Sakuraba walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Iblasin avoids the head kick by Sakuraba.
Iblasin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sakuraba thumps Iblasin with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Iblasin throws a head kick that misses.
Iblasin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sakuraba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sakuraba misses with a low kick.
Caloy Iblasin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good standup being displayed there by Iblasin as he connects with a hook.
Sakuraba avoids the head kick by Iblasin.
Iblasin throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Sakuraba scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Iblasin.
Iblasin throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Iblasin throws a head kick that misses.
Iblasin looks gassed!
Iblasin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sloppy strikes from Sakuraba. Those never looked like landing.
Sakuraba throws a low kick but Iblasin moves out of range easily.
Iblasin checks a low kick from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a wild body kick that Iblasin sees coming a mile off.
A head kick by Iblasin misses
and Sakuraba counters with a body kick.

Sakuraba shoots in and bounces Iblasin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Iblasin has his foot on Sakuraba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakuraba works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba stops Iblasin from standing up.
Sakuraba working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Iblasin's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba landing some decent shots from guard.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakuraba controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba stands up over Iblasin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sakuraba looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sakuraba scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakuraba working some strikes from top position.

Iblasin looking for a guillotine here but Sakuraba defends easily.
Sakuraba looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Kazuushi Sakuraba wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Iblasin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Iblasin has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba connects with a high kick.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sakuraba breaks the clinch.
Sakuraba throws a body punch but Iblasin moves out of range.
Iblasin moves out of range as Sakuraba throws a body kick.
Iblasin tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Sakuraba misses.
Iblasin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Iblasin lands with a cross.
Iblasin tries a head kick but it misses.
Iblasin throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick from Iblasin misses.
Iblasin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakuraba misses with the combination.
Iblasin stuffs the takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Iblasin circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Iblasin as he checks the leg kick.
A head kick misses from Sakuraba.
Iblasin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Iblasin misses with a hook.
Sakuraba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Iblasin.
Iblasin lands a head kick. Sakuraba smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Iblasin throws a head kick that misses.
Iblasin lands a jab to the head.
Iblasin throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Iblasin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sakuraba throws a front kick aimed at Iblasin's knee but Iblasin avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Iblasin loads up on a big right hand but Sakuraba slips the punch.
Sakuraba throws a leg kick but Iblasin sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sakuraba motions for Iblasin to come forward. Sakuraba throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kazuushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sakuraba clinches with his opponent.
Iblasin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sakuraba avoids it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Iblasin obliges.
Iblasin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sakuraba avoids it.
Sakuraba managing to block the knees to the body from Iblasin.
Iblasin has Sakuraba pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sakuraba manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sakuraba holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sakuraba landing knees to the body.
Sakuraba taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Iblasin is trying to drag Sakuraba to the mat but Sakuraba just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Iblasin tries to score a body lock takedown but Sakuraba shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kazuushi Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caloy Iblasin.
Iblasin is breathing heavily.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but Iblasin won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba managing to block the knees to the body from Iblasin.

Sakuraba has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Iblasin clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
I would not like to be Iblasin right now.
Sakuraba connects with a big shot to the side of Iblasin's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba lands a shot to the body.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Sakuraba controlling the positon.
Sakuraba cracks Iblasin with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Iblasin from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba has got one arm under Iblasin's chin. This could be trouble... Iblasin trying to control the other hand but Sakuraba gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Iblasin has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kazuushi Sakuraba!