PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teras Nyrkki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba comes into the arena with YLHCSD - Softer Cell blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Nyrkki's choice of entrance music: Metallica Fade to Black. Teras Nyrkki will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sakuraba
vs
Nyrkki

182 cm
25
199 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Gilop®

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Takeshi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Teras Nyrkki!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Nyrkki.
Nyrkki will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nyrkki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Nyrkki tries to clinch up.

Sakuraba closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nyrkki throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sakuraba prevents a body shot from Nyrkki.
Sakuraba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nyrkki lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sakuraba or not.
Nyrkki presses Sakuraba against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nyrkki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sakuraba prevents a body shot from Nyrkki.
Nyrkki struggles to land a body shot inside as Sakuraba controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nyrkki takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nyrkki misses with a punch to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nyrkki working aggressively here.
Nyrkki has a couple of punches blocked by Sakuraba.
Nyrkki struggles to land a body shot inside as Sakuraba controls his hands.
Nyrkki misses with a punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nyrkki struggles to land a body shot inside as Sakuraba controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki prevents the takedown attempt.
Nyrkki throws a punch but it's blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nyrkki scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nyrkki tries a body shot but Sakuraba blocks it.
Nyrkki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nyrkki'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.
Nyrkki trying to stall but Sakuraba improves his position.

Sakuraba has Nyrkki pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sakuraba pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nyrkki tumbling to the mat - Sakuraba dives into Nyrkki's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sakuraba not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nyrkki's guard.
Sakuraba lands strikes from half guard.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but Nyrkki defending well.
Sakuraba seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nyrkki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sakuraba works his way into full mount!
Nyrkki just holding on.
Sakuraba looking to control but Nyrkki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakuraba dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Teras Nyrkki will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nyrkki scores with a jab.
Nyrkki scores with a hook.

Sakuraba gets a double leg takedown into Nyrkki's guard.
Sakuraba is looking to work some ground and pound but Nyrkki has wrist control.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Nyrkki is keeping the position.
Nyrkki wants to stand and escape but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nyrkki keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba working the ground and pound from side control.
Takeshi Sakuraba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakuraba advances to full mount.
Sakuraba controlling from mount.
Sakuraba lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nyrkki hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyrkki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Nyrkki is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sakuraba postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Nyrkki in real trouble here! The ref calls for Nyrkki to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Takeshi Sakuraba!