PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Orlando Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Orlando Sanchez has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Sakuraba
vs
Sanchez

182 cm
21
183 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Orlando Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez throws a lazy uppercut
and Sanchez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sanchez misses with a hook. Sakuraba ducked under it nicely.
Sakuraba stuffs the takedown.
No luck for Sakuraba with that takedown attempt.
Sakuraba closes the distance and clinches up with Sanchez, looking for a takedown. Sakuraba pushes Sanchez against the cage but Sanchez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A shot to the body from Sanchez misses

and Sakuraba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sanchez's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanchez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sanchez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sanchez keeping full guard, as Sakuraba tries to pass.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuraba is pushing down on Sanchez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sanchez is fighting to maintain full guard but Sakuraba has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sanchez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakuraba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakuraba's back!

Sanchez has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Sanchez lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez missing with punches from the back.
Sanchez has the hooks in. Sakuraba is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Sanchez punishes Sakuraba with strikes from the back mount.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Sanchez. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Sakuraba is in bad spot here.
Sakuraba breaks Sanchez's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Sanchez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanchez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakuraba advances position into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez tries to bench press Sakuraba off him but Sakuraba keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sanchez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sanchez can't do much from the bottom here.

Sakuraba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Sakuraba thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.
Sakuraba creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sanchez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Sanchez is defending against the submission attempts here by Sakuraba.
Sanchez tries to get to full guard but Sakuraba has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sanchez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sakuraba slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sanchez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sanchez controls Sakuraba momentarily but Sakuraba frees himself.
Sakuraba landing some decent shots from guard.

Sanchez working for a triangle but Sakuraba defends it easily.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sanchez's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba moves nicely into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez tries to buck Sakuraba off but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sakuraba is trying to get an arm triangle but Sanchez is defending well.

Sakuraba tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sanchez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sanchez can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Sakuraba goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sanchez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sakuraba but great work by Sanchez.
Sakuraba manages to get back to half guard.
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 Kazushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sakuraba misses with a body shot.
Sanchez throws a poor cross that misses
and Sakuraba counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sakuraba defending well as Sanchez loads up on a big left hand.
Sakuraba moves out of range as Sanchez strikes.
Sakuraba slips a jab from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a hook
and Sakuraba counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A big left from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez throws a lazy uppercut
and Sakuraba counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Sakuraba scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sakuraba throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sanchez dodges the ground and pound from Sakuraba.
Sanchez is trying to get back to half guard.

Sakuraba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sanchez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to control Sakuraba's posture but Sakuraba avoids it.
Sanchez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sakuraba.
You can see the frustration on Sanchez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sakuraba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sanchez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sakuraba trying to control the position but Sanchez is working away.
Sanchez is looking to regain half guard here but Sakuraba keeps moving and retains side control.
Sanchez regains half guard.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sakuraba is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanchez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba blocks the strikes from Sanchez.
Sakuraba working Sanchez over with strikes.
Sakuraba passes to full mount!

Sakuraba is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sanchez has managed to escape the submission attempt.
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 seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Sanchez is holding on tight.
Sanchez is looking to get to half guard.
Kazushi Sakuraba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sakuraba is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sanchez is surviving well by controlling Sakuraba's body position as best he can.

Sakuraba working for a submission but Sanchez is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws some wild stikes that Sanchez manages to avoid easily.
Sanchez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sanchez tries to lock up and control but Sakuraba gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sanchez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sakuraba takes Sanchez's back, avoiding a couple of desperation strikes from the bottom.

Sanchez preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sakuraba.

Sakuraba is cranking Sanchez's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Sanchez! He's tightened the choke and Sanchez is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kazushi Sakuraba!
Kazushi Sakuraba decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.