PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gouki Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Thiessen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Gouki Sakuraba has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sakuraba
vs
Thiessen

177 cm
21
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gouki Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Thiessen!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thiessen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakuraba is fending him off so far but Thiessen persists. Nope, Sakuraba circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakuraba throws a nice looking combination but Thiessen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thiessen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sakuraba circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Sakuraba. Those never looked like landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thiessen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thiessen tries to clinch up but Sakuraba circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakuraba lands an overhand right.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Thiessen avoids it well.
Thiessen wants to clinch but Sakuraba slips to the side
and Sakuraba counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thiessen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Thiessen instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thiessen manages to break the clinch.
Gouki Sakuraba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
Thiessen shoots in and drives through. Sakuraba sprawls well.
Gouki Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Thiessen.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thiessen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thiessen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thiessen tries to clinch up but Sakuraba circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakuraba moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sakuraba swats away the attempt to clinch by Thiessen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thiessen dodges the punch combination from Sakuraba.
Thiessen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba blocks a head kick by Thiessen.
Thiessen tries a head kick but it misses.
Sakuraba connects with a single shot there.
Thiessen throws a wild hook but Sakuraba just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Thiessen gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the cage! The referee jumps in - Sakuraba raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gouki Sakuraba!
A relieved looking Gouki Sakuraba thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.