PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phoenix Miyamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Sakuraba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Miyamoto
vs
Sakuraba

180 cm
29
171 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

183 cm
26
175 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter striker
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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phoenix Miyamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miyamoto keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
No luck for Sakuraba with that takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Miyamoto.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Miyamoto.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sakuraba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Miyamoto walks away with a smile on his face. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Phoenix Miyamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Miyamoto wants to clinch up but Sakuraba keeps it at a distance.
Miyamoto throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakuraba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Miyamoto wants to clinch up but Sakuraba keeps it at a distance.

Sakuraba decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sakuraba tries to pass to full mount but Miyamoto defends it.
Sakuraba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba is trying to control the action in half guard but Miyamoto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Miyamoto defends it well.
Sakuraba works his foot free and advances to mount.

Sakuraba has hold of Miyamoto's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Miyamoto manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Sakuraba landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyamoto holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sakuraba tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Sakuraba looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Sakuraba swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Miyamoto is now in Sakuraba's guard. A big mistake from Sakuraba there, giving up the dominant position!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sakuraba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Miyamoto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Sakuraba is tightening it up a little... Miyamoto has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Miyamoto reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Miyamoto taps out! Nice BJJ there by Sakuraba!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Kazushi Sakuraba!
Kazushi Sakuraba seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.