PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between William Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph comes to the cage accompanied by TEARS FOR FEARS - SHOUT. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Joseph
vs
Sakuraba

175 cm
30
176 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

183 cm
24
183 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE)
Ultimate Fighting Gear

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 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, William Joseph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Sakuraba misses its intended target.
Sakuraba looks for a takedown but Joseph sprawls well.
Sakuraba gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Joseph.
Sloppy strikes from Sakuraba. Those never looked like landing.
Sakuraba misses with a double jab.
A jab from Joseph does it's job there.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown

and Joseph counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Joseph perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Joseph scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sakuraba moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph sitting in guard here, content to control.
Joseph has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Joseph pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
Sakuraba is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Joseph working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sakuraba is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Joseph wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Joseph postures up and lands a big shot to Sakuraba's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Joseph preventing the sweep.

Sakuraba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Joseph defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joseph slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joseph wants to stand but Sakuraba has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle here but Joseph uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Joseph trying to control the action but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Joseph lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sakuraba down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is trying to control Joseph's posture but Joseph avoids it.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Joseph's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sakuraba is not content to let Joseph control the position.

Joseph is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakuraba sees it coming and defends easily.
Sakuraba wants to control but Joseph is keeping busy.
Sakuraba on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position.
Joseph looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Joseph prevents Sakuraba from improving his position.
Sakuraba regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sakuraba wants to hit a switch here but Joseph passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sakuraba there!
Joseph looking to finish Sakuraba with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sakuraba!

Sakuraba is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joseph prevents Sakuraba from getting the reversal.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Joseph with shots to the head and body - Sakuraba looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sakuraba is still in real trouble! Can Joseph finish him?
Joseph lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sakuraba hang on?
Sakuraba is desperately trying to improve his position but Joseph has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Joseph dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sakuraba misses with a wild combination.
Sakuraba seems to have recovered his senses.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that Joseph avoids nicely.
Sakuraba paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sakuraba chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Joseph can pounce on him.
Joseph fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Sakuraba takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Joseph swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Joseph explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph lands with a thumping leg kick.
Joseph scores with a hook.
Joseph connects with a crisp jab.
Sakuraba takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Joseph avoids it well.
A lazy left from Sakuraba finds it's target.
A left lands for Joseph.
Joseph takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joseph throws a leg kick which misses Sakuraba's front leg but catches the back leg as Sakuraba tries to avoid it.
Sakuraba lands a nice looking body shot.
Sakuraba tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A head kick by Sakuraba misses
and Joseph counters with a slapping leg kick.
Joseph thuds his right hand into Sakuraba's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuraba misses the target.
Sakuraba lands with a kick to the ribs.
Joseph swings for the body but Sakuraba moves out of range.
William Joseph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Joseph instigates a clinch.
Joseph creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sakuraba's defenses.
Joseph lands a shot to the body.
Joseph has Sakuraba pressed against the cage.
Joseph lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Joseph.
Joseph lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Joseph misses with a hook to the ribs.
Joseph working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Joseph makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Joseph - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sakuraba is trying to force a seperation but Joseph has the dominant position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Joseph obliges.
Joseph is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Joseph.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sakuraba can't break the clinch.
Joseph lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Joseph takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Joseph landing some nice looking knees to the body.
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!
Joseph pushes Sakuraba back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Joseph tries a knee to the head but Sakuraba blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Joseph throws a knee to the head but misses.
Joseph keeps control of Sakuraba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The referee is keeping an eye on Joseph - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Joseph dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A head kick misses from Joseph.
William Joseph is winning the standup battle so far.
Joseph throws a nice looking combination but Sakuraba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Joseph lands a nice looking body shot.
Sakuraba misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba avoids a kick to the body.
Sakuraba shoots in looking for a takedown. Joseph tries to sprawl out of it but Sakuraba keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Joseph manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph connects with a solid leg kick.
Sakuraba shoots and misses
and Joseph counters with a left and a right that stings Sakuraba.
Joseph misses with an uppercut.

Joseph has managed to clinch.
Joseph lands a nice elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Joseph.
Joseph is leaning against Sakuraba and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Joseph lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Joseph lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Joseph controlling the action here for a moment.
Joseph lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sakuraba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A knee to the head by Joseph.
Joseph unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Sakuraba! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Joseph is unloading with more strikes now! Sakuraba drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). William Joseph!
William Joseph thanked the fans post fight for their support.