PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joey Bolten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Bolten
vs
Sakuraba

188 cm
29
175 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

183 cm
25
183 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

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 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Joey Bolten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba thows a body shot but no joy.
Bolten tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuraba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakuraba fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bolten has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bolten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sakuraba shoots in and drives through. Bolten sprawls well.
Bolten has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sakuraba finds it's way round the side to connect with Bolten's head.
Bolten tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuraba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bolten looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Bolten sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bolten tries to clinch but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Bolten wants to clinch.
Bolten tries to clinch up but Sakuraba circles away and keeps his distance.
Bolten is looking to clinch but Sakuraba is avoiding it.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Bolten sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joey Bolten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.

Bolten rushes Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bolten is pushing Sakuraba up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolten with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bolten landing knees to the body.
Sakuraba can't get the takedown.
Bolten working Sakuraba over with knees to the body.
Bolten tries to land a knee to the head but Sakuraba blocks with his arms.
Sakuraba avoiding damage as Bolten throws knees to the body.
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sakuraba drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bolten pulls his leg out and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuraba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bolten is looking to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolten working Sakuraba over with knees to the body.
Come on Bolten - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A knee to the head by Bolten.
Bolten is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sakuraba is defending well for now.
Sakuraba has Bolten pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bolten manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bolten is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bolten working Sakuraba over with knees to the body.
Sakuraba wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sakuraba avoiding damage as Bolten throws knees to the body.
Bolten lands a knee to the body.
Bolten landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolten scores a nice knee to the body.
Bolten just leaning against Sakuraba, taking a breather.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch but Bolten keeps him there for the moment.
Sakuraba takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bolten is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sakuraba is defending well for now.
Bolten landing knees to the head.
Sakuraba is trying to force a seperation but Bolten has the dominant position.
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bolten landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sakuraba looking for a takedown.
Bolten lands a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Bolten to work.
Sakuraba is trying to push Bolten away but Bolten has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bolten obliges.
Bolten controlling the action here for a moment.
Bolten tries to land knees in the clinch but Sakuraba avoids the damage to the body.
Sakuraba wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sakuraba takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bolten lands a nice knee to the body.
Bolten lands a knee to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bolten lands a good knee to the midsection. Sakuraba won't want to take too many of those.
Bolten landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bolten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Bolten dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakuraba blocks a head kick by Bolten.
Bolten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bolten fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bolten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Crunch! Sakuraba slams his shin into Bolten's torso.
Bolten is looking to clinch.

Bolten rushes Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sakuraba wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bolten utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bolten with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bolten trying to land knees to the body.
Bolten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bolten.
Bolten is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sakuraba can do to turn this around?
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sakuraba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bolten holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bolten landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bolten lands a nice knee to the body.
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sakuraba looking for a takedown.
Sakuraba takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bolten utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bolten landing knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bolten with a knee to the head.
Bolten landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bolten has Sakuraba pressed against the cage.
Bolten landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bolten working Sakuraba over with knees to the body.
Sakuraba letting Bolten take a breather here.
Bolten lands a nice knee to the body.
Come on Bolten - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Bolten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolten landing knees to the head.
Bolten crunches a lovely knee into Sakuraba's ribcage.
Bolten crunches a lovely knee into Sakuraba's ribcage.
Bolten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bolten scores with a knee to the head.
Bolten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Bolten has Sakuraba pushed against the cage.
Bolten lands a knee to the head.
Sakuraba tries to circle away but Bolten has him pinned against the cage.
Bolten taking a breather.
Sakuraba wants to break free but Bolten has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolten misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sakuraba.
Bolten has Sakuraba pressed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bolten crunches a lovely knee into Sakuraba's ribcage.
Bolten landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Bolten is stalling here.
Sakuraba is trying to push Bolten away but Bolten has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bolten landing knees to the body.
Bolten lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bolten landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sakuraba takes a knee right on the jaw!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Bolten dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bolten rushes Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bolten tries to land knees in the clinch but Sakuraba avoids the damage to the body.
Bolten missing with knees to the body.
Bolten tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sakuraba avoids it.
Sakuraba looking for a takedown.
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bolten controlling the action here for a moment.
Bolten with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Bolten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bolten is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sakuraba is defending well for now.
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sakuraba looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bolten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bolten throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sakuraba blocks it with crossed arms.
Bolten scores a nice knee to the body.
Bolten tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sakuraba avoids it.
Bolten landing knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bolten obliges.
Bolten will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sakuraba up against the cage.
Bolten lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bolten landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Come on Bolten - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sakuraba takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bolten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Bolten slowing the pace effectively.
Bolten crunches a lovely knee into Sakuraba's ribcage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bolten obliges.
Bolten landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bolten using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bolten.
Bolten landing knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolten using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Bolten leaning against his opponent.
Bolten working Sakuraba over with knees to the body.
Bolten prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bolten landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bolten scores a nice knee to the body.
Sakuraba takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bolten landing knees to the head.
Bolten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Bolten.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bolten scores a nice knee to the body.
Sakuraba takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bolten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bolten obliges.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bolten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bolten stalling the fight.
Sakuraba wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bolten lands a good knee to the midsection. Sakuraba won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bolten utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Joey Bolten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bolten is defending well against a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Bolten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bolten, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:25
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Bolten!
Joey Bolten decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.