PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lopez
vs
Sakuraba

180 cm
30
183 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

183 cm
25
183 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ultra Fight Gear
ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE)

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alberto Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba gets a double leg takedown into Lopez's guard.

Lopez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Lopez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuraba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lopez looking for a sweep. Not yet Lopez, not yet.
Lopez trying to strike off his back.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Lopez is retaining full guard.
Lopez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Lopez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakuraba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakuraba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Lopez is looking for a triangle here but Sakuraba uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Sakuraba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lopez, who protects the arm well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sakuraba's best efforts.
Lopez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lopez keeping full guard, as Sakuraba tries to pass.
Lopez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Lopez blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba stands and throws Lopez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lopez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sakuraba works his foot free and advances to mount.
Lopez manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Lopez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lopez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba is thwarting Lopez's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but Lopez defending well.

Sakuraba is working for a submission of some sort.
Lopez gets back to full guard.

Lopez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakuraba defends well.
Lopez striking off his back but it's not causing Sakuraba any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.

Lopez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuraba is aware though and is defending well.

Lopez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakuraba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lopez can't keep his opponent in guard - Sakuraba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lopez wants to improve his position but Sakuraba is controlling well.
Sakuraba passes to side control.
Lopez tries to buck Sakuraba off but Sakuraba is having none of it.

Sakuraba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lopez, who protects the arm well.
Lopez gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez trying to control from the bottom.

Lopez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura but Lopez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sakuraba to get the leverage.
Lopez is not content to let Sakuraba control the position.
Lopez tries to get to full guard but Sakuraba has control of the leg.
Lopez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Lopez is retaining full guard.

Lopez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lopez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
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 Alberto Lopez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sakuraba gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lopez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Alberto Lopez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lopez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Sakuraba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lopez landing some decent shots from guard.
Sakuraba pulls Lopez in to control the position.
Lopez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
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!
Lopez pushing down on Sakuraba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lopez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.
Lopez slips a nice elbow through Sakuraba's hands, connecting with Sakuraba's forehead.

Sakuraba is rocked!

Lopez is trying to work for a kimura but Sakuraba is defending well.
Sakuraba tries to get to full guard but Lopez has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lopez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lopez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lopez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sakuraba is still in real trouble! Can Lopez finish him?

Lopez is working for a submission of some sort.
Sakuraba seems to have recovered his senses.
Sakuraba tries to get to full guard but Lopez has control of the leg.
Sakuraba is refusing to be controlled, as Lopez sits in half guard.

Lopez is working for a kimura but Sakuraba is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sakuraba wants to improve his position but Lopez is controlling well.
Lopez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lopez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
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!
Lopez prevents Sakuraba from improving his position.
Sakuraba is looking to control Lopez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sakuraba avoid being mounted?
Lopez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lopez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.
Lopez tries to pass to full mount but Sakuraba defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sakuraba gets back to full guard.
Lopez cracks Sakuraba with a solid left hand.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.
Lopez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sakuraba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lopez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sakuraba's head.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
Lopez loads up on a big left hand. Sakuraba felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Lopez looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Sakuraba can't hide his disappointment, as Lopez celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alberto Lopez!
Alberto Lopez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.