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). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Miyamoto
vs
Sakuraba

180 cm
31
185 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

183 cm
28
175 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phoenix Miyamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miyamoto misses with a hook.
Sakuraba's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Miyamoto connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sakuraba scrambles back to his feet.

Sakuraba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Miyamoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Miyamoto blocks nicely.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Miyamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuraba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakuraba connects with a couple of short punches.
Sakuraba stands and throws Miyamoto's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miyamoto wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Miyamoto is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Miyamoto dodges the ground and pound from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba trying to control the action but Miyamoto is working from the bottom.
Miyamoto takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Miyamoto on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Miyamoto tries to get out of the position.
Miyamoto stops Sakuraba from passing to mount.

Sakuraba working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sakuraba cracks Miyamoto with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miyamoto keeps working.
Sakuraba working the ground and pound from side control.
Sakuraba lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Miyamoto down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sakuraba tries for a kimura but Miyamoto is defending well.

Sakuraba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Miyamoto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control the action but Miyamoto is working from the bottom.
Miyamoto takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sakuraba working away.

Sakuraba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Miyamoto, who protects the arm well.
Sakuraba wants to control but Miyamoto is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Miyamoto is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Sakuraba yanks on the arm and Miyamoto is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Sakuraba.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kazushi Sakuraba!
A relieved looking Kazushi 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.