PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haryy Houdini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Haryy Houdini enters the cage!

Sakuraba
vs
Houdini

183 cm
28
175 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

179 cm
25
179 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haryy Houdini!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Houdini closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sakuraba's guard.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Houdini pushes his legs off easily.

Sakuraba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sakuraba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Houdini defends well.
Sakuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Houdini pushes his legs off easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Houdini trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Houdini lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Houdini missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakuraba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Houdini landing some decent shots from guard.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Houdini passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houdini lands a nice forearm strike.
Sakuraba struggling a bit here.
Houdini lands a nice forearm strike.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Houdini scores with punches from side control.
Sakuraba is looking for a sweep.
Houdini creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sakuraba sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sakuraba takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Houdini misses with the ground and pound.
Sakuraba is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Houdini looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Houdini working the head and body with strikes.

Houdini swings around for an armbar but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Houdini's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houdini controlling Sakuraba's posture.
Sakuraba postures up in Houdini's guard and throws a big left but Houdini blocks it.
Houdini is trying to control the position but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Houdini keeps moving.
Houdini wants to stand and escape but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Houdini working a defensive guard here.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Houdini's guard.
Sakuraba works his foot free and advances to mount.
Houdini tries to reverse the position but Sakuraba maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houdini regains half guard.
Sakuraba looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Houdini with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Sakuraba seems to be working for a kimura but Houdini defends the submission attempt.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Houdini is defending well.
Well, if Sakuraba is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sakuraba trying to mount his opponent but Houdini defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houdini is trying to stand.
Sakuraba trying to control the action but Houdini is working from the bottom.

Sakuraba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura here.
Sakuraba prevents Houdini from improving his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Haryy Houdini will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Houdini drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Houdini defends easily.

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

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Houdini stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.
Houdini connects with a couple of short punches.

Houdini is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Houdini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houdini throws an elbow that misses. Sakuraba uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Houdini's guard. Nice move by Sakuraba!
Houdini is looking to stand up but Sakuraba isn't so interested in that idea.
Sakuraba stands and throws Houdini's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Houdini being controlled for a moment.
Houdini is trying to control Sakuraba's posture but Sakuraba avoids it.
Check out the look on Sakuraba's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sakuraba tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba prevents Houdini from escaping the position.
Kazushi Sakuraba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Houdini struggling a bit here.
Sakuraba tries to advance to mount but Houdini denies him.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Houdini has escaped the position, nice work there.
Houdini takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Houdini is looking to regain half guard here but Sakuraba keeps moving and retains side control.
Sakuraba tries to advance position but instead Houdini slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houdini tries to get to full guard but Sakuraba has control of the leg.
Houdini moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Houdini is retaining full guard.
Houdini is trying to keep Sakuraba in close.
Sakuraba is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houdini looking to control.
Sakuraba postures up in Houdini's guard and throws a big left but Houdini blocks it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Houdini is trying to control the position but Sakuraba postures up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Haryy Houdini wasn't active enough on the ground.
Houdini is looking to clinch but Sakuraba is avoiding it.

Houdini shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Houdini was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sakuraba gets back to half guard.

Houdini is working for a submission of some sort.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sakuraba actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houdini prevents Sakuraba from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kazushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sakuraba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Sakuraba looking to score a takedown here. Houdini is defending well but Sakuraba drives through and ends up in Houdini's guard.

Houdini kicks Sakuraba off and gets to his feet.
Haryy Houdini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Houdini looking to score a takedown here. Sakuraba is defending well but Houdini drives through and ends up in Sakuraba's guard.
Houdini stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakuraba is on top in guard.
Sakuraba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Houdini trying to control the position here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sakuraba trying to control but Houdini is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Houdini's head.
Houdini keeping full guard, as Sakuraba tries to pass.
Houdini working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houdini working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Houdini wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
Houdini looking to control.

Sakuraba thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakuraba lands a couple of digs.
Houdini is adopting a defensive guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sakuraba's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuraba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Houdini works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sakuraba throws a big elbow that misses.
Houdini keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Houdini managing to control the position.
Sakuraba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Houdini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Houdini keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Houdini wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
Sakuraba throws a big elbow that misses.
Houdini is trying to keep Sakuraba in close.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Haryy Houdini hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Houdini napping and manages to drive through into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba tries to move into full mount but can't pass Houdini's legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Sakuraba showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sakuraba has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!

Kazushi Sakuraba wins by unanimous decision!
Kazushi Sakuraba seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.