PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Awa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Sakuraba
vs
Awa

183 cm
30
175 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

198 cm
26
168 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Project Mayhem

KAISER

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 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Awa!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Awa misses with the combination.
Sakuraba drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A combination from Awa does no damage.
Awa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakuraba.
Awa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Awa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sakuraba has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Sakuraba has Awa up against the cage in a clinch.
Sakuraba tries to score a body lock takedown but Awa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Awa wants to break free but Sakuraba has control.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Awa.

Awa breaks the clinch.
Sakuraba's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Awa connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sakuraba scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Awa fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sakuraba there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sakuraba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Awa.
A solid leg kick lands there for Awa.

Awa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Awa has momentary wrist control but Sakuraba slips an elbow through the middle.
Sakuraba lands a couple of digs.
Sakuraba forces his way into half guard.

Sakuraba is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Awa is staying active underneath Sakuraba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to free his trapped foot but Awa is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Sakuraba is working for a submission of some sort.
Sakuraba landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sakuraba tries to pass the half guard into mount. Awa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Awa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakuraba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sakuraba passes the guard and advances to mount!
Awa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Awa tries to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
Awa is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Sakuraba lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Awa hang on?
Awa tries to lock up and control but Sakuraba gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba prevents Awa from getting the reversal.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine from mount but Awa is having none of it.
Sakuraba landing punches.
Sakuraba working Awa over with strikes here.

Awa is rocked!

Awa has left one of his arms exposed and Sakuraba doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Awa screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). 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.