PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mino Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Morlikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sakurai
vs
Morlikov

190 cm
22
255 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mino Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sergei Morlikov!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Morlikov. Morlikov obviously looking to wear him down.
Sakurai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morlikov.
Morlikov shoots for a takedown but Sakurai saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sakurai doesn't manage to clinch there - Morlikov circles away.
Sakurai moves forwards but Morlikov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Morlikov throws a leg kick that misses.
Morlikov throws a right and a left that Sakurai avoids nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Morlikov scores with a four punch combination!
Sakurai blocks a low kick nicely.
Morlikov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Morlikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sakurai tries to clinch there but Morlikov circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sakurai tries to clinch there but Morlikov circles away.
Sakurai moves in looking to clinch but Morlikov pushes him off.
Morlikov misses with the combination.

Sakurai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sakurai misses with a knee strike.
Sakurai can't get the takedown.
Sakurai connects with a nasty looking knee right to Morlikov's face.
Morlikov is trying to break the clinch but Sakurai has him pressed against the ropes.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Sakurai throws an elbow but misses.
Morlikov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sakurai tries to land knees in the clinch but Morlikov avoids the damage to the body.

Morlikov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sakurai fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sakurai clinches up against the ropes.
Morlikov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sakurai wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sakurai looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morlikov tries for a takedown but Sakurai manages to get underhooks.
Morlikov is looking to break free of the clinch but Sakurai has double underhooks.
Morlikov can't break the clinch.
Morlikov wants to get back to striking at distance but Sakurai won't allow it.
Sakurai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sakurai has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Morlikov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Morlikov manages to break the clinch.
Morlikov misses with a two punch combination.
Morlikov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Morlikov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Morlikov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Morlikov.
Morlikov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Morlikov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Morlikov connects with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Morlikov.
Morlikov scores with a one two! Sakurai had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sakurai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morlikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakurai moves in looking to clinch but Morlikov pushes him off.
Sakurai checks a low kick from Morlikov.

Sakurai moves into the clinch successfully.
Sakurai tries to land a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks with his arms.
Sakurai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morlikov keeps control of Sakurai as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sakurai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Sakurai is breathing heavily.
Sakurai tries to land a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks with his arms.
Sakurai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sakurai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Morlikov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sakurai fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mino Sakurai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergei Morlikov.
Morlikov tries to score with a low kick but Sakurai moves his leg out of the way.
A solid leg kick lands there for Morlikov.
Morlikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Morlikov misses with a double jab.
A jab from Morlikov finds it's way through Sakurai's defenses.
Sakurai has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Morlikov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Morlikov misses with a low kick as Sakurai jumps back.
Morlikov throws a one two combo.
A head kick misses from Sakurai.
Morlikov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A left and a right from Morlikov both land. Nice combination.
Morlikov with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakurai stuffs the takedown attempt from Morlikov. Morlikov gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakurai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Morlikov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sakurai but Sakurai pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai dodges the punch combination from Morlikov.
Morlikov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morlikov misses with a wild combination.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch but Morlikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Sakurai 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Morlikov misses with a leg kick.
Sakurai slips a jab and a cross from Morlikov.
Morlikov is working the combinations to good effect here.
Sakurai is looking to clinch.
Morlikov stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakurai. Sakurai gets slowly back to his feet.
An inside leg kick from Morlikov misses.
Sakurai wants to clinch.
Sakurai checks a leg kick nicely.
Morlikov wants to slow Sakurai down by chopping away at his legs.
Sakurai wants to clinch.
Morlikov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sakurai avoids the head kick by Morlikov.
Sakurai lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Morlikov backs up against the ropes.
Sakurai takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Morlikov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakurai shoots in and drives through. Morlikov sprawls well.
Morlikov tries to bum rush Sakurai with a series of wild strikes but Sakurai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Morlikov tries to score with a low kick but Sakurai moves his leg out of the way.
Morlikov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Morlikov misses with the combination.
Sakurai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morlikov misses with a low kick.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Morlikov throws a head kick that misses.
Sakurai checks the leg kick.
Morlikov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morlikov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sakurai.
Sakurai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morlikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sakurai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morlikov misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Morlikov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Morlikov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch but Morlikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Morlikov throws a right and a left that Sakurai avoids nicely.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai lands with a kick to the ribs.
Morlikov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Morlikov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakurai.
Mino Sakurai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakurai throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Morlikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morlikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakurai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morlikov.
Sakurai wants to clinch.
Sakurai tries to clinch there but Morlikov circles away.
Sakurai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sakurai checks a low kick from Morlikov.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakurai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakurai tries to clinch but Morlikov is having none of it.
Sakurai tries to clinch up but Morlikov circles away and keeps his distance.
Morlikov avoids the head kick by Sakurai.
Morlikov is breathing heavily.
Sakurai moves in looking to clinch but Morlikov pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a nice head kick!
Sakurai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morlikov misses with a series of wild punches.
Morlikov's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Morlikov duly obliges.
Morlikov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakurai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sakurai pushes Morlikov up against the ropes in a clinch.
Sakurai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Sakurai has Morlikov pressed against the ropes.
Sakurai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sakurai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Morlikov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sakurai is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Morlikov wants to get back to striking at distance but Sakurai won't allow it.

Sakurai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morlikov keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakurai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Morlikov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Morlikov swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Sakurai gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morlikov can't break the clinch.
Sakurai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sakurai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morlikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Morlikov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Morlikov breaks from the clinch.
Sakurai wants to clinch.
Morlikov is looking to score with low kicks.
Morlikov lands a head shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Sakurai blocks the leg kick.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai fails with an attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sakurai looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.

Morlikov breaks the clinch.
Morlikov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sakurai tries to clinch up.
Morlikov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Morlikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morlikov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sakurai throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morlikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakurai tries a head kick but it misses.
Sakurai tries to clinch there but Morlikov circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakurai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakurai is looking to clinch.
A solid body kick from Sakurai.
Sakurai is looking to clinch but Morlikov is avoiding it.
Sakurai walks into a jab.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morlikov motions for Sakurai to come forward. Morlikov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sakurai is looking to clinch.
Morlikov stalks Sakurai and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sakurai's face. Sakurai staggers backwards, shaken.
Sakurai is looking to clinch but Morlikov is avoiding it.
Sakurai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sakurai is looking to clinch.
Morlikov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Morlikov looks to land a combination but Sakurai avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sakurai keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Morlikov throws a chopping leg kick but Sakurai manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Sakurai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sakurai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sakurai creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Sakurai breaks from the clinch.
Morlikov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Morlikov throws a series of punches but Sakurai avoids them all with ease.
Sakurai lands with a slapping head kick.
Sakurai walks into a jab.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morlikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakurai is looking to clinch.
Morlikov misses with a head kick.
Sakurai scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sakurai is looking to clinch.
Morlikov works over Sakurai's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morlikov scores with a three punch combo!
Sakurai looks for the body kick but Morlikov saw that one coming.
Morlikov throws a series of punches but Sakurai avoids them all with ease.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai doesn't manage to clinch there - Morlikov circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mino Sakurai dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sakurai slips a straight right by Morlikov.
Sakurai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morlikov misses with the combination.
Morlikov misses with a double jab.
Sakurai tries to clinch but Morlikov moves out of range.
Sakurai throws a head kick that misses.
Morlikov swinging wilding here.
Morlikov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Morlikov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sakurai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morlikov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sakurai is out of range and Morlikov settles back down.
Sakurai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Morlikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakurai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morlikov lands a two punch combo.
Sakurai tries to clinch up.
Morlikov misses with a few strikes there.
Sakurai scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch but Morlikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morlikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morlikov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morlikov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sakurai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sakurai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Sakurai clinches.
Morlikov has had enough of the clinch but Sakurai keeps him there for the moment.
Sakurai misses with a knee to the head.

Morlikov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sakurai gets a clinch.

Morlikov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morlikov throws a series of punches but Sakurai moves out of range.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai throws a nice head kick!
Morlikov throws a low kick but Sakurai avoids it.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai throws a head kick but Morlikov moves out of range.
Sakurai moves in looking to clinch but Morlikov pushes him off.
Sakurai tries to clinch up.
Morlikov scores with a one two! Sakurai had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Morlikov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakurai tries to clinch but Morlikov is having none of it.
Morlikov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morlikov throws out a leg kick but Sakurai moves out of range and Morlikov only half commits.
Morlikov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Morlikov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morlikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakurai.
Morlikov tries to bum rush Sakurai with a series of wild strikes but Sakurai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Sakurai drives through and clinches with Morlikov against the ropes.
Morlikov lands an elbow that stopped Sakurai in his tracks for a moment.
Sakurai has Morlikov pressed against the ropes.
Sakurai tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Morlikov decides to pull guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Morlikov is on top in guard.
Morlikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai trying to control the position.

Sakurai is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morlikov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sakurai keeping full guard, as Morlikov tries to pass.
Morlikov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakurai bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morlikov's guard.
Morlikov trying to strike off his back.
Morlikov looking for a sweep. Not yet Morlikov, not yet.
Morlikov is trying to keep Sakurai in close.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Morlikov keeps moving.
Sakurai works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morlikov can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are battling for position here. Morlikov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai passes Morlikov's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sakurai is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Morlikov has managed to free his arm - good work.

Sakurai is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Morlikov moves into full guard.
Sakurai passes Morlikov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Morlikov is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mino Sakurai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sakurai 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mino Sakurai!