PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert Fish (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba comes to the cage accompanied by Lose yourself. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Sakuraba
vs
Fish

185 cm
27
199 lbs
15 - 1 - 2

183 cm
25
195 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BeastMode

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 1 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albert Fish!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Topper Green and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Fish does no damage.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sakuraba. Fish shrugs it off though.
Fish has a takedown stuffed.
Sakuraba walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Fish throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
A nice combination there by Sakuraba.

It looks like Albert Fish has been cut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fish.
Good standup being displayed there by Sakuraba as he connects with a hook.
Sakuraba scores with a three punch combo!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuraba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fish.
Sakuraba fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Fish has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sakuraba cracks Fish with a good jab.
Fish fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sakuraba takes a swing at Fish's ribcage but misses.
Fish lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sakuraba throws a front kick that sends Fish stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fish.
Sakuraba's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Fish connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sakuraba scrambles back to his feet.
A low kick from Fish is predictable there
and Sakuraba counters with a nice body shot.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Fish has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Sakuraba tries to clinch up.
Sakuraba keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Fish crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Sakuraba - the referee stops the clock and Fish gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Sakuraba. Fish manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Fish lands with a nice combination. Sakuraba backs away looking to recover.
Fish misses with a body shot.
Sakuraba cracks the inside of Fish's front leg.
Sakuraba turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fish avoids a kick to the body.
Fish moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sakuraba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fish circles away quickly and effectively.
Fish throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Fish lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sakuraba takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut

and Fish counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fish lands a damaging elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sakuraba.
Fish struggles to land a body shot inside as Sakuraba controls his hands.
Sakuraba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fish doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sakuraba blocks an elbow strike from Fish.
Sakuraba lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fish avoids the elbow strike from Sakuraba, against the cage.
Fish lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sakuraba.
Fish blocks a body shot from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba scores with a shoulder strike.
Sakuraba misses with a body punch.
Nice elbow from Fish.
Sakuraba is working Fish over against the cage.
Sakuraba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fish blocks the elbow strike.
Fish tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with a punch to the body.
Fish takes a shot to the head.
I was talking to Sakuraba's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Fish lands with a light punch inside.
Fish tries a knee to the head but Sakuraba blocks it.
Fish putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fish with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Sakuraba.
Fish pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakuraba leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Fish throws an elbow but it misses.

Fish manages to break the clinch.
Fish throws out a leg kick but Sakuraba moves out of range and Fish only half commits.
A left lands for Sakuraba.
Fish misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fish walks into a straight right hand from Sakuraba.
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!
Sakuraba doesn't manage to clinch there - Fish circles away.
Sakuraba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Fish ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba falls off balance throwing a combination
and Fish counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fish fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sakuraba has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fish tries to work over Sakuraba's front leg with a kick but Sakuraba checks it.
Fish throws a leg kick
and Sakuraba connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fish scores with a leg kick.
Sakuraba keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fish blocks a jab.
Fish misses with a straight right.
Sakuraba blocks a head kick by Fish.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fish steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakuraba.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fish swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sakuraba misses with a wild body shot.
Fish lands with a slapping head kick.
Sakuraba lands with an uppercut that bounces Fish off the cage and back into range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Albert Fish's cut.
That's time! Sakuraba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sakuraba misses with a body kick.
Fish digs a good body shot into Sakuraba's ribs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fish.

Fish rushes Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Fish throws an elbow but misses.
Sakuraba throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fish trying to land knees to the body.
Fish blocks an elbow strike.
Sakuraba swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fish lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Sakuraba lands with a left to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sakuraba just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fish's brow.
Albert Fish seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sakuraba throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Fish lands an elbow inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fish throws an elbow but it misses.
Fish tries to circle away but Sakuraba has him pinned against the cage.
Sakuraba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries a body shot but Fish blocks it.
Sakuraba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakuraba has a couple of punches blocked by Fish.
Sakuraba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sakuraba takes a shot to the head.
Fish tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sakuraba creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fish can't find room to land a body shot as Sakuraba controls the action.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sakuraba.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fish.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Fish just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sakuraba's brow.
Sakuraba lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sakuraba swings wildly with an uppercut but Fish uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sakuraba.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Fish just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sakuraba's brow.
Fish blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sakuraba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fish backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sakuraba scores with a nice hook to the head.

That has opened up Albert Fish's cut even more.
Sakuraba blocks a body shot from Fish.
Fish missing with knees to the body.
Fish lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fish lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sakuraba misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sakuraba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fish's elbow.
Sakuraba tries a body shot but Fish blocks it.
A body shot lands from Sakuraba.
Fish tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakuraba misses with a body punch.
Sakuraba throws a punch but it's blocked by Fish.
Sakuraba works on Fish's body with a couple of short punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Sakuraba.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Fish.
Sakuraba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakuraba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fish blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fish tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sakuraba avoids it.
Sakuraba lands a body punch in the clinch.
Fish is breathing heavily.
Sakuraba throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fishs head.
Fish takes an elbow to the temple.
Sakuraba lands a shoulder strike.
Fish takes a shot to the head.
Sakuraba throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Fish misses with some punches.
Fish prevents a body shot from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is working Fish over against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Fish throws an elbow but misses.
Fish tries to work over Sakuraba's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuraba misses with an elbow over the top.
Sakuraba managing to block the knees to the body from Fish.
Fish misses with an elbow strike.

Fish breaks from the clinch.
Sakuraba ducks under a wild hook from Fish.
Fish blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fish takes a swing at Sakuraba's ribcage but misses.
Fish thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fish looks to land a left hand but Sakuraba moved out of range nicely.

Fish closes the distance and clinches.
Sakuraba lands an elbow that stopped Fish in his tracks for a moment.
Fish misses with a punch on the inside.
Sakuraba lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Sakuraba fails to land.
Fish misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sakuraba makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

The cut above Albert Fish's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Sakuraba misses with some punches.
Fish doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sakuraba misses with the head strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba lands a left hand.
Fish misses with a body punch.
Fish misses with the head strike.
Sakuraba prevents a body shot from Fish.
Fish throws an elbow but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Albert Fish's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fish is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Crunch! Fish slams his shin into Sakuraba's torso.
Fish gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Fish ducked under it nicely.
A jab from Fish misses.
Fish misses the shot to the body.
Fish lands with a right hand.
Fish uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws the kick towards the body but Fish avoids it.
Fish throws a sloppy head kick
and Sakuraba cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sakuraba checks a leg kick nicely.
Sakuraba misses with a wild body shot.
Fish comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sakuraba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fish swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba lands with a nice body punch.
Sakuraba looks to score with a jab to the body but Fish is just out of range.
A low kick from Sakuraba misses
and Fish counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses
and Fish counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sakuraba throws a push kick but Fish slaps the foot to one side.
Fish throws a shot from downtown. Sakuraba moves away and avoids it.
Sakuraba takes a swing at Fish's ribcage but misses.
Sakuraba's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Fish connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sakuraba scrambles back to his feet.
Fish lands a right hook to the body.
Fish throws a body kick that misses.
Fish shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well. He's pushed Fish's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sakuraba throws a shot to the body.
Fish takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick from Sakuraba lands but Fish takes it in his stride.
Fish throws an off balance right hand
letting Sakuraba counter with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fish takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sakuraba tries to clinch up but Fish circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakuraba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fish stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sakuraba.
Fish lands with a slapping head kick.
Fish throws out a powerful jab.

Fish instigates a clinch.
Sakuraba working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sakuraba throws an elbow that misses.
Sakuraba misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fish blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakuraba.
Nice elbow from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba lands a body shot.
Fish trying to stall but Sakuraba improves his position.
Sakuraba lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fish.
Sakuraba lands a body punch.
Sakuraba working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sakuraba lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba lands a hook that snaps the head of Fish backwards.

Albert Fish's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Albert Fish has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short body shot lands from Sakuraba as the two fighters clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fishs head.
Sakuraba digs a right hand into Fish's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Fish's gas tank.
Fish with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sakuraba working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sakuraba cracks Fish with a nice body shot.
Kazushi Sakuraba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakuraba lands a damaging elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is leaning against Fish and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sakuraba misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fish.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba digs a right hand into Fish's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Fish's gas tank.

Fish breaks from the clinch.
Kazushi Sakuraba is winning the standup battle so far.
Sakuraba lands with a nice combination. Fish backs away looking to recover.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Albert Fish's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Kazushi Sakuraba!
A victorious Kazushi Sakuraba thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.