PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thor Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva's entrance music is Sandstorm. A fine choice. Thor Silva has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Sakuragi

180 cm
33
185 lbs
24 - 9 - 1

190 cm
37
194 lbs
18 - 22 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 24 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Thor Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuragi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Silva to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Hanamichi Sakuragi has been cut.
Silva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silva wants it to stay on the feet.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuragi circles away.
Sakuragi lands an overhand right.
Horrible takedown by Sakuragi or perhaps it was just good defense by Silva which made him look bad.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Silva leaves Sakuragi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thor Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hanamichi Sakuragi.
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuragi circles away.
Sakuragi misses with a straight right.
Nice jab there from Silva.
Sakuragi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silva stuffs the takedown.
Sakuragi jabs at Silva's body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuragi shoots and misses
and Silva counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Silva wants to clinch but Sakuragi slips to the side

and Sakuragi counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi preventing the sweep.
Sakuragi throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Sakuragi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva wants to stand up but Sakuragi is controlling him.
Sakuragi preventing the sweep.
Sakuragi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sakuragi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuragi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sakuragi throws a big right hand that misses.
Sakuragi throws a big elbow that misses.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakuragi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
Sakuragi throws a big elbow that misses.
Sakuragi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakuragi's guard.
Sakuragi being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuragi is looking to stand up but Silva isn't so interested in that idea.

Sakuragi pushes Silva off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva tries to clinch but Sakuragi moves away

and Sakuragi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silva won't be happy with that.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Sakuragi landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Sakuragi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Silva is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sakuragi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sakuragi cracks Silva with a big elbow.
Sakuragi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Silva some visible discomfort.
Sakuragi misses with the ground and pound.
Sakuragi working the body and head with strikes.
Sakuragi working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva is trying to improve his position.
Silva regains half guard, as Sakuragi was trying to land strikes.
Sakuragi drops an elbow to the side of Silva's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sakuragi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Silva is trying to stand up here but Sakuragi is controlling him well.
Silva is looking to improve his position.
Sakuragi is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sakuragi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sakuragi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuragi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Sakuragi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sakuragi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanamichi Sakuragi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hanamichi Sakuragi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sakuragi slips a straight right by Silva.
Silva thows a body shot but no joy.
Sakuragi shoots in for a takedown but Silva shows good takedown defense.
Sakuragi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but Sakuragi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sakuragi moves away.
Silva throws the left hand but Sakuragi avoids the punch easily.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuragi misses the target.
Sakuragi looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Sakuragi dodges the punch combination from Silva.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Silva enables Sakuragi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Silva manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sakuragi throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Sakuragi lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sakuragi with a flurry of punches that miss.
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.
Sakuragi is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.

Silva pushes Sakuragi off and scrambles back to his feet.
Silva throws a right hand that Sakuragi ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakuragi also avoids with ease.
A combination from Silva does no damage.
Thor Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuragi throws a jab but it's blocked by Silva.
Silva cracks a nice hook into Sakuragi's ribs.
Nice defenses there by Silva.
Silva needs to keep his hands up - Sakuragi had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Thor Silva has been cut.
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Sakuragi slips the punch.
Silva is looking to clinch but Sakuragi is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuragi looking to score a takedown here. Silva is defending well but Sakuragi drives through and ends up in Silva's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuragi throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva wants to stand up but Sakuragi is controlling him.
Silva pulls Sakuragi in close to prevent any damage.
Sakuragi prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.
Sakuragi throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Hanamichi Sakuragi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakuragi throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Sakuragi is having none of it.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Silva works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Silva asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Silva decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some wild striking there from Sakuragi.

Sakuragi feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Sakuragi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sakuragi connects with a couple of short punches.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sakuragi with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva wants to stand but Sakuragi is controlling the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuragi throws a big right hand that misses.
Sakuragi prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanamichi Sakuragi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sakuragi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Silva tries to clinch
and Sakuragi counters with a left and a right that stings Silva.
Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakuragi.
Silva drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Silva misses with a double jab
and Sakuragi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sakuragi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sakuragi is defended easily by Silva.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakuragi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thor Silva is winning the standup battle so far.
Silva tries to clinch but Sakuragi is having none of it.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi thuds a left hand into Silva's body.

Sakuragi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Silva napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sakuragi throws a strike aimed at the side of Silva's head but Silva avoids it well.
Sakuragi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sakuragi tries to score with some ground and pound. Silva controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sakuragi working the head and body with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Sakuragi cracks Silva with a big elbow.
Sakuragi throws an elbow but Silva slips to the side and avoids it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The strikes coming from Sakuragi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sakuragi is working Silva over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sakuragi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Silva takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sakuragi looks up at the clock and then as Silva takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sakuragi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Sakuragi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Silva defending against the ground and pound.
Sakuragi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sakuragi throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sakuragi working away.
Silva is trying to buck Sakuragi off.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Sakuragi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sakuragi tries to advance to mount but Silva instead regains half guard.
Silva is looking to escape.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sakuragi lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sakuragi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakuragi scoring with some ground and pound.
Sakuragi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakuragi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuragi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sakuragi postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.
Silva trying to control the position.
Sakuragi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sakuragi connects with a couple of short punches.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sakuragi throws a big elbow that misses.
Sakuragi throws a strike but Silva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuragi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.
Silva wants to stand but Sakuragi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sakuragi wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Thor Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva wants to stand but Sakuragi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Silva prevents Sakuragi from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hanamichi Sakuragi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sakuragi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hanamichi Sakuragi!