PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ervin Burnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuragi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Slam Dunk Opening Theme. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Burnett
vs
Sakuragi

220 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

188 cm
25
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ervin Burnett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuragi swinging wildly here.
Burnett really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sakuragi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Ervin Burnett has been cut.

Burnett looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sakuragi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Burnett throws a big elbow that misses.

Burnett thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakuragi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burnett is one step ahead there.
Burnett trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sakuragi's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakuragi can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Burnett stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuragi.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuragi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Burnett's guard.

Burnett is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Burnett keeping full guard, as Sakuragi tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sakuragi trying to control the position from guard on top but Burnett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuragi wants to pass the guard but Burnett is keeping the position.
Burnett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuragi.

Burnett has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sakuragi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Burnett has his foot on Sakuragi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakuragi works his way back into a safe position though.
Sakuragi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sakuragi landing with the ground and pound.
Sakuragi distracts Burnett with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sakuragi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Burnett's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Burnett's head.
Sakuragi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sakuragi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sakuragi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Burnett is rocked!
Sakuragi with a nice head shot there.
Oh Burnett is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sakuragi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Burnett throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Burnett is breathing heavily.
Sakuragi is pushing down on Burnett's leg trying to pass to half guard. Burnett is fighting to maintain full guard but Sakuragi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sakuragi drops an elbow to the side of Burnett's head.
Sakuragi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sakuragi lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Burnett! More strikes land and this one is all over! Sakuragi jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hanamichi Sakuragi!
In his post fight interview, Hanamichi Sakuragi started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.