PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Frazier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Frazier
vs
Sakuragi

180 cm
27
197 lbs
10 - 11 - 1

190 cm
39
194 lbs
20 - 26 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 10 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Frazier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 26 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Frazier.

It looks like Hanamichi Sakuragi has been cut.
Sakuragi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Frazier tries to clinch up but Sakuragi circles away and keeps his distance.
Frazier dives in for a single leg takedown but Sakuragi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.

Frazier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Sakuragi.
Frazier misses with a left hand
and Sakuragi counters with a series of strikes. Frazier will be more careful next time no doubt.
A telegraphed right hand from Frazier misses the target.
Sakuragi shoots in for a takedown but Frazier shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sakuragi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sakuragi defending well as Frazier loads up on a big left hand.
Joe Frazier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Frazier cracks Sakuragi with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuragi staying out of range there.

Frazier gets caught napping as Sakuragi dives in and scores a takedown. Frazier manages to retain guard.
Frazier is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frazier keeping full guard, as Sakuragi tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakuragi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Frazier is pulling down on Sakuragi's head to control his posture.
Sakuragi throwing strikes but missing.
Sakuragi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sakuragi throws a strike but Frazier rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Frazier throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frazier content to stall in guard here.
Sakuragi wants to stand and escape but Frazier is having none of it.
Frazier is looking to stand up but Sakuragi won't let him.
Sakuragi wants to stand and escape but Frazier is having none of it.
Frazier sitting in guard here, content to control.
Frazier has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joe Frazier wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sakuragi defending well as Frazier loads up on a big left hand.
Frazier swings widly with a right hand
and Sakuragi counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi staying out of range there.
Sakuragi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Frazier moves out of range as Sakuragi strikes.
Frazier lands with a hook. Sakuragi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Frazier closes the distance and pushes Sakuragi back into the ropes.

Frazier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sakuragi just misses with a punch to the body.
Frazier closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuragi, looking for a takedown. Frazier pushes Sakuragi against the ropes but Sakuragi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sakuragi fails with the takedown.
Joe Frazier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hanamichi Sakuragi.
Frazier tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Frazier misses.
Sakuragi moves out of range of the strikes.

Sakuragi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Frazier sprawls well initially but Sakuragi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Frazier looks like he's trying to stand up.
Frazier wants to control but Sakuragi is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frazier regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi throwing strikes but missing.
Frazier lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Frazier throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Frazier looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sakuragi wants to get back to his feet but Frazier is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Frazier 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!

Frazier misses with an uppercut. Sakuragi saw that one coming.
Sakuragi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sakuragi shoots in for a double leg but Frazier sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Frazier takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sakuragi throws a wild hook but Frazier just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Sakuragi gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the ropes! The referee jumps in - Frazier raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joe Frazier!
Joe Frazier very nearly forgot to thank Fury Nutrition Inc. amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.