PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takachi Sakushi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Brooks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Sakushi
vs
Brooks

186 cm
19
181 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takachi Sakushi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phil Brooks!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakushi connects with a leg kick. Brooks looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Sakushi closes the distance and pushes Brooks back into the cage.
Brooks is trying to drag Sakushi to the mat but Sakushi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Brooks.
Brooks being controlled against the cage.
A short left from Sakushi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brooks has Sakushi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sakushi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A head punch on the inside from Sakushi fails to land.
Sakushi gets underhooks to prevent Brooks's takedown attempt.
Takachi Sakushi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Brooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks blocks a body shot from Sakushi.
Sakushi misses with a punch to the body.

Sakushi gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sakushi wants to take a breather but Brooks is having none of it.
Brooks tries to get to full guard but Sakushi has control of the leg.

Sakushi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Brooks is just riding it out for now. Sakushi eventually gives up the hold.

Brooks looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks is staying active underneath Sakushi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sakushi moves nicely into side control.
Brooks tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brooks prevents Sakushi from moving into mount.
Sakushi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Brooks!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brooks tries to reverse the position but Sakushi maintains control.
Sakushi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Brooks is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks keeps trying to improve his position.
Sakushi looking to control but Brooks is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Brooks is looking to improve his position but Sakushi isn't that keen on the idea.
Sakushi lands a big elbow.

Sakushi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Brooks manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Sakushi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Brooks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sakushi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Sakushi presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Sakushi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Brooks tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakushi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brooks tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sakushi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sakushi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sakushi stops a takedown attempt from Brooks.
Brooks is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sakushi is defending well.
A head punch on the inside from Sakushi fails to land.
Sakushi dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakushi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Sakushi has picked Brooks up - he's going for a ride! Sakushi dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Brooks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakushi pulls his head out easily.
Sakushi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Brooks can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakushi trying to control the action but Brooks is working from the bottom.

Brooks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakushi pulls his head out easily.

Sakushi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sakushi is keen to just control but Brooks is a slippery customer.
Brooks tries to roll over but Sakushi keeps him under control.

Brooks looking for submissions off his back.
Sakushi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Brooks does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sakushi is pressing down on Brooks's thigh, looking to free his foot. Brooks is holding on for now.
Sakushi drops an elbow to the side of Brooks's head.
Takachi Sakushi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Brooks looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sakushi is working for a submission of some sort.
Sakushi has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Brooks is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks regains half guard.
Brooks tries to get to full guard but Sakushi has control of the leg.
Sakushi working over Brooks with some ground and pound. Brooks looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Brooks actively working from the bottom here.

Sakushi wants to work for an arm triangle but Brooks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Brooks is not content to let Sakushi control the position.

Brooks looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sakushi is keen to just control but Brooks is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakushi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sakushi wants to take a breather but Brooks is having none of it.

Brooks looking for submissions off his back.

Sakushi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Brooks is just riding it out for now. Sakushi eventually gives up the hold.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brooks is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakushi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakushi's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takachi Sakushi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sakushi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Brooks did well to prevent Sakushi getting side control.
Brooks taking some punishment here, with Sakushi in his half guard.
Sakushi is looking to advance position but Brooks won't allow it.
Sakushi slows the pace down in half guard.
Sakushi is trying to control. Brooks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brooks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakushi pulls his head out easily.
Brooks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Brooks looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakushi is looking to take a break and control but Brooks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brooks has hold of Sakushi's hands but Sakushi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Sakushi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Brooks has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sakushi wants to control but Brooks is keeping him busy.
Sakushi wants to pass to mount but Brooks is defending the position.
Sakushi is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sakushi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Brooks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakushi pulls his head out easily.
Brooks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Brooks looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Sakushi pushes past his half guard into mount!
Sakushi tries to control but Brooks wriggling away.
Brooks can't escape the position.
Sakushi working Brooks over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks working to try and regain half guard.
Sakushi tries to control but Brooks wriggling away.
Brooks keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Brooks is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A nice elbow there by Sakushi.
Brooks bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brooks drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sakushi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Brooks has Sakushi in his guard.

Brooks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakushi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Brooks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Brooks can't keep his opponent in guard - Sakushi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sakushi is looking for a kimura but Brooks is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sakushi to get the leverage.
Sakushi is trying to control. Brooks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Phil Brooks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takachi Sakushi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Brooks tries to roll over but Sakushi keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takachi Sakushi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sakushi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takachi Sakushi!
Takachi Sakushi was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.