PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Hiroshimo Sakamoto (ranked 572 p4p, 29 weight class) and Alejandro Sepulveda (ranked 1506 p4p, 79 weight class). Sepulveda comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Llorando se Fue kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Sakamoto
vs
Sepulveda

168 cm
33
145 lbs
29 - 16 - 1

159 cm
30
145 lbs
21 - 13 - 2

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroshimo Sakamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alejandro Sepulveda!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Sepulveda 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A jab from Sakamoto misses.
Sepulveda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sepulveda avoids the body shot from Sakamoto.
A head kick misses from Sepulveda.
Sepulveda misses with an uppercut.

Sepulveda darts in and clinches Sakamoto up against the ropes.
Sakamoto misses with the head strike.
Sakamoto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sakamoto.
Sakamoto lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sepulveda backwards.
Sepulveda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sakamoto's elbow.
Sakamoto misses with a punch on the inside.
Sepulveda lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sakamoto backwards.
Sakamoto throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sepulvedas head.
Sepulveda works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sepulveda lands a nice shot to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakamoto.
Sepulveda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sakamoto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sepulveda's efforts to push away.
Sepulveda blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sepulveda throws a head punch that misses.
Sepulveda is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sakamoto misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sepulveda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A combination from Sepulveda does no damage.
Sepulveda works Sakamoto's body with a nice hook.
Sepulveda throws a front kick aimed at Sakamoto's knee but Sakamoto avoids it well.
Sakamoto cracks Sepulveda with a good jab.
Sakamoto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sepulveda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sakamoto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sepulveda is looking to chop away at Sakamoto's legs.
Sepulveda misses with an uppercut

and Sakamoto moves into the clinch.
Sepulveda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sepulveda scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sepulveda is looking to control Sakamoto's arms but Sakamoto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sepulveda has his back to the ropes.
Sakamoto swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sepulveda throws a punch but it's blocked by Sakamoto.
Sakamoto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Sakamoto.

Sepulveda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakamoto lands with an overhand left.
Sakamoto lands a nice shot to the body.
Hiroshimo Sakamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sepulveda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakamoto takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sepulveda moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A bone on bone clash there as Sepulveda blocks the leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sepulveda.
Nice straight punches there by Sepulveda. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sepulveda.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sakamoto.
Sakamoto fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakamoto throws a quick inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakamoto. Sepulveda does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sepulveda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakamoto was well out of range. Poor timing from Sepulveda.
Sepulveda takes one on the chin but seems OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sepulveda swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakamoto.
Sepulveda scores with a jab to the body.
A low kick from Sakamoto misses
and Sepulveda counters with a good low kick that Sakamoto was not able to check.
Sakamoto throws a jab but it's blocked by Sepulveda.
Sepulveda with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sepulveda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakamoto was well out of range. Poor timing from Sepulveda.
Sepulveda misses with an uppercut. Sakamoto saw that one coming.
Sepulveda drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sepulveda connects with a right hand. Sakamoto shakes it off.
Sakamoto is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakamoto dodges the punch combination from Sepulveda.
Sepulveda throws out a loose jab but Sakamoto uses good head movement to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sakamoto.
Sepulveda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sakamoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sakamoto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sepulveda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sepulveda misses with an uppercut
and Sakamoto counters with a nice leg kick.
Sepulveda with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sakamoto throws a lazy right hand but Sepulveda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sepulveda throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sakamoto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sakamoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sepulveda.
Sepulveda throws a leg kick but Sakamoto sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sepulveda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sakamoto lands a lovely overhand right.
Hiroshimo Sakamoto is winning the standup battle so far.
Sakamoto avoids the body shot from Sepulveda.
Sepulveda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A jab from Sakamoto misses.
Sakamoto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sakamoto slips under a jab from Sepulveda.
Sakamoto tries to clinch there but Sepulveda circles away.
Sepulveda scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sakamoto doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Sepulveda checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sakamoto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sepulveda lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

It looks like Hiroshimo Sakamoto has been cut.
Sepulveda misses with a body shot
and Sakamoto counters with a good low kick that Sepulveda was not able to check.
Sakamoto cracks Sepulveda with an open hand slap.
Nice defenses there by Sakamoto.
Sakamoto is looking to score with low kicks.
Sepulveda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sepulveda blocks a jab.
Sepulveda takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The fighters circling - Sakamoto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sakamoto throws a hook but Sepulveda blocks it.
Sakamoto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sepulveda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sakamoto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sepulveda.
Sakamoto swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sakamoto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alejandro Sepulveda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Hiroshimo Sakamoto's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Sepulveda misses the target.
Sakamoto throws an off balance right hand
enabling Sepulveda to counter with a crisp jab.
Sakamoto scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sepulveda throws an off balance right hand
and Sakamoto counters with an outside leg kick.
Sepulveda tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sakamoto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sepulveda throws out the jab.
Sepulveda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice straight punches there by Sakamoto. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sakamoto.
A low kick from Sepulveda misses
and Sakamoto counters with a stiff right hand.
Sepulveda misses with a hook.
It looked like Sakamoto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sakamoto blocks a head kick by Sepulveda.
Sepulveda is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sepulveda throws a shot from downtown. Sakamoto moves away and avoids it.
Sakamoto scores with a body shot.
Sakamoto looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sepulveda looks to throw the jab but Sakamoto is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Sakamoto.
Sakamoto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sakamoto checks a low kick from Sepulveda.
As Sepulveda tries to get set, Sakamoto tries to push him back and clinch up but Sepulveda manages to avoid the attempt.

Sakamoto drives through and clinches with Sepulveda against the ropes.

Sepulveda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sepulveda moves out of range as Sakamoto strikes.
Sakamoto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sepulveda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakamoto.
Sepulveda throws a lazy right hand but Sakamoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sakamoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sakamoto scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sepulveda staying out of range there.
Sepulveda tries to move into range but Sakamoto moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sakamoto swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sepulveda.
Sepulveda throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sakamoto swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sepulveda misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sepulveda throws a low kick, looking for Sakamoto's leg but Sakamoto calmly moves out of range.
Sakamoto slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sepulveda takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A slow jab from Sepulveda misses its intended target.
Sepulveda walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sakamoto connects with a single shot there.
Sepulveda lands a body shot.
Sepulveda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sakamoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sepulveda has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sepulveda can't break the clinch.

Sepulveda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sepulveda gets tackled into the ropes by Sakamoto. Sakamoto maintains the clinch.
Sakamoto lands with a short shot to the head.
Sepulveda trying to stall but Sakamoto improves his position.
Sepulveda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sakamoto's elbow.

Sepulveda breaks from the clinch.
Sakamoto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroshimo Sakamoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sakamoto 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroshimo Sakamoto!
As Hiroshimo Sakamoto got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Still worried about my eyes tough guy?'.