 |
Play
by Play - Fighter's Fight Commentary
|
Event:
Stepping Stone 40
Date: Oct 02, 2022 |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 6 wins and 1 losses; Steve Sherk! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Tokyo, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 2 losses; Shinya Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Sherk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakurai circles away from the clinch attempt.
#TD2#
Sakurai shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sherk is trying to defend but Sakurai finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Sherk (0) vs (2) Sakurai
Sherk is concentrating on defense, preventing Sakurai from advancing position.
Sakurai keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sherk wants to control but Sakurai is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.#SUB2#
Sakurai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sakurai prevents Sherk from improving his position.#T1#
Sakurai controlling the action here.
Sherk is controlling Sakurai's trapped leg to prevent Sakurai from advancing to side control.
Sherk is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sherk moves into full guard.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. #T2#
Sherk pulls Sakurai in close to prevent any damage.
Sakurai trying to control but Sherk is working from the bottom.
Sherk is trying to control the position but Sakurai postures up.
Sherk managing to control the position.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Sherk keeps moving. #T3#
Sakurai is looking to pass into half guard but Sherk pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sherk is in guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sherk (2) vs (2) Sakurai
Sherk trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. #SUB2#
Sakurai looking for subs off his back but Sherk has passed one foot through into half guard.
#T4#
Sherk is trying to control. Sakurai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time. #SUB#
Sherk is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakurai sees it coming and defends easily.
Sakurai is looking to control Sherk's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sakurai avoid being mounted?#SUB#
Sherk is looking for a kimura here.
Sakurai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though. #T5#
Sakurai is in trouble now - Sherk has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Sherk (5) vs (2) Sakurai
Sherk tries to control but Sakurai wriggling away.
Sakurai tries to control Sherk's body but Sherk pushes him off. Sakurai squirms to his side and now Sherk has his back! Score +3 for taking back: Sherk (8) vs (2) Sakurai
Sakurai looking very determined here, making life difficult for Sherk.
Sakurai has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke. #T6#
Sherk doesn't have the hooks in and Sakurai manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sherk (8) vs (4) Sakurai
Sherk looking to control.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Sherk is retaining full guard.
Sakurai preventing the sweep.
Sakurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sherk is keeping the position for now.
Sherk managing to control the position.
Sherk looking for a sweep. Not yet Sherk, not yet. #T7#
Sherk is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.
Sakurai must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sakurai preventing the sweep.
Sherk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakurai's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sherk (10) vs (4) Sakurai#SUB2#
Sakurai looking for a guillotine here but Sherk defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakurai is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sherk (10) vs (6) Sakurai#T8#
Sherk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sherk (12) vs (6) Sakurai#SUB2#
Sakurai looking for a guillotine here but Sherk defends easily.
Sakurai is trying to keep Sherk in close.
Sherk slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Sherk from controlling successfully. #T9#
Sherk sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sakurai's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sherk is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakurai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard. #SUB#
Sherk is working for a submission of some sort.
Sherk seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakurai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back. #T10#
Sakurai is looking to improve his position.
Sherk wants to pass to mount but Sakurai is defending the position.
Sherk wants to advance to full mount but Sakurai doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Sherk looking to sit in guard and control but Sakurai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sherk (12) vs (8) Sakurai
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sherk working a defensive guard here.
#T11#
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sherk wants to sweep here but Sakurai controlling him for the moment.
Sakurai trying to control but Sherk is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sherk holds on and takes a little breather. #SUB#
Sakurai sitting in guard doing not very much at all here. Sherk doesn't need a second invitation though! He's locked up a guillotine and he's squeezing tight! That is tiiiiiiiiight! Sakurai paying the price for stalling here - he's pushing hard on the arm trying to free himself but it's no use! He's tapped! WOW, quick submission from Sherk - great work!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 12:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Steve Sherk! |
|
|
|
Event:
Stepping Stone 38
Date: Sep 25, 2022 |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 4 wins and 2 losses; Olyksandr Chai! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Tokyo, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 1 losses; Shinya Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Chai shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakurai tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakurai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Chai circles away.
Sakurai doesn't manage to clinch there - Chai circles away.
#TD#
Chai gets a double leg takedown into Sakurai's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Chai (2) vs (0) Sakurai#SUB2#
Sakurai looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Chai passes into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Chai (5) vs (0) Sakurai
Sakurai tries to buck Chai off but Chai is having none of it.
Sakurai is still trying to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chai wants to control but Sakurai is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakurai manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Chai (5) vs (2) Sakurai#T1#
Chai manages to get to full guard.
Chai keeping moving, preventing Sakurai from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chai is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Chai (7) vs (2) Sakurai
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakurai wants to control but Chai passes easily into half guard.
Chai controlling the pace. #T2##SUB#
Chai is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sakurai is just riding it out for now. Chai eventually gives up the hold.
Chai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Chai is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakurai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard. #T3#
Chai is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Chai (10) vs (2) Sakurai
Sakurai is looking to get to half guard.
Chai tries to control but Sakurai wriggling away.
Chai controlling the position easily from mount.
Sakurai tries to hold on but Chai postures up.#T4##SUB#
Chai looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Chai takes Sakurai's back. Score +3 for taking back: Chai (13) vs (2) Sakurai#SUB#
Chai is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Sakurai just trying to survive but Chai is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Chai controlling from the back.#SUB#
Chai is persistently looking for the submission but Sakurai is defending it well.
Chai keeps control of the position as Sakurai tries to break free.
#T5#
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Sakurai can't escape the position.
#SUB#
Chai is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Sakurai knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Sakurai for a finish.
Sakurai looking very determined here, making life difficult for Chai.
Sakurai is really stuck here.
#T6#
Chai trying to control.
Chai controlling well, preventing Sakurai from escaping the position.
Will Chai go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Sakurai tries to roll but Chai sticks to his back.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Chai just sinks the hooks in.
Sakurai rolls, trying to escape but Chai keeps control of the position.
#T7#
Chai controlling from the back.#SUB#
Sakurai fending off the submission attempt from Chai. #SUB#
Chai is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Sakurai taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Chai.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Olyksandr Chai!
Olyksandr Chai decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well. |
|
|
|
Event:
Stepping Stone 34
Date: Sep 18, 2022 |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 8 wins and 2 losses; Tendren Hlervu! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Tokyo, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; Shinya Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.#CL2#
Sakurai rushes Hlervu and presses him up against the cage.
Sakurai tries to score a body lock takedown but Hlervu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sakurai jumps guard but Hlervu turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing. #TD#
Hlervu gets a nice trip takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Hlervu (2) vs (0) Sakurai
Hlervu prevents Sakurai from improving his position.
Sakurai trying to control here.
#SUB2#
Sakurai looking for submissions off his back.
Sakurai has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hlervu is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.#SUB#
Hlervu is looking for a kimura here.
#T1##SUB2#
Hlervu moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Sakurai. Score +3 for passing guard: Hlervu (5) vs (0) Sakurai
Sakurai prevents Hlervu from improving position.
Sakurai is looking for a sweep.
Hlervu taking a breather here.
Sakurai is looking for a sweep.#T2#
The referee asks Hlervu politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hlervu prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sakurai wants to control but Hlervu postures up.
Sakurai being controlled for a moment.
Hlervu seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sakurai for as long as he can get away with.#T3#
Sakurai is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hlervu's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sakurai trying to get back to full guard but Hlervu takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Hlervu (8) vs (0) Sakurai
Sakurai wants to control but Hlervu is having none of it.
Hlervu sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.#T4#
Sakurai can't escape the position.
Hlervu looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sakurai is looking to improve his position but Hlervu isn't that keen on the idea.
Hlervu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hlervu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sakurai wants to hold on but Hlervu pushes him away.#T5#
Hlervu controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.#T6##SUB#
Hlervu is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Hlervu extends the arm and Sakurai is forced to tap!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tendren Hlervu!
An out of breath Tendren Hlervu thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career. |
|
|
|
Event:
QFC Tournament 1119 Round 3
Date: Sep 11, 2022 |
#R1#
Sakurai misses with a left hand
and Takaida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Takaida lands a nice looking body shot.
Sakurai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Takaida slips a jab from Sakurai.
A jab from Takaida finds it's way through Sakurai's defenses. #CUT#It looks like Shinya Sakurai has been cut.
Takaida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Takaida lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Takaida staying out of range there.
Sakurai thows a leg kick but Takaida checks it
and Takaida cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sakurai rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Takaida to counter with a crisp jab. #ROC#Sakurai is rocked!
Takaida walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Sakurai drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Takaida swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Sakurai's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shinji Takaida! |
|
|
|
Event:
QFC Tournament 1119 Round 2
Date: Sep 10, 2022 |
#R1#
Sakurai throws out a loose jab but Sillanpaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sillanpaa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sakurai as he jumps to the side.
Sillanpaa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A slow jab from Sakurai misses its intended target.
Sillanpaa avoids the body shot from Sakurai.
A slow jab from Sakurai misses its intended target.
Sillanpaa slips under a jab from Sakurai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai looks to score with a jab to the body but Sillanpaa is just out of range.
As Sakurai looks to move away, Sillanpaa throws a big counter combo but Sakurai just gets out of the way.#CL#
Sillanpaa clinches up against the cage.#TD#
Sillanpaa pulls guard effortlessly.
Sakurai showing good wrestling skills to control the position. #T1#
Sakurai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sillanpaa wants to get back to his feet but Sakurai passes into half guard.
Sillanpaa really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sakurai stalling.
Sillanpaa trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Sillanpaa is trying desperately to improve position.#T2#
Sakurai sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sakurai throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sillanpaa because Sakurai loaded up on that one. #SUB2#
Sakurai has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Sillanpaa is forced to tap!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shinya Sakurai!
The defeated Jari Sillanpaa had this to say: 'Run away, now! '. |
|
|
|
Event:
QFC Tournament 1119 Round 1
Date: Sep 09, 2022 |
#R1##TD#
Dom drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Dom from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dom trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dom trying to move into half guard but instead Sakurai has managed to sweep!#REVB##SUB#
Dom is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakurai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dom managing to control the position.
Dom is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat. #T1#
Sakurai won't allow Dom to sweep him here.
Dom knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakurai on the ground.
Dom pulls Sakurai in close to prevent any damage.
Sakurai trying to control but Dom is working from the bottom.
Sakurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dom is keeping the position for now.
Dom wants to sweep here but Sakurai controlling him for the moment.
Sakurai slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sakurai working the ground and pound.#T2#
Dom is looking for a sweep.
Sakurai is looking to take a break and control but Dom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dom is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Dom's face as Sakurai controls the position.
Sakurai passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Dom!
Sakurai controlling the position easily from mount. #SUB2#
Sakurai is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Dom is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Dom flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Sakurai anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Dom and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Sakurai slips an arm under Dom chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Sakurai has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Sakurai is squeezing on Dom like an anaconda would it's prey. Dom fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Shinya Sakurai! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
