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CWC 276 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the featherweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 23 wins and 19 losses; Ishiihara Sakuraba! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 13 wins and 5 losses; Reijo Halli!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Sakuraba closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Halli's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Sakuraba (2) vs (0) Halli
Our spies down at at Finish the Fight inform us that Halli has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Sakuraba is fighting to break Halli's control of his arms but Halli is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Halli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuraba pushing down on Halli's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sakuraba looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halli is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sakuraba is trying to control. Halli wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sakuraba controlling the pace.
Sakuraba is just content to waste time from the top position. Halli takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Halli tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Halli keeps moving.
Sakuraba 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.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Halli is keeping the position for now.
Sakuraba has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sakuraba preventing the sweep.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Halli is retaining full guard.
Sakuraba is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Halli is trying to control the position but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Halli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halli controls Sakuraba momentarily but Sakuraba frees himself.
Halli keeping full guard, as Sakuraba tries to pass.
Halli looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sakuraba showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sakuraba postures up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Halli working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakuraba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakuraba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Halli trying to control the position.
Halli is looking for a triangle but Sakuraba pushes his legs off easily.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Halli keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba passes into half guard.
Sakuraba perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Halli trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba stalling.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Halli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Halli is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Halli has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakuraba is working away from the top position though.
Halli is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba slows the pace down in half guard.
Halli is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakuraba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakuraba's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Sakuraba (2) vs (4) Halli
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halli is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Sakuraba is defending well though. Halli let's go of the attempt for now.
Sakuraba tries to roll but Halli sticks to his back.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Halli trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Sakuraba doesn't escape.
Sakuraba is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Halli gets his hands free as Sakuraba looks to control.
Sakuraba tries to escape the position.
Sakuraba controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Halli controlling his opponent.
Sakuraba is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Halli is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sakuraba has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sakuraba! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sakuraba (4) vs (4) Halli
Halli working a defensive guard here.
Halli can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sakuraba controls the pace.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Halli is controlling Sakuraba's posture.
Sakuraba 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.
Sakuraba trying to control but Halli is working from the bottom.
Halli lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sakuraba (4) vs (6) Halli
Sakuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakuraba has control of Halli's left arm, preventing Halli from doing any damage.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Halli not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sakuraba lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sakuraba (6) vs (6) Halli
Sakuraba is stalling in the full guard.
Halli controls Sakuraba momentarily but Sakuraba frees himself.
Halli 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.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Halli bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakuraba's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sakuraba (6) vs (8) Halli
Halli preventing the sweep.
Halli controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sakuraba pulls Halli in close to his closed guard and prevents Halli from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sakuraba might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Halli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakuraba controlling Halli's posture.
Sakuraba has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to sweep but no luck.
Halli is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sakuraba is controlling Halli's posture.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba working a defensive guard but Halli passes into half guard.
Halli is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sakuraba makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sakuraba.
Sakuraba seems keen to control Halli's posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
Halli wins on points by 8 to 6.
Reijo Halli decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little. |
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