|
|
CWC 318 - Saldini vs Burnham PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the bantamweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 7 wins and 5 losses; Distant Thunder! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 34 wins and 38 losses; Ishiihara Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Sakuraba will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thunder has closed the distance and engaged Sakuraba in a clinch.
Thunder pulls Sakuraba into guard.
Thunder keeping full guard, as Sakuraba tries to pass.
Thunder keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thunder swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba stands and throws Thunder's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Thunder (0) vs (3) Sakuraba
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thunder manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Thunder (2) vs (3) Sakuraba
That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sakuraba is pressing down on Thunder's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sakuraba has control of Thunder's left arm, preventing Thunder from doing any damage.
Thunder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuraba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuraba trying to control the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sakuraba controlling the position.
Thunder is pushing down on Sakuraba's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sakuraba is fighting to maintain full guard but Thunder has managed to sneak the leg through.
Thunder is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sakuraba trying to control but Thunder postures up.
Thunder wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is defending well.
Thunder is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakuraba is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thunder wants to free his trapped foot but Sakuraba is holding on for dear life with his legs.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakuraba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sakuraba has his hands clasped together around Thunder's back. He's all about the action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thunder looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Thunder is thwarting Sakuraba's attempts to control the position.
Thunder is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to control but Thunder is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sakuraba is defending against the submission attempts here by Thunder.
Thunder trying to pass the guard but Sakuraba defending well.
Thunder looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Thunder trying to advance position but Sakuraba counters by regaining guard.
Thunder wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control the position.
Sakuraba is adopting a defensive guard.
Thunder content to stall in guard here.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Thunder drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sakuraba looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sakuraba looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sakuraba! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Thunder (2) vs (7) Sakuraba
Thunder is trying to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba staying calm.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba taking a breather here.
Sakuraba trying to control the action but Thunder is working from the bottom.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Thunder tries to improve position but can't.
Sakuraba just content to control the position.
Thunder is trying to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba controls the position from side control.
Sakuraba working away.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is trying to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba trying to control the position but Thunder is working away.
Thunder sneaks back into half guard.
Sakuraba performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sakuraba wants to take a breather but Thunder is having none of it.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is stalling here. Thunder is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sakuraba seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Thunder has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Thunder (6) vs (7) Sakuraba
Sakuraba is trying to control Thunder's posture but Thunder avoids it.
Thunder wants to control for a moment but Sakuraba uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Sakuraba has his hands clasped together around Thunder's back. He's all about the action.
Thunder is stalling here. Sakuraba is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Thunder seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sakuraba has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Thunder (6) vs (11) Sakuraba
Sakuraba taking a breather here.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba has control of an arm but Thunder manages to advance to Sakuraba's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Thunder (10) vs (11) Sakuraba
Thunder not allowing Sakuraba to control his hands.
Will Thunder go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Sakuraba has hold of Thunder's arm. He needs to escape this position sooner or later but for now he's happy enough to control the position and prevent the submission attempts.
Thunder trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control but not successfully.
Thunder tries to keep control of the position but Sakuraba is staying busy.
Sakuraba preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Thunder.
Thunder trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Sakuraba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sakuraba wants to control but Thunder is having none of it.
Thunder trying to control but he's not successful this time.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to reverse the position but Thunder maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thunder looking to control but Sakuraba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thunder fails to advance to Sakuraba's back.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Thunder moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sakuraba has worked his arm free - good work by Sakuraba!
Thunder trying to control the action but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thunder tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
And that's the end of the fight!
Sakuraba wins on points by 11 to 10.
A very excited looking Ishiihara Sakuraba rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed. |
|
|
|
|
|
