PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bill Smif (ranked 884 p4p, 2127 weight class) and Hayato Sakuraba (ranked 136 p4p, 302 weight class). Smif comes to the cage accompanied by Playtime. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Smif
vs
Sakuraba

190 cm
30
215
13 - 6 - 0

180 cm
32
202
12 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bill Smif!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Hayato Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Sakuraba lands a jab to the head.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt - Smif sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smif throwing a counter right hand but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Smif looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sakuraba darts in looking for a takedown but Smif gets double underhooks and turns Sakuraba into the cage.
Smif throwing a counter right hand but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Smif staying out of range there.
It looked like Smif was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sakuraba.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good exchange - Sakuraba coming out on top.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Smif takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba looks to throw the jab but Smif is out of range.
Smif is looking to counter punch.
Sakuraba lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sakuraba shoots and misses
and Smif counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bill Smif has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayato Sakuraba.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smif as he avoids it easily.
Smif swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A counter left hand to the body from Smif misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smif counters with a left to the body.
Smif avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sakuraba shoots in looking for a takedown but Smif manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sakuraba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smif is looking to counter punch.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut
and Smif counters with a right hand to the body.
Sakuraba shoots in for a double leg but Smif sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smif throws a big counter combination but Sakuraba scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smif uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sakuraba.
Nice defenses there by Smif.
As Sakuraba looks to move away, Smif throws a big counter combo but Sakuraba just gets out of the way.
Sakuraba misses with a straight right.

Sakuraba instigates a clinch.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Smif escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sakuraba misses with a double jab
letting Smif counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking to score a takedown here. Smif is defending well but Sakuraba drives through and ends up in Smif's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smif utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakuraba postures up in Smif's guard and throws a big left but Smif blocks it.
Smif pulls Sakuraba in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sakuraba postures up in Smif's guard and throws a big left but Smif blocks it.
Sakuraba passes Smif's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hayato Sakuraba dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sakuraba throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smif tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sakuraba is in Smif's guard.
Smif pulls Sakuraba in close to prevent any damage.
Smif on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smif tries to get out of the position.
Smif utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Smif keeps moving.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smif managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sakuraba postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smif working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuraba.
Smif is trying to control the position but Sakuraba postures up.
Smif looking for a sweep. Not yet Smif, not yet.

Sakuraba drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakuraba jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sakuraba controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sakuraba slips nicely into half guard.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smif defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sakuraba wants to work for an arm triangle but Smif is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sakuraba is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sakuraba thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smif's head.

Sakuraba is working for a submission of some sort.
Sakuraba trying to control the pace.
Sakuraba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Smif is defending well.
Smif knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakuraba on the ground.

Sakuraba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smif is just riding it out for now. Sakuraba eventually gives up the hold.
Sakuraba wants to pass to mount but Smif is defending the position.
My spies in London MMA Club inform me that Sakuraba has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smif wants to improve his position but Sakuraba is controlling well.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smif keeps working.
Sakuraba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sakuraba trying to control from half guard but Smif is working away.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Sakuraba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sakuraba works his way into full mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hayato Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smif counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Smif circles away easily
and Smif counters with a straight right hand.
Bill Smif has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayato Sakuraba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smif stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakuraba. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
It looked like Smif was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Smif moves out of range of the strikes.
Smif appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A left lands for Sakuraba.
Smif is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Sakuraba moves into the clinch.
Hayato Sakuraba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smif is trying to break free.
Smif tries to break the clinch but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
Bill Smif has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakuraba prevents Smif from breaking the clinch.

Smif manages to break the clinch.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A quick step to the side and Smif tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but Smif is having none of it.
A quick step to the side and Smif tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakuraba swings widly with a right hand
and Smif counters with a nice body shot.
Sakuraba lands a nice shot that snaps Smif's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
An attempted straight right counter from Smif misses the target.
Sakuraba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smif avoids it really well and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakuraba. Smif does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sakuraba closes the distance but Smif moves to the side
and Smif counters with a nice body shot.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sakuraba has taken the fight to the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smif wants to break the clinch but can't.

Smif's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sakuraba tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Smif defends well and Sakuraba ends up having to push Smif into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Smif misses the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bill Smif showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sakuraba has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hayato Sakuraba!
Hayato Sakuraba seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.