PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryu Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hand Some (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sakurai
vs
Some

173 cm
22
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryu Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hand Some!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Bruno Hogan and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some throws a series of strikes that have Sakurai backpedaling.
Ryu Sakurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakurai shoots in looking for a takedown. Some tries to sprawl out of it but Sakurai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Some manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakurai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Some avoids a punch combination nicely.

Sakurai shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Some's guard.
Sakurai being controlled here momentarily.
Some is trying to keep Sakurai in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Some is on top in guard.
Some wants to stand but Sakurai has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Some sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai wants to get back to his feet but Some is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Some wants to pass the guard but Sakurai is keeping the position.
Sakurai wants to stand but Some is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakurai pulls Some in to control the position.
Sakurai has a closed guard, preventing Some from standing up.
Some looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Some trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakurai keeping full guard, as Some tries to pass.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sakurai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sakurai takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Sakurai shoots in and bounces Some off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Some is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai wants to pass the guard but Some is keeping the position.
Some looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sakurai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Some is trying to keep Sakurai in close.
Sakurai is fighting to break Some's control of his arms but Some is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sakurai looking to sit in guard and control but Some gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Some stops Sakurai from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakurai comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Some takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Sakurai shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Some manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Some controls Sakurai momentarily but Sakurai frees himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sakurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Some is keeping the position for now.
Sakurai is breathing heavily.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Some is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai preventing the sweep.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Some is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Sakurai dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Some misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some misses with a wild combination.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Some as he jumps to the side.

Sakurai scores a takedown into full mount!
Some bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Some content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakurai wants to sweep here but Some controlling him for the moment.
Some controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakurai can't keep his opponent in guard - Some advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Some wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakurai keeps working.
Some prevents Sakurai from improving his position.
Some performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sakurai is trying to stand.

That's two 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.
Some passes into side control, despite Sakurai's attempt to control the position.
Some has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Sakurai!
Some tries to control but Sakurai wriggling away.
Sakurai is working to get back to half guard.
Some controlling his opponent.
Sakurai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some controlling from the full mount.
Sakurai is working to get back to half guard.
Some takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Despite being in the dominant position, Hand Some just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Some moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sakurai scores with a one two! Some had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sakurai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Some looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Some fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sakurai blocks a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Some lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sakurai circles away quickly and effectively.
Some misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some thows a left - swing and a miss!
Some wild striking there from Sakurai.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hand Some showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Some connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sakurai dodges the punch combination from Some.
Some throws the left hand but Sakurai avoids the punch easily.
Some uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakurai.
Sakurai misses with a wild combination.
Ryu Sakurai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakurai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sakurai throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Sakurai does it's job there.
Sakurai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Some moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sakurai fails with the takedown.
Sakurai dodges the punch combination from Some.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some connects with a body shot.
Some throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sakurai loads up on a big right hand but Some slips the punch.
Some wild striking there from Some.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakurai. Some does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sakurai keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Some uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakurai.
Some uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sakurai is looking to wear down Some with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Some gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sakurai counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Some is keeping the position for now.
Some looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Some pulls Sakurai in close to his closed guard and prevents Sakurai from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Some keeps moving.
Some is controlling Sakurai's posture.
Some wants to sweep here but Sakurai controlling him for the moment.
Ryu Sakurai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Some trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sakurai slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Some is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.
Some looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Some trying to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Some misses with a looping left.
Sakurai looks to score with a jab to the body but Some is just out of range.
Sakurai jabs Some right on the nose. Some blinks but takes it well.
A punch combination from Some misses.
Some looks to land a combination. Sakurai sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sakurai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Some throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sakurai counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sakurai sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Some keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Some kicks off Sakurai and gets to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryu Sakurai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sakurai has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryu Sakurai!