PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daniil White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakatsu Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masakatsu Sakuraba is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

White
vs
Sakuraba

180 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
167 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daniil White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakatsu Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

White closes the distance and clinches.

White manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
White avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

White escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuraba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
White has a closed guard, preventing Sakuraba from standing up.
Sakuraba throws a big right hand that misses.
Sakuraba throwing strikes but missing.
Sakuraba working some strikes from top position.
Sakuraba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
White avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

White looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
White 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.
Sakuraba with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuraba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sakuraba scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. White is keeping the position for now.
White working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuraba.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba passes into half guard.
White is breathing heavily.
Sakuraba trying to control the action but White is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakuraba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sakuraba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throwing shots but White is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.
Sakuraba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakuraba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
White avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba passes the guard and advances to mount!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sakuraba throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Sakuraba throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sakuraba sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sakuraba looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sakuraba throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba with good strikes from the mount here!
White holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sakuraba tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Sakuraba landing shots from mount.
Sakuraba sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Sakuraba has isolated one of White's arms. White looking to fight him off but Sakuraba twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Masakatsu Sakuraba!