PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Karl Amoussou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hayato Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai has chosen Holy Orders as his entrance music. 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.

Amoussou
vs
Sakurai

186 cm
27
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
27
174 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Karl Amoussou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hayato Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Sakurai tries to sprawl but Amoussou drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Amoussou will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Amoussou prevents Sakurai from standing back up.
Sakurai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Amoussou is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Sakurai still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Sakurai has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Amoussou wants to get back to his feet.
Amoussou tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakurai wants to control but Amoussou is keeping him busy.
Amoussou tries to improve position but can't.

Sakurai has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakurai throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Amoussou drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sakurai is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Sakurai misses with an elbow from the bottom.

Amoussou looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakurai can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sakurai wants to get back to his feet.
Sakurai prevents Amoussou from moving into mount.

Amoussou goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sakurai rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Amoussou's guard! Nice work there by Sakurai!
Sakurai slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai misses with the ground and pound.

Sakurai tries for a kimura but Amoussou is defending well.
Amoussou tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sakurai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sakurai decides to stand back up.
Amoussou throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sakurai's waist but Sakurai gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Amoussou off to one side.
Sakurai throws a head kick that half lands.
Amoussou shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sakurai counters with a solid body kick.
Amoussou shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sakurai counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Amoussou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Amoussou is breathing heavily.
Amoussou doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sakurai counters with a nice uppercut.
Karl Amoussou seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai with a nice cross.
Amoussou on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice cross by Sakurai.
Amoussou fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sakurai jabs at Amoussou's body.
Nice body punch from Sakurai.
Sakurai connects with the punch.

Oooooh!!! Sakurai has knocked Amoussou down with a huge combo! Sakurai steps away and waves a wobbly Amoussou back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Amoussou is rocked!

It looks like Karl Amoussou has been cut.
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!
Sakurai lands hard precision jab right on the jaw that stiffens Amoussou up and sends him tumbling to the mat! The ref grabs Sakurai from behind before he can pounce. Some folks in the crowd didn't like that stoppage, but I saw Amoussou's eyes roll way back in his head, he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Hayato Sakurai!
During a confident post fight interview, Hayato Sakurai thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.