PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nobuo Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masami Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba comes to the cage accompanied by Mono - Battle for Heaven. Nobuo Sakuraba had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sakuraba
vs
Takahashi

184 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nobuo Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masami Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba feints and as Takahashi raises his hands in defense, Sakuraba changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sakuraba throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takahashi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takahashi can't keep his opponent in guard - Sakuraba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takahashi keeps working.
Takahashi tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sakuraba has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Takahashi tries to hold on but Sakuraba postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi can't escape the position.
Takahashi is controlling an arm, preventing Sakuraba from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Sakuraba lands a big elbow.

Sakuraba swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Takahashi is now in Sakuraba's guard. A big mistake from Sakuraba there, giving up the dominant position!
Sakuraba can't keep his opponent in guard - Takahashi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi passes to full mount!
Sakuraba is trying to escape the mount but Takahashi keeps good control and instead manages to take Sakuraba's back.
Sakuraba trying to get back to his feet but Takahashi is in full control for now.
Takahashi looking to hold on to the position here but Sakuraba rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Sakuraba knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Takahashi on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Takahashi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sakuraba is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sakuraba has escaped and now he's on top!

Takahashi looking for a guillotine here but Sakuraba defends easily.
Takahashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakuraba manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Takahashi controls the pace.
Takahashi pushing down on Sakuraba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Takahashi in particular looking to stall.

Takahashi wants to work for an arm triangle but Sakuraba is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sakuraba is refusing to be controlled, as Takahashi sits in half guard.
Sakuraba tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Takahashi uses his free foot to push down on Sakuraba's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sakuraba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is working to get back to half guard.

Takahashi goes for an armbar but Sakuraba turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Sakuraba.

Sakuraba has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Takahashi to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Sakuraba is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Takahashi pulls down on the head and he's put Sakuraba to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Masami Takahashi!