PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Al Capone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riuta Sakuraj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Capone
vs
Sakuraj

188 cm
18
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
20
253 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Al Capone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Riuta Sakuraj!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Capone tries to land a front kick but Sakuraj steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Capone misses with a takedown attempt - Sakuraj sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sakuraj with a lazy takedown attempt
and Capone counters with a leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Sakuraj or perhaps it was just good defense by Capone which made him look bad.
Sakuraj checks the leg kick nicely there.
Capone could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Good work by Sakuraj as he checks the leg kick.
Sakuraj missing with a left hand there. Capone was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Capone throws a head kick but Sakuraj moves out of range.
Sakuraj lands a nice shot that snaps Capone's head back.
Sakuraj checks a low kick from Capone.

Sakuraj clinches up with Capone and pushes him back against the cage.
Capone is trying to break the clinch but Sakuraj has him pressed against the cage.
Sakuraj keeps control of Capone as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capone is trying to maintain a safe position but Sakuraj gets an underhook and turns Capone into the cage.

Sakuraj breaks the clinch.
Capone attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuraj tries to close the distance and clinch up but Capone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
That kick from Capone tenderised Sakuraj's leg. Sakuraj is trying to keep his angry face on.
Capone moves out of range of the strikes.

Sakuraj closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Capone prevents a takedown attempt there.
Al Capone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riuta Sakuraj.
Sakuraj wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraj prevents Capone from breaking the clinch.
Sakuraj tries for a takedown but Capone manages to get underhooks.
Sakuraj tries to pull guard but Capone holds him up against the cage and eventually Sakuraj drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Capone wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sakuraj is working for takedown but Capone is calmly controlling the position for now.
Capone can't break the clinch.
Capone taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraj being controlled against the cage.

Sakuraj breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Capone tries for a takedown but Sakuraj sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sakuraj shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Capone as he jumps to the side.
Capone throws a low kick but Sakuraj avoids it.
Capone fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sakuraj is out of range.
Capone throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sakuraj.
Capone chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Capone blocks a leg kick.
Sakuraj shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Capone pinned against the cage. Capone gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sakuraj fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraj looks winded!
Capone misses with a body kick.
Sakuraj fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sakuraj takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Capone with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Capone throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sakuraj was covering up waiting for the punch and Capone finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sakuraj throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Capone dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sakuraj keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Crunch! Capone slams his shin into Sakuraj's torso.
Capone tries to score with a low kick but Sakuraj moves his leg out of the way.
Sakuraj misses with a takedown attempt
and Capone counters with an inside leg kick.
Riuta Sakuraj is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Capone shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sakuraj sprawls well. Sakuraj wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Capone gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakuraj takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Capone fails with a takedown attempt.
Capone delivers a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Capone there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sakuraj is breathing heavily.
Sakuraj scores with a three punch combo!
Capone goes for a double leg but Sakuraj avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sakuraj continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Capone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Capone stalling the fight.
Capone is trying to break the clinch but Sakuraj is controlling him.
Capone tries for a takedown. No joy.
Capone taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sakuraj is trying to push Capone away but Capone has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capone stalling the fight.
Capone is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sakuraj is defending well for now.

Sakuraj breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sakuraj blocks a leg kick.
Sakuraj fails with the takedown.
Capone finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Capone connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Capone cracks the inside of Sakuraj's front leg.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Capone turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Capone throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Sakuraj. No joy for Capone on that attempt.
Sakuraj looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Capone fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sakuraj checks it well.
Good leg kick by Capone there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Capone lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sakuraj takes a step back to recover.
Capone throws a chopping leg kick but Sakuraj manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Capone throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sakuraj.
Capone throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Capone pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Sakuraj.
Capone misses with a low kick.
Sakuraj has his takedown stuffed
and Capone counters with an outside leg kick.
Capone throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Capone fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Capone misses with a low kick.
Sakuraj wants to clinch
and Capone counters with a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Capone misses with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A chopping leg kick lands by Capone.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Capone dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Capone throws out a leg kick but Sakuraj moves out of range and Capone only half commits.
Capone throws a leg kick but Sakuraj moved away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Capone.

Sakuraj bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sakuraj works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The strikes coming from Sakuraj are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sakuraj throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
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Capone stops Sakuraj from passing to mount.
Sakuraj takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capone tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sakuraj wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sakuraj moves into full mount!
Sakuraj lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sakuraj punishing his opponent with strikes.
Capone keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sakuraj throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capone tries to lock up and control but Sakuraj gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraj looking to ground and pound but Capone is blocking nicely.
Sakuraj lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraj raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sakuraj scoring with strikes but Capone is staying in there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Capone is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraj landing strikes from the mount and Capone is in trouble!
Sakuraj tries to control but Capone wriggling away.
Sakuraj postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Capone looks a forlorn figure.
Sakuraj lands with some strikes.
Sakuraj looking to control but Capone is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sakuraj has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Capone's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
BOOM! Sakuraj connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Capone really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakuraj lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Al Capone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Riuta Sakuraj has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakuraj is landing with some decent strikes but Capone is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Capone tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakuraj looking to control but Capone is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riuta Sakuraj comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Capone 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Al Capone!