PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezekel Rage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jinsei Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rage
vs
Sakamoto

200 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

188 cm
19
235 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ezekel Rage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jinsei Sakamoto!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rage swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakamoto scores with a kick to the midsection.
Sakamoto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sakamoto moves in looking to clinch but Rage pushes him off.
Sakamoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sakamoto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rage misses with a straight right.
Sakamoto ducks under a wild hook from Rage.
Rage scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rage throws a hook to the side of Sakamoto's head but Sakamoto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakamoto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rage.
Rage misses the jab.
Sakamoto lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Sakamoto does no damage.
Sakamoto tries to clinch but Rage moves out of range.
Rage missing with a left hand there. Sakamoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rage throws a hook but Sakamoto blocks it.
Rage connects with a single shot there.
Rage throws a hook but Sakamoto blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rage is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakamoto.
Rage throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sakamoto counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rage's knee momentarily.
Sakamoto tries to close the distance and clinch but Rage swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rage throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakamoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rage.
Sakamoto slips under a jab from Rage.
Sakamoto closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rage counters with a nice uppercut.

Sakamoto has Rage up against the cage in a clinch.
Sakamoto stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakamoto looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Sakamoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rage lands with a straight right. Sakamoto didn't see that one coming.
Rage just misses with a punch to the body.
Rage lands the left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakamoto moves to clinch but Rage breaks away
and Rage counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakamoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rage misses with an uppercut. Sakamoto saw that one coming.
Rage throws the left hand but Sakamoto avoids the punch easily.
Sakamoto tries to move into range but Rage moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakamoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rage feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sakamotos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rage walks into a jab.

It looks like Ezekel Rage has been cut.
Sakamoto works over Rage's head and body with a nice combination.
Rage is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rage keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rage manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sakamoto tries to clinch up but Rage circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakamoto tries to clinch up but Rage circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakamoto scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rage misses with a left hand
and Sakamoto counters with a stiff right hand.
Rage keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakamoto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakamoto closes the distance but Rage moves to the side
letting Rage counter with a right hand.
Sakamoto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab lands there for Rage.
Sakamoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rage.
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!

Sakamoto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sakamoto misses with a punch on the inside.
Rage throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Rage.
I was talking to Rage's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sakamoto.

Sakamoto breaks from the clinch.
Sakamoto throws a right hand that Rage ducks under and follows up with a left that Rage also avoids with ease.
Rage jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sakamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rage paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sakamoto closes the distance and pushes Rage back into the cage.
Sakamoto is leaning against Rage and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rage misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sakamoto breaks the clinch.
Rage lands a jab to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakamoto wants to clinch.
Sakamoto wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jinsei Sakamoto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ezekel Rage's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rage scores with a punch to the head.
Jinsei Sakamoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rage swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from Rage misses.
Sakamoto tries to clinch up.
Sakamoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rage.
Rage is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakamoto.
Sakamoto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rage swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rage throws a shot from downtown. Sakamoto moves away and avoids it.

Sakamoto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rage misses with a punch on the inside.

Sakamoto gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Rage looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Sakamoto pushes past his half guard into mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakamoto sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rage tries to hold on but Sakamoto pushes him away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rage has given up his back here.
Rage wants to escape the position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rage just trying to survive but Sakamoto is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto has good solid back control here.
Rage is really stuck here.
Rage trying to control the hands but Sakamoto breaks the grip.
Sakamoto biding his time, controlling Rage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto not allowing Rage to control his hands.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rage throws a shot from downtown. Sakamoto moves away and avoids it.
Rage is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sakamoto.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crunch! Sakamoto slams his shin into Rage's torso.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rage circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sakamoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Rage circles away.
Sakamoto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakamoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sakamoto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rage working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sakamoto blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Sakamoto breaks the clinch.
Sakamoto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sakamoto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rage manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
That kick from Sakamoto tenderised Rage's leg. Rage is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sakamoto tries to clinch but Rage moves away
and Rage counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sakamoto moves in looking to clinch but Rage pushes him off.
Sakamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rage swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jinsei Sakamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ezekel Rage's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rage jabs at Sakamoto's body.
Rage misses with a straight left.
Sakamoto scoring well with a low kick there.
Jinsei Sakamoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rage loads up on a big right hand but Sakamoto slips the punch.
Rage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sakamoto tries to clinch but Rage moves out of range.
Sakamoto is looking to clinch.
Rage is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sakamoto tries to close the distance and clinch but Rage swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sakamoto gets a clinch.
Sakamoto blocks an uppercut.
Rage content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sakamoto looking to throw knees to the head but Rage is blocking nicely.
Sakamoto digs a right hand into Rage's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rage's gas tank.
Sakamoto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Come on Rage - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sakamoto effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on Sakamoto's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Sakamoto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sakamoto lands with a left to the head.

Ezekel Rage's cut is getting worse.
Sakamoto being controlled against the cage.
Sakamoto misses with a body punch.
Rage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sakamoto's elbow.
Sakamoto's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rage fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sakamoto prevents Rage from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto misses with a knee strike.
Rage goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rage creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sakamoto stalling.
Sakamoto misses with a knee strike.
Sakamoto lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rage backwards.
Sakamoto's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rage scores with a shot to the side of Sakamoto's head.
Jinsei Sakamoto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
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!
Rage working aggressively here.
Rage misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sakamoto.
Rage lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rage stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ezekel Rage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto misses with a punch to the body.
Sakamoto has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rage after a bit of a struggle.
Sakamoto taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sakamoto is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rage to keep the fight standing.
Rage leaning his opponent against the cage.

Sakamoto breaks from the clinch.
Sakamoto moves in looking to clinch but Rage pushes him off.

Sakamoto clinches.
Rage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sakamoto's elbow.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rage swings wildly with an uppercut but Sakamoto uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rage misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rage swings wildly with an uppercut but Sakamoto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rage swings wildly with an uppercut but Sakamoto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakamoto is pushing Rage up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sakamoto.
Rage tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sakamoto tries a knee to the head but Rage blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch on the inside from Rage fails to land.
Rage misses with a punch to the body.
Rage swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sakamoto blocks an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ezekel Rage.
Well Sakamoto has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jinsei Sakamoto!