PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gary Day (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hideo Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Day comes into the arena with Last minute - Great day to choke you out blaring out of the sound system. Sakurai comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Freestyle - Don't Stop The Rock kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Day
vs
Sakurai

178 cm
23
160 lbs
8 - 4 - 2

173 cm
25
166 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 8 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Gary Day!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hideo Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Day doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sakurai counters with a straight right hand.
Day tries for a takedown but Sakurai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sakurai throws a hook but Day avoids it easily.

Day has closed the distance and engaged Sakurai in a clinch.

Day escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Day fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Day. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sakurai gets caught napping as Day dives in and scores a takedown. Sakurai manages to retain guard.
Day wants to pass the guard but Sakurai is keeping the position.
Sakurai wants to improve his position but instead Day has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day is trying to control. Sakurai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sakurai is trying to stand.
Day is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Day content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sakurai manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Day thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sakurai's head.
Day is looking to advance position but Sakurai won't allow it.
Day trying to control the pace.
Sakurai tries to kick Day off but Day keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai won't allow Day to pass to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Day gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Day gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sakurai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Day staying out of range there.
Day throws a lazy head kick
and Sakurai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Day. Sakurai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sakurai misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Day.
Day dives in for a single leg takedown but Sakurai sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sakurai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Day tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakurai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakurai swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sakurai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sakurai leaves Day with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sakurai! But no joy.
Day throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Day closes the distance but Sakurai moves to the side
and Sakurai counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hideo Sakurai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Day shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Day takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Day throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakurai is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sakurai feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Days jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Gary Day is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Day gets the takedown into side control.
Day wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakurai keeps working.
Day happy to just control the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Day is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sakurai is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai is trying to improve his position.
Sakurai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Day. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Day trying to control the position but Sakurai is working away.

Day decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Day drives through and clinches with Sakurai against the cage.
Day jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sakurai walks away with a smile on his face. Day gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sakurai with a hook.
Day has his takedown stuffed
enabling Sakurai to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Day. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Day throws a right hand that misses
and Sakurai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Day tries for a takedown but Sakurai circles away easily
and Sakurai counters with a straight right hand.

Day fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sakurai, pushing him back against the cage.

Sakurai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Day with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakurai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Gary Day has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakurai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Day is rocked!
Day scores with a kick to the body.
Hideo Sakurai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sakurai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Day moves away.
Sakurai lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Oh Day is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Day slips under a jab.
Sakurai misses with a series of wild punches.
Day seems to have got his legs back now.
Day moves in looking to clinch but Sakurai pushes him off.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sakurai! But no joy.
Day tries for a takedown but Sakurai circles away easily
and Sakurai counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from Sakurai misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Day digs a good body shot into Sakurai's ribs.
Sakurai lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sakurai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice sprawl there from Sakurai as Day shoots in.
Sakurai throws a sloppy body shot
and Day counters with a series of strikes. Sakurai will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Day 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 Day off to one side.
Day misses with a double jab
and Sakurai counters with a stiff right hand.
Sakurai might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sakurai scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Day doesn't seem bothered though.

Day closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Day is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideo Sakurai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gary Day's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Day darts in trying to clinch
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Day.
Sakurai has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Day shoots and misses
and Sakurai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Day with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakurai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Day walks straight into a right hand from Sakurai - that's dropped him! Sakurai jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Day from any more punishment! Day complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Hideo Sakurai!
A victorious Hideo Sakurai thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.