PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sam Fisher (ranked 4969 p4p, 5044 weight class) and Sendo Sakuragi (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.

Fisher
vs
Sakuragi

179 cm
25
153
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sam Fisher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sendo Sakuragi!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuragi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Fisher chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sakuragi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fisher avoids it really well and circles away.

Sakuragi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Fisher quickly recovers to half guard.
Sakuragi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fisher trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sakuragi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Fisher sees it coming and defends easily.
Fisher is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Fisher actively working from the bottom here.
Sakuragi not doing much here.
Fisher is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sakuragi jumps into side control!
Fisher is trying to escape the position but Sakuragi is controlling the position.
Fisher is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sakuragi staying calm.

Sakuragi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Fisher is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sakuragi asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Sakuragi staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fisher tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakuragi takes a little break here. Fisher wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fisher throws a lazy head kick

and Sakuragi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sakuragi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that Sakuragi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sendo Sakuragi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sakuragi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fisher was covering up waiting for the punch and Sakuragi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sakuragi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sakuragi is continuing to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fisher controls Sakuragi momentarily but Sakuragi frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fisher looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sakuragi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sakuragi controlling the pace.
Sakuragi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Sakuragi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Fisher looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sakuragi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Sakuragi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fisher has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fisher tries to get to full guard but Sakuragi has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuragi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Fisher is just riding it out for now. Sakuragi eventually gives up the hold.
Sakuragi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Fisher is defending against the submission attempts here by Sakuragi.
Well, if Sakuragi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sakuragi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fisher but Fisher pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sakuragi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Fisher throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sakuragi was covering up waiting for the punch and Fisher finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sakuragi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sakuragi is breathing heavily.
Fisher throws a big right hand that misses.
Sakuragi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fisher would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Fisher avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sendo Sakuragi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sakuragi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Fisher.

Sakuragi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sendo Sakuragi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakuragi controlling from the top position.
Sakuragi prevents Fisher from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fisher is on top in guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fisher accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fisher trying to control but Sakuragi is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fisher stops Sakuragi from standing up.
Sakuragi pulls Fisher in to control the position.

Sakuragi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuragi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fisher trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuragi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuragi is adopting a defensive guard.
Fisher trying to control but Sakuragi is working from the bottom.
Fisher throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fisher working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sakuragi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fisher throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sakuragi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fisher showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Fisher trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuragi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fisher connects with an inside leg kick.

Sakuragi tries to sprawl but Fisher drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sakuragi is controlling Fisher's trapped leg to prevent Fisher from advancing to side control.
Fisher is looking to take a break and control but Sakuragi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi wants to get back to full guard.
Fisher wants to pass the guard but Sakuragi is defending well.
Sakuragi keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Fisher missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fisher trying to control the action but Sakuragi is working from the bottom.
Sakuragi controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fisher wants to stand up but Sakuragi is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Fisher looks to throw a body kick

and Sakuragi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Fisher!
Sakuragi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fisher keeps working.
Fisher tries to improve position but can't.
Sakuragi prevents Fisher from escaping the position.
Fisher is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sakuragi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sakuragi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sam Fisher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sendo Sakuragi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fisher is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Fisher showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sakuragi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sendo Sakuragi!