PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yushi Sakura (ranked 3039 p4p, 4807 weight class) and Judicael Jaacquet (ranked 311 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.

Sakura
vs
Jaacquet

180 cm
22
152
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
149
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

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 Tokyo, Yushi Sakura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Judicael Jaacquet!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jaacquet looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakura is fending him off so far but Jaacquet persists. Nope, Sakura circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakura fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sakura wants to clinch
and Jaacquet counters with a solid body kick.

Jaacquet has closed the distance and engaged Sakura in a clinch.
Sakura tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sakura jumps guard but Jaacquet stands there with Sakura around his waist. Sakura gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sakura working hard to break the clinch.
Sakura misses with an elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jaacquet trying to land knees to the body.
Sakura is trying to pull guard but Jaacquet has him pressed against the cage.
Jaacquet keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sakura's efforts to push away.

Sakura jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakura is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jaacquet trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakura tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakura is looking to sweep but instead, Jaacquet has passed into half guard.
Sakura keeping hold of Jaacquet's head, controlling as best he can.
Sakura is trying to stand up here but Jaacquet is controlling him well.
Sakura trying to control from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Jaacquet wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakura keeps working.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sakura is trying to stand up here but Jaacquet is controlling him well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sakura slips a jab from Jaacquet.
Sakura is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sakura gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jaacquet.
Sakura goes for a takedown attempt but Jaacquet pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yushi Sakura. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaacquet doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Jaacquet instigates a clinch.
Sakura lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Jaacquet or not.

Jaacquet breaks from the clinch.
Sakura tries to clinch up.
Jaacquet looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

Jaacquet gets tackled into the cage by Sakura. Sakura maintains the clinch.

Jaacquet pulls guard.
Jaacquet wants to stand and escape but Sakura is having none of it.
Sakura trying to control the position from guard on top but Jaacquet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Jaacquet has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sakura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Jaacquet working for submissions but it's allowed Sakura to get to half guard.
Jaacquet tries to roll over but Sakura keeps him under control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jaacquet trying to control here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Judicael Jaacquet dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sakura doesn't manage to clinch there - Jaacquet circles away.

Sakura has Jaacquet up against the cage in a clinch.
Jaacquet looking for a takedown.
Jaacquet has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sakura avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sakura misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sakura has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jaacquet is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sakura prevents the takedown attempt.
Yushi Sakura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Judicael Jaacquet.
Sakura tries to break the clinch but Jaacquet is controlling the position.
Sakura keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jaacquet's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakura is trying to pull guard but Jaacquet turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jaacquet is trying to force a seperation but Sakura has the dominant position.
Jaacquet working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaacquet misses with a punch on the inside.
Sakura is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jaacquet pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sakura is pushing Jaacquet up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sakura blocks the elbow strike.
Jaacquet has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sakura is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jaacquet tries to circle away but Sakura has him pinned against the cage.
Jaacquet misses with a punch on the inside.
Sakura blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Sakura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jaacquet changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sakura tries to avoid it but Jaacquet manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sakura to the ground. Sakura escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Jaacquet moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaacquet tries to pull guard but Sakura holds him up against the cage and eventually Jaacquet drops back down to his feet.
Sakura has Jaacquet pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jaacquet manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sakura tries to pull guard but Jaacquet won't allow it.
Sakura gets underhooks to prevent Jaacquet's takedown attempt.
Sakura tries to pull guard but Jaacquet won't allow it.

Jaacquet pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jaacquet paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Jaacquet moves into the clinch.
Jaacquet jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sakura walks away with a smile on his face. Jaacquet gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Yushi Sakura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jaacquet swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakura tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jaacquet manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaacquet misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakura is looking to clinch but Jaacquet is avoiding it.
Jaacquet takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Jaacquet throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sakura has Jaacquet up against the cage in a clinch.
Sakura looking to slow down the pace here.
Sakura wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jaacquet has him pressed against the cage.
Sakura fails to pull guard.

Jaacquet's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jaacquet shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakura sprawls well. He's pushed Jaacquet's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jaacquet shoots in looking for a takedown but Sakura manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jaacquet's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Jaacquet gets a double leg takedown into Sakura's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakura working a defensive guard here.

Jaacquet is posturing up here but Sakura has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Jaacquet tries to roll out but it's too tight and Jaacquet has to tap! Slick submission there by Sakura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Yushi Sakura!