PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ran Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tai Sonni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonni is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Foo Fighters - Times Like These. Ran Sakamoto has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sakamoto
vs
Sonni

173 cm
22
170 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

180 cm
21
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Grappling Pro Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ran Sakamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tai Sonni!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonni throws a shot from downtown. Sakamoto moves away and avoids it.
Sakamoto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sonni sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sakamoto somewhat.
Sakamoto shoots for a double leg takedown but Sonni sprawls well. He's pushed Sakamoto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sakamoto moves out of range as Sonni strikes.
Sonni throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sakamoto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Sonni as Sakamoto shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ran Sakamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonni throws a right and a left that Sakamoto avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonni throws a series of punches but Sakamoto moves out of range.
Sakamoto is looking to clinch but Sonni is avoiding it.

Sakamoto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sonni wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sakamoto has him pressed against the ropes.
A frustrated look appears on Sonni's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sonni has had enough of the clinch but Sakamoto keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni is trying to break the clinch but Sakamoto has him pressed against the ropes.
Sonni wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sonni is looking to break free of the clinch but Sakamoto has double underhooks.
Sakamoto goes for a takedown attempt but Sonni pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sonni lands a jab to the nose.

Sonni shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sonni was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sonni really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakamoto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sonni takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sakamoto is looking to get to half guard.
Sonni trying to control but Sakamoto is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto is looking to get to half guard.
Sonni wants to control the pace but Sakamoto is squirming around nicely.
Sakamoto is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto is working hard here to advance position.
Sonni controlling the position easily from mount.
Sakamoto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sonni controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sakamoto is looking to improve his position but Sonni isn't that keen on the idea.
Sonni content just to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Sonni 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tai Sonni dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sonni misses with a two punch combination.
Sonni looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakamoto shoots for a takedown but Sonni saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sonni scores with a one two! Sakamoto had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Tai Sonni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakamoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sonni scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

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

Sakamoto is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Sonni has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sonni wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni is looking for a sweep. Sakamoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sakamoto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sonni doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakamoto.
Sonni has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakamoto is working away from the top position though.
Sonni wants to get back to full guard.
Sonni is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sakamoto wants to advance to full mount but Sonni doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Sonni manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sakamoto ducks under a wild hook from Sonni.
Sonni lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sakamoto circles away quickly and effectively.
Sonni circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big right from Sonni misses.
Sakamoto closes the distance and clinches up with Sonni, looking for a takedown. Sakamoto pushes Sonni against the ropes but Sonni circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ran Sakamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonni finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sonni misses the jab.
Sonni throws a series of punches but Sakamoto moves out of range.
Sonni throws a big shot that misses.
Sakamoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sonni sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto has his takedown stuffed

and Sonni counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Sonni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sonni throws the left hand but Sakamoto avoids the punch easily.
Sakamoto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sonni.
Sonni pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sonni throws a right hand that Sakamoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakamoto also avoids with ease.
A combination from Sonni does no damage.
Sakamoto doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Sonni to counter with a crisp jab.
Sonni throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakamoto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sonni throws a right hand that Sakamoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakamoto also avoids with ease.
Sakamoto fails with a takedown attempt.

Sonni has managed to clinch.

Sonni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Sonni misses.
Sonni misses with a low kick.
Sakamoto misses with a takedown attempt
and Sonni makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sakamoto avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ran Sakamoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sonni throws the kick towards the body but Sakamoto avoids it.
Sonni throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sonni shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tai Sonni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sonni misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakamoto.
Sakamoto ducks under a wild hook from Sonni.
Sonni misses with a hook. Sakamoto ducked under it nicely.
Sakamoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sonni is fending him off so far but Sakamoto persists. Nope, Sonni circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakamoto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sonni circles away.
Sonni wants to clinch.

Sakamoto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sonni is looking to escape.

Sakamoto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakamoto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sakamoto is thwarting Sonni's attempts to control the position.
Sonni won't allow Sakamoto to pass to mount.
Sakamoto stops Sonni from getting back to his feet.
Sonni wants to improve his position but Sakamoto is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakamoto darts in trying to clinch
and Sonni counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sakamoto's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sonni pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sonni swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sonni swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakamoto doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sonni counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ran Sakamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonni throws a half hearted mid kick.

Sakamoto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sonni tries to circle away but Sakamoto has him pinned against the ropes.
Sonni tries to break the clinch but Sakamoto is controlling the position.
Sonni is pushing Sakamoto up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A frustrated look appears on Sonni's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonni tries to circle away but Sakamoto has him pinned against the ropes.

Sonni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sakamoto shoots for a double leg takedown but Sonni sprawls well. He's pushed Sakamoto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Sakamoto shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sakamoto showed some decent athleticism there.

Sonni kicks Sakamoto off and gets back to his feet.
Sakamoto has his takedown stuffed
and Sonni counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sonni thows a body shot but no joy.
Sonni swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Sonni misses.
Sonni stuffs the takedown.
Tai Sonni is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sonni throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sonni chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Sakamoto moves into range and clinches up with Sonni.
Sonni wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sakamoto being controlled against the ropes.
Sakamoto has Sonni pressed against the ropes, preventing Sonni from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sakamoto jumps guard but Sonni stands there with Sakamoto around his waist. Sakamoto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sonni lands a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ran Sakamoto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sonni 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tai Sonni!