PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akira Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tanaka Masatoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masatoshi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. [No.666] kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be fireworks!

Sakurai
vs
Masatoshi

184 cm
24
185 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

181 cm
20
177 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Win Nutritional RJ - ALWAYS, more credibility
Hellbent, Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Sakurai!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tanaka Masatoshi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masatoshi misses with a takedown attempt - Sakurai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Masatoshi gets caught flat footed, as Sakurai shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sakurai stopping the sweep attempt from Masatoshi.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakurai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sakurai throws a big right hand that misses.
Masatoshi keeping moving, preventing Sakurai from controlling successfully.
Masatoshi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sakurai has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Masatoshi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakurai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakurai lands a couple of digs.
Masatoshi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Masatoshi misses with a wild combination.
Masatoshi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakurai counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Masatoshi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Masatoshi throws a sloppy head kick and Sakurai moves out of range easily.
Sakurai blocks a head kick by Masatoshi.

Sakurai clinches.
Masatoshi prevents the takedown attempt.
Masatoshi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sakurai has him pressed against the ropes.

Sakurai has picked Masatoshi up - he's going for a ride! Sakurai dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sakurai thows a huge punch but Masatoshi dodges it nicely.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sakurai tries to pass to full mount but Masatoshi defends it.
Masatoshi is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masatoshi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Masatoshi is working from the bottom.
Sakurai works his way into full mount!
Sakurai unloading with bombs!

It looks like Tanaka Masatoshi has been cut.
Masatoshi looks gassed!
Masatoshi taking shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakurai content just to control the position here.
Sakurai scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Masatoshi?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masatoshi is looking to get to half guard.

Sakurai swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Akira Sakurai!
Akira Sakurai retains his welterweight title!