PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Deuce Dillenger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba has chosen Sakuraba Entrance as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dillenger
vs
Sakuraba

188 cm
24
218 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

183 cm
20
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Deuce Dillenger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba moves out of range of the body kick from Dillenger.
Sakuraba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dillenger moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dillenger looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown.
Dillenger scores with a jab.

It looks like Kazushi Sakuraba has been cut.
Dillenger throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dillenger throws a series of punches but Sakuraba avoids them all with ease.
Dillenger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakuraba.
Dillenger stuffs the takedown.

Sakuraba decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dillenger trying to control from the bottom.
Dillenger pushes Sakuraba off looking to stand but Sakuraba dives back in and keeps control.
Sakuraba wants to free his trapped foot but Dillenger is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Sakuraba is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Dillenger has managed to free his arm - good work.
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.
Dillenger is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dillenger defends it well.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakuraba shoots in for a double leg but Dillenger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Deuce Dillenger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Donk. Dillenger catches Sakuraba right on the button with a cross.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown.
Sakuraba shoots in looking for a takedown. Dillenger tries to sprawl out of it but Sakuraba keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Dillenger manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
Sakuraba shoots in for a double leg but Dillenger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab-cross combination lands for Dillenger and sends Sakuraba crashing to the mat! Dillenger follows him down to the mat - Sakuraba regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dillenger content to control rather than advance.
Dillenger wants to get back to his feet.

Dillenger decides to stand up.
Deuce Dillenger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dillenger is looking to clinch.
Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakuraba slips a jab and a cross from Dillenger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dillenger is fending him off so far but Sakuraba persists. Nope, Dillenger circles away and we're back to standing.
Dillenger throws a body kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Dillenger. No joy for Sakuraba on that attempt.
Dillenger throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dillenger throws a series of punches but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Dillenger lands with a cross.
Dillenger misses with the combination.
Horrible takedown by Sakuraba or perhaps it was just good defense by Dillenger which made him look bad.
Dillenger swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Dillenger is looking to land body kicks.
A head kick misses from Dillenger.
Dillenger misses with an uppercut. Sakuraba saw that one coming.
Dillenger fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Sakuraba is working for a submission of some sort.

Dillenger manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sakuraba will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A telegraphed right hand from Dillenger misses the target.

Sakuraba drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dillenger trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deuce Dillenger dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Sakuraba's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sakuraba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Sakuraba or perhaps it was just good defense by Dillenger which made him look bad.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dillenger.

Dillenger moves into range and clinches up with Sakuraba.
Sakuraba has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dillenger is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dillenger trying to control the position but instead, Sakuraba has worked for underhooks and has pushed Dillenger into the ropes.
Dillenger is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dillenger unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sakuraba wants a takedown but no success here.
Deuce Dillenger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Dillenger just leaning against Sakuraba, taking a breather.
Sakuraba is working for takedown but Dillenger is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sakuraba tries to score a body lock takedown but Dillenger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dillenger dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakuraba has Dillenger pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Dillenger manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Dillenger manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillenger is struggling to control the position.
Dillenger lands a knee to the body.
Dillenger controlling the action here for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Deuce Dillenger.
No luck for Sakuraba with that takedown attempt.
Dillenger throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Dillenger fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dillenger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sakuraba bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dillenger throws Sakuraba to one side and escapes!

Sakuraba feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sakuraba trying to control but Dillenger is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba passes Dillenger's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sakuraba has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sakuraba lands a nice shot to the head.
Dillenger tries to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
Dillenger wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba has control of Dillenger's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Dillenger regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Sakuraba putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Dillenger sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Dillenger is trying to maintain the position but Sakuraba is very close to passing his half guard.
Dillenger pushes Sakuraba off looking to stand but Sakuraba dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakuraba moves into full mount! Dillenger won't be happy about that!
Sakuraba working Dillenger over with strikes here.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine from mount but Dillenger is having none of it.

Sakuraba looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Sakuraba looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Sakuraba is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Dillenger has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Dillenger!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deuce Dillenger dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Sakuraba's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dillenger misses with the combination.
Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dillenger paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sakuraba shoots in for a double leg but Dillenger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kazushi Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba moves away from the strike by Dillenger.

Sakuraba scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Dillenger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dillenger is trying to stand.
Dillenger wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy.
Kazushi Sakuraba has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to mount his opponent but Dillenger defends it.
Sakuraba lands with a punch from half guard.

Sakuraba is trying to work for a kimura but Dillenger is defending well.
Dillenger slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Sakuraba postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dillenger is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sakuraba, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Dillenger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Dillenger stands up from Sakuraba's guard - Dillenger perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown.
Deuce Dillenger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dillenger's waist but Dillenger gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sakuraba off to one side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sakuraba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sakuraba shoots in for a double leg but Dillenger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dillenger moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Deuce Dillenger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dillenger moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Dillenger misses with a jab, cross combination.

Dillenger gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dillenger wants to stand up but Sakuraba is controlling him.
Sakuraba stopping the sweep attempt from Dillenger.
Sakuraba stands up over Dillenger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dillenger trying to control the position.
Sakuraba scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Dillenger is keeping the position.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Dillenger keeps moving.
Dillenger is trying to keep Sakuraba in close.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dillenger throws a shot from downtown. Sakuraba moves away and avoids it.

Sakuraba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Deuce Dillenger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Sakuraba is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Deuce Dillenger.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dillenger, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deuce Dillenger!