PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lelei Tinae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sakuraba
vs
Tinae

191 cm
22
230 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

197 cm
23
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
KO power

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joseph Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lelei Tinae!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tinae keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakuraba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakuraba misses with a jab, cross combination.

Tinae closes the distance and pushes Sakuraba back into the cage.

Tinae manages to break the clinch.
Tinae circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tinae makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sakuraba really felt that one!
Sakuraba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakuraba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tinae counters with a head kick that drops Sakuraba - he's looking to finish, following his stunned foe to the ground!

Sakuraba is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tinae frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tinae takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sakuraba really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tinae controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that Tinae 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Despite being in the dominant position, Lelei Tinae just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tinae with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tinae.
Tinae lands with a slapping head kick.
Joseph Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tinae throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sakuraba on the side of the head.
Tinae waves his right hand out infront of him, looking to distract Sakuraba. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Sakuraba to the canvas! Can he finish him!?
Oh Sakuraba is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tinae controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Tinae gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sakuraba seems to have got his legs back now.
Tinae misses with a straight right.
A head kick by Tinae - that's a beauty! Sakuraba is out but he's somehow still standing... he's going... going... gone. Like a drunk walking down the middle of the road, the inevitable face plant follows and the delayed knockout arrives. Even Tinae can't help but laugh at the bizarre end to this one!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Lelei Tinae!