PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between GAK SAN (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akihiro Murakami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akihiro Murakami told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

SAN
vs
Murakami

180 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
22
149 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, GAK SAN!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akihiro Murakami!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
SAN misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
SAN looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Murakami shoots in for a takedown but SAN shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
SAN defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Murakami.
Murakami loads up on a big right hand but SAN slips the punch.

Murakami gets caught flat footed, as SAN shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
SAN wants to stand and escape but instead Murakami has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Murakami working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Murakami wants to control from the top but SAN keeps moving.
Murakami would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Murakami advances to half guard.

Murakami is looking for a kimura but SAN is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Murakami to get the leverage.

Murakami is trying to work for a kimura but SAN is defending well.
SAN really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
SAN is not content to let Murakami control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murakami is looking for a kimura here.
Murakami passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for SAN!
Murakami won't let SAN get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Murakami is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but SAN is surviving well by controlling Murakami's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murakami lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Murakami punishing his opponent with strikes.

Murakami is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, SAN has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
SAN really wants to buck Murakami off and get back to his feet.

Murakami is going olschool here, as he tries to force SAN to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so SAN shrugs it off.
SAN wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SAN tries to reverse the position but Murakami maintains control.
SAN is trying to stand up.
SAN trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Murakami can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as SAN is looking to escape.
Murakami avoids the attempt from SAN to control.
SAN is trying to stand up.
Murakami lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Murakami working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Murakami looking to control but SAN is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
SAN bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
SAN has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Murakami is proving hard to escape from.
Murakami looking to hit a scissor sweep but SAN is one step ahead there.
SAN trying to control the position from guard on top but Murakami is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akihiro Murakami dominated that round.
That's time! SAN's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

SAN slips a jab and a cross from Murakami.

SAN looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
SAN wants to stand but Murakami is controlling his posture from full guard.

Murakami is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Murakami is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
SAN wants to stand and escape but instead Murakami has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murakami trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SAN keeping moving, preventing Murakami from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
SAN is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Murakami is controlling him.

Murakami drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Murakami jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Murakami drops back looking for a leg! SAN is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and SAN manages to kick Murakami off! Murakami jumps back into SAN's guard.
SAN is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Murakami is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murakami fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Murakami closes this distance looking for a takedown but SAN circles away.

SAN is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Murakami's half guard.
SAN trying to control from half guard but Murakami is working away.
SAN is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Murakami manages to get to full guard.
SAN tries to free his leg and advance position but Murakami is retaining full guard.

Murakami escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. SAN gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murakami tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Murakami can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as SAN controls the pace.
SAN wants to control from the top but Murakami keeps moving.
SAN tries to stand but Murakami is controlling from the bottom.
Murakami tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Murakami has a closed guard, preventing SAN from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
SAN moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Murakami falls off balance throwing a combination
and SAN counters with a three punch combo that has Murakami backing up. Murakami nods at SAN to acknowledge the strikes.
Murakami misses with a series of wild punches.
Murakami misses with a series of wild punches.
Horrible takedown by Murakami or perhaps it was just good defense by SAN which made him look bad.
Murakami shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts SAN as he jumps to the side.
GAK SAN has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akihiro Murakami.
Murakami misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murakami throws a hook but SAN avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akihiro Murakami showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

SAN misses with a series of wild punches.
Murakami fails with the takedown

and SAN counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by SAN.
Murakami tries to pull guard but SAN won't allow it.
Murakami jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as SAN walks away with a smile on his face. Murakami gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
GAK SAN has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akihiro Murakami.
Murakami lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as SAN backs up against the cage.
Murakami moves away from the strike by SAN.
Murakami misses with a jab, cross combination.
SAN falls off balance throwing a combination

and Murakami counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in SAN's guard now.
Murakami wants to control from the top but SAN keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murakami stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. SAN swivels though and keeps the full guard.
SAN wants to stand but Murakami is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murakami wants to pass the guard but SAN is keeping the position.

SAN working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murakami doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but SAN is tightening it up a little... Murakami has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Murakami reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Murakami taps out! nice BJJ there by SAN!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). GAK SAN!