PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Mike Rogers has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rogers
vs
Sakuraba

177 cm
19
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ethan Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers misses with a looping right.

Rogers looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rogers wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.
Sakuraba 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.

Rogers drops back looking for a leg! Sakuraba is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sakuraba manages to kick Rogers off! Rogers jumps back into Sakuraba's guard.
Sakuraba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rogers's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers being controlled here, momentarily.
Sakuraba passes into half guard.
Rogers is trying to control but can't.

Rogers is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakuraba pulls his head out easily.
Rogers trying to control here.
Rogers is trying to control but Sakuraba manages to pass to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sakuraba sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rogers is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rogers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sakuraba stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rogers.
Sakuraba gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba wants to control but Rogers is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rogers is trying to work for a kimura but Sakuraba is defending well.
Sakuraba is trying to control but can't.

Sakuraba is defending against the submission attempts here by Rogers.
Sakuraba is looking to escape.

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.
Rogers moves nicely into side control.
Sakuraba tries to improve position but can't.

Rogers thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sakuraba is trying to control Rogers's posture but Rogers avoids it.

Rogers is trying to get an arm triangle but Sakuraba is defending well.
Rogers is breathing heavily.
Sakuraba tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rogers wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Rogers dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sakuraba avoids the head kick by Rogers.

Sakuraba looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rogers!
Rogers wants to control but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Rogers is squirming around, avoiding Sakuraba's attempts to control the action.
Sakuraba landing shots from mount.
Sakuraba controlling his opponent.
Rogers is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Rogers is looking to get to half guard.
Rogers tries to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
Sakuraba with the ground and pound from mount.
Sakuraba tries to control but Rogers wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rogers is working to get back to half guard.

Sakuraba is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Rogers is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Rogers avoids it well.
Ethan Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but Rogers is having none of it.
Rogers with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sakuraba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rogers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba passes Rogers's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rogers wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy.
Sakuraba stalling.
Rogers has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakuraba is working away from the top position though.
Rogers wants to improve his position but Sakuraba is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sakuraba wants to advance to full mount but Rogers doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Rogers controls Sakuraba momentarily but Sakuraba frees himself.
Sakuraba trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rogers with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakuraba counters with a straight right hand.
Rogers tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sakuraba counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rogers!

Sakuraba looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sakuraba is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rogers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rogers swinging wilding here.
Sakuraba defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rogers.
Rogers darts in trying to clinch

and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown. Rogers fights it but they end up in guard.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rogers looking for a guillotine here but Sakuraba defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to sit in guard and control but Rogers gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sakuraba pulls Rogers in close to prevent any damage.
Rogers slips nicely into half guard.
Rogers prevents Sakuraba from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rogers works his foot free and advances to mount.
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Rogers postures up.
Rogers looking to control but Sakuraba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Rogers with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Rogers jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sakuraba is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sakuraba and Rogers has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers happy to just control the position for now.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ethan Sakuraba has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rogers thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sakuraba wants to control but Rogers postures 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.
Rogers wants to stand but Sakuraba has his arm trapped.
Sakuraba striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Rogers tries to stand but Sakuraba is controlling his head.

Rogers goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sakuraba rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rogers's guard! Nice work there by Sakuraba!
Sakuraba trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.

Sakuraba gets to his feet. Rogers looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ethan Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sakuraba has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ethan Sakuraba!