PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Masa Sakuruza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiagong Akyat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Akyat's choice of entrance music: Crank That. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Sakuruza
vs
Akyat

180 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masa Sakuruza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tiagong Akyat!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuruza closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
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.
Sakuruza is nestled in close to Akyat, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sakuruza slips a nice elbow through Akyat's hands, connecting with Akyat's forehead.
Sakuruza missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sakuruza missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sakuruza with the ground and pound but Akyat uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sakuruza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akyat works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sakuruza has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Akyat looking for a guillotine here but Sakuruza defends easily.
Sakuruza is looking to work some ground and pound but Akyat has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuruza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Akyat avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Akyat is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Akyat 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.
Sakuruza throws a big right hand that misses.
Sakuruza throws a strike but Akyat rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akyat is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sakuruza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sakuruza has escaped and now he's on top!
Akyat preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Akyat utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakuruza connects with a couple of short punches.
Sakuruza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akyat works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuruza throws a strike but Akyat rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Akyat is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sakuruza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sakuruza has escaped and now he's on top!
Sakuruza throwing strikes from guard but Akyat blocks nicely.
Sakuruza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Sakuruza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Akyat has momentary wrist control but Sakuruza slips an elbow through the middle.
Sakuruza stands up over Akyat, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sakuruza working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Akyat's head.
Akyat utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakuruza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Akyat preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sakuruza content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sakuruza thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masa Sakuruza dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Akyat doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sakuruza counters with a nice double leg into side control. Akyat won't be happy with that.
Akyat parries the strikes from Sakuruza easily there. Sakuruza is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Akyat to escape.
Akyat is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akyat is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sakuruza off and has taken his back!
Sakuruza is trying to break free.

Akyat is looking for the choke from the back position but Sakuruza is controlling his hands well.

Akyat tightening his grip on Sakuruza, looking for the choke.

Akyat seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Sakuruza's chin but Sakuruza turns very nicely into Akyat's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Sakuruza.
Akyat is breathing heavily.
Sakuruza thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuruza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sakuruza throwing strikes but missing.
Akyat preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sakuruza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akyat works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Akyat is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakuruza defends well.
Sakuruza throws and elbow that misses. Akyat uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sakuruza's guard. Nice move by Akyat!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akyat stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuruza swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Akyat is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sakuruza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sakuruza has escaped and now he's on top!
Sakuruza knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Akyat on the ground.

That's four 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.
Akyat avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Masa Sakuruza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakuruza postures up in Akyat's guard and throws a big left but Akyat blocks it.
Sakuruza postures up in Akyat's guard and throws a big left but Akyat blocks it.
Sakuruza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sakuruza is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Masa Sakuruza will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Akyat tries for a takedown but Sakuruza circles away easily

and Sakuruza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sakuruza content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuruza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuruza scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sakuruza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakuruza scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sakuruza is in close to Akyat's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sakuruza throws a strike but Akyat rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Akyat drops back looking for a leg! Sakuruza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sakuruza manages to kick Akyat off! Akyat jumps back into Sakuruza's guard.
Akyat pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuruza is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Akyat drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Akyat as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Sakuruza screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Akyat! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Tiagong Akyat!