PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Omi Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Rafferty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Omi Sakurai has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sakurai
vs
Rafferty

175 cm
19
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Syndicate Drugs

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 Tokyo, Omi Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryan Rafferty!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rafferty throws out the jab.
Rafferty misses with a body shot.
Rafferty keeps the fight on the outside.

Sakurai clinches up with Rafferty and pushes him back against the cage.
Rafferty tries a body shot but Sakurai blocks it.
Come on Sakurai - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rafferty takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sakurai lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rafferty tries to work over Sakurai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sakurai with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rafferty tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rafferty is trying to break free.

Sakurai pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakurai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sakurai trying to control the position.
Sakurai has Rafferty pulled in close to control his posture.
Rafferty postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rafferty.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakurai is on top in guard.
Sakurai's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sakurai sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rafferty's guard.
Sakurai sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rafferty is looking to improve his position.

Sakurai is working for a submission of some sort.
Sakurai wants to control but Rafferty is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai works his way into side control.
Rafferty is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sakurai is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

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

Sakurai is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rafferty is surviving well by controlling Sakurai's body position as best he can.
Sakurai is breathing heavily.
Rafferty is in a horrible position here. Sakurai smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rafferty is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sakurai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rafferty is looking to escape.
Rafferty can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafferty wants to control but Sakurai is having none of it.
Sakurai controlling his opponent.
Sakurai tries to control but Rafferty wriggling away.
Rafferty is looking to improve his position but Sakurai isn't that keen on the idea.
Rafferty tries to lock up and control but Sakurai gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sakurai punching from mount but Rafferty doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Rafferty is looking to improve his position but Sakurai isn't that keen on the idea.
Rafferty really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakurai. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sakurai unloading with bombs!

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.
Sakurai wants to control the pace but Rafferty is squirming around nicely.

Sakurai quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Sakurai but it's paid off an Rafferty is forced to tap! Nice work by Sakurai.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Omi Sakurai!