PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Takanori Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Brooks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai comes to the cage accompanied by number girl syndrome. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sakurai
vs
Brooks

176 cm
22
149 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Vandal Fight Boutique -ACME- *$5 tee!*

Fightworld Formula

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Sakurai !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin Brooks!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brooks lands a slapping body shot.
Brooks with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Brooks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Brooks throws a push kick but Sakurai slaps the foot to one side.
Brooks scores with a push kick.
Horrible takedown by Sakurai or perhaps it was just good defense by Brooks which made him look bad.
Brooks scores with a head kick.
Sakurai shoots for a double leg takedown but Brooks sprawls well. He's pushed Sakurai 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sakurai shoots for a double leg takedown but Brooks sprawls well. He's pushed Sakurai 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Sakurai . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brooks tries a head kick but it misses.
Brooks lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sakurai will feel that in the morning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brooks looks to land a body kick but Sakurai moved away.
Sakurai avoids the head kick by Brooks.
Brooks throws a head kick that misses.
Brooks throws a head kick that half lands.
Sakurai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brooks is fending him off so far but Sakurai persists. Nope, Brooks circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakurai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sakurai is breathing heavily.
Sakurai moves out of range of the body kick from Brooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Sakurai .
Brooks throws a sloppy head kick
and Sakurai counters with a nice low kick that buckles Brooks's knee momentarily.
Brooks throws a sloppy head kick and Sakurai moves out of range easily.
Brooks buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kevin Brooks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Brooks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Brooks scores with a head kick.
Sakurai throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Brooks stuns Sakurai with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sakurai walks forward, straight into a front kick from Brooks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Brooks rushes Sakurai and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Brooks lands an elbow inside that Sakurai shrugs off.
Sakurai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Brooks walks away with a smile on his face. Sakurai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Brooks as he avoids it easily.
Sakurai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Brooks tries to avoid it but Sakurai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Brooks to the ground. Brooks escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Sakurai . He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Brooks scores with a jab to the head.
Brooks cracks Sakurai with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Brooks tries to clinch there but Sakurai circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brooks rushes Sakurai and presses him up against the cage.
Brooks lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Brooks unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Brooks leaning against his opponent.
A knee to the head by Brooks.
Brooks lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sakurai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Brooks walks away with a smile on his face. Sakurai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice uppercut there from Brooks.
Sakurai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brooks is fending him off so far but Sakurai persists. Nope, Brooks circles away and we're back to standing.
Brooks throws a head kick that half lands.

Brooks has closed the distance and engaged Sakurai in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Brooks creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Brooks lands an elbow just above Sakurai 's eye.
Brooks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sakurai .
Sakurai being controlled against the cage.

Brooks breaks from the clinch.
Brooks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakurai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakurai fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Brooks throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sakurai .
No joy there for Brooks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sakurai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Brooks scores with a kick to the body.

Sakurai feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.
Brooks is pulling down on Sakurai 's head. It's preventing any offense from Sakurai , at least for the moment.
Sakurai slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai misses with a head shot. Brooks uses the momentum to regain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brooks trying to keep a closed guard but Sakurai is proving a slippery customer.
Sakurai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakurai throws and elbow that misses. Brooks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sakurai 's guard. Nice move by Brooks!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Brooks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sakurai is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Brooks dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sakurai lands with a kick to the temple. Brooks shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sakurai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brooks circles away.
Brooks throws a shot from downtown. Sakurai moves away and avoids it.
Kevin Brooks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakurai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Brooks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Sakurai . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brooks throws a lazy body kick

and Sakurai counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sakurai tries to pass the half guard into mount. Brooks knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Brooks desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Sakurai uses his free foot to push down on Brooks's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Brooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sakurai .
Sakurai looking to finish with strikes here!

Sakurai goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Brooks turns into him and now he's in Sakurai 's guard.
Sakurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two 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.
Sakurai striking off his back but it's not causing Brooks any problems.
Brooks preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sakurai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Brooks. Sakurai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sakurai avoids a kick to the body.
Sakurai fails with the takedown.
No joy there for Brooks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Brooks lands with a kick to the ribs.
Brooks chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Brooks lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks is looking to clinch.
Brooks throws a body punch but Sakurai moves out of range.
Sakurai takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Brooks closes the distance and pushes Sakurai back into the cage.
Sakurai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Brooks smiles and moves away.
Brooks is looking to slow Sakurai down with leg kicks.
Sakurai avoids the head kick by Brooks.
Brooks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Brooks as he jumps to the side.
Sakurai needs to keep his hands up - Brooks had a free shot at his head there.
Brooks throws a head kick that misses.
Sakurai shoots in for a double leg but Brooks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks lands a nice looking body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Brooks finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A head kick from Brooks lands but Sakurai takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Brooks.

Brooks drives through and clinches with Sakurai against the cage.
Brooks lands a knee to the body.
Brooks lands a knee to the head.
Brooks lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sakurai backwards.
Brooks displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sakurai up against the cage.

Brooks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kevin Brooks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Brooks is looking to slow Sakurai down with leg kicks.
Brooks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sakurai shoots for a double leg takedown but Brooks sprawls well. He's pushed Sakurai 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Brooks misses with a body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brooks doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakurai circles away.
Brooks wants to clinch

and Sakurai counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Brooks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Brooks lands a head kick. Sakurai smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown but Brooks shows good takedown defense.
Takanori Sakurai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Brooks just misses with a punch to the body.
Brooks stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakurai . Sakurai gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakurai misses with a takedown attempt - Brooks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Sakurai . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakurai fails with the takedown.
Brooks turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Brooks throws a head kick but Sakurai moves out of range.
Sakurai shoots for a takedown but Brooks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brooks misses with a kick to the body

and Sakurai counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Brooks's guard now.
Sakurai has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Brooks is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sakurai throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sakurai wants to pass the guard but Brooks is keeping the position.
Brooks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Brooks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakurai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two 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.

Sakurai is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Brooks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Brooks has escaped and now he's on top!

Brooks gets to his feet - Sakurai follows without any prompting.
Sakurai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brooks circles away.
Brooks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Brooks misses with a wild body shot.
Brooks fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sakurai looks for the body kick but Brooks saw that one coming.
Nice sprawl there from Brooks as Sakurai shoots in.
Brooks tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks throws a head kick but Sakurai moves out of range.
Brooks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Brooks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakurai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakurai slips a straight right by Brooks.

Sakurai closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Brooks to the mat! Brooks manages to get full guard.

Sakurai has gone for a leg lock! Brooks slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sakurai 's guard.

Sakurai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Brooks controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai throws his legs up looking for a submission but Brooks uses it to pass to side control.
Sakurai tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Brooks wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Brooks decides to stand back up.
Brooks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sakurai .
Sakurai shoots in looking for a takedown. Brooks tries to sprawl out of it but Sakurai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Brooks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Brooks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Brooks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Brooks!