PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akira Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Uppercut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sakurai might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Pride FC Theme. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Lance Uppercut was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Sakurai
vs
Uppercut

184 cm
26
185 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

177 cm
26
178 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira 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, Lance Uppercut!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai checks a leg kick.
Sakurai throws a hook but Uppercut blocks it.
Akira Sakurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakurai is looking to clinch but Uppercut is avoiding it.
Sakurai lands a body shot.
Uppercut throws a good cross that connects.
Uppercut wants to slow Sakurai down by chopping away at his legs.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Uppercut swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Uppercut uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sakurai.
Uppercut gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Uppercut looks to land a right hand but Sakurai moved out of range.
Sakurai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Uppercut darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sakurai wants to improve his position but Uppercut is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uppercut looks to land a strike but Sakurai avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Uppercut passes Sakurai's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Uppercut looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Uppercut missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Uppercut not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Uppercut is thwarting Sakurai's attempts to control the position.
Uppercut wants to control but Sakurai is keeping him busy.
Uppercut might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sakurai kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two 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 is looking for a sweep. Uppercut is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big right from Sakurai misses.
Sakurai misses with a wild combination.
A nice inside leg kick there by Uppercut. That's going to slow Sakurai down.
Uppercut misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakurai.
Uppercut throws a series of strikes that have Sakurai backpedaling.
Uppercut lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sakurai is breathing heavily.
Uppercut shoots in but Sakurai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sakurai blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakurai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakurai with a poor takedown
and Sakurai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Uppercut misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sakurai blocks a jab.
Uppercut missing with a left hand there. Sakurai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Uppercut throws a looping overhand right but Sakurai ducks down to avoid it.
Sakurai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Uppercut cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sakurai throws a combination that misses
and Uppercut counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Uppercut does it's job there.

Uppercut shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Uppercut showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uppercut throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Uppercut wants to pass the guard but Sakurai is defending well.
Uppercut scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Uppercut not doing much here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Uppercut passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sakurai!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Uppercut prevents Sakurai from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Uppercut dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sakurai misses with a leg kick
and Uppercut counters with a stiff right hand.
Sakurai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sakurai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice shot by Uppercut.
Sakurai throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Akira Sakurai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakurai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Sakurai gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Uppercut stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakurai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakurai trying to keep a closed guard but Uppercut is proving a slippery customer.
Uppercut is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uppercut is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Uppercut makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sakurai trying to keep a closed guard but Uppercut is proving a slippery customer.
Sakurai keeping full guard, as Uppercut tries to pass.
Uppercut throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sakurai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Uppercut has gone for a leg lock! Sakurai slips out almost immediately though and dives into Uppercut's guard.
Uppercut bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakurai's guard.
Uppercut postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uppercut distracts Sakurai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Uppercut working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Uppercut drops back looking for a leg! Sakurai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sakurai manages to kick Uppercut off! Uppercut jumps back into Sakurai's guard.
Uppercut trying to control but Sakurai is working from the bottom.
Uppercut is stalling in the full guard.
Uppercut working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakurai is on top in guard.
Sakurai throws and elbow that misses. Uppercut uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sakurai's guard. Nice move by Uppercut!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Uppercut's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Uppercut scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sakurai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Uppercut pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakurai is keeping the position for now.
Sakurai is trying to keep Uppercut in close.
Sakurai is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Uppercut is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uppercut throwing strikes from guard but Sakurai blocks nicely.
Sakurai throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Uppercut trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sakurai swings away with a body shot that misses

and Uppercut counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Uppercut postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Uppercut looking to pass the guard.
Sakurai controls Uppercut momentarily but Uppercut frees himself.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Uppercut from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Uppercut 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! And we move into the final round!

Sakurai scores with a head kick.
Uppercut tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Uppercut shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sakurai has hold of Uppercut's hands but Uppercut slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Uppercut has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakurai is looking to improve his position.

Uppercut wants to work for an arm triangle but Sakurai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Uppercut content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sakurai wants to improve his position but Uppercut is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uppercut thows a huge punch but Sakurai dodges it nicely.
Uppercut thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Uppercut slips a nice elbow through Sakurai's hands, connecting with Sakurai's forehead.
Uppercut trying to pass the guard but Sakurai defending well.
Uppercut not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Uppercut is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakurai sees it coming and defends easily.
Sakurai taking some punishment here, with Uppercut in his half guard.

That's two 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.
Uppercut looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sakurai with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sakurai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Uppercut.
Uppercut is stalling here. Sakurai is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Uppercut seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sakurai has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Uppercut has escaped the position, nice work there.
Uppercut struggling a bit here.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Uppercut has escaped the position, nice work there.
Uppercut gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai seems to be looking for submissions.
Akira Sakurai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Uppercut has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakurai is working away from the top position though.
Uppercut is holding on to half guard well.
Uppercut won't allow Sakurai to pass to mount.
Uppercut is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakurai's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakurai's back!
Uppercut lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Uppercut is looking to control Sakurai but Sakurai is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Lance Uppercut is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Uppercut connects with a big shot to the side of Sakurai's head.
Lance Uppercut has got the better of the ground game so far.
Uppercut controls the action.
Uppercut scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Sakurai is looking for a way out.
You can see the frustration on Sakurai's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Sakurai is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lance Uppercut comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Uppercut 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lance Uppercut!