PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Pedro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pedro comes into a darkened arena with his song building. robot is the future kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Juan Pedro told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sakuraba
vs
Pedro

180 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Juan Pedro!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pedro stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakuraba. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Pedro with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Sakuraba to counter with a crisp jab.
Pedro tries for a takedown but Sakuraba circles away easily

and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sakuraba is controlling the pace.

Sakuraba decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Pedro closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sakuraba counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pedro!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba scoring with strikes but Pedro is staying in there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba with shots to the head and body - Pedro looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sakuraba lands with some strikes.
Sakuraba looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pedro tries to lock up and control but Sakuraba gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pedro really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakuraba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pedro tries to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
Sakuraba dominating with strikes here.

Pedro is rocked!
Sakuraba connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Pedro is still in real trouble! Can Sakuraba finish him?

Sakuraba working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Pedro turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Sakuraba off and cradles Pedro's limp body as Sakuraba celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Kazushi Sakuraba!