PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaoklai Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sakuraba
vs
Daniels

180 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kaoklai Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Daniels!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Anthony Taglia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Daniels, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Daniels looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakuraba with a lazy takedown attempt

and Daniels moves into the clinch.

Daniels pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Daniels circles away easily

and Daniels decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sakuraba's guard.
Daniels stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.

Sakuraba working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Daniels has passed into half guard!

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back.
Sakuraba really is a fat lump.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels lands with a punch from half guard.

Daniels decides to stand and escape the position.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt

and Daniels counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaoklai Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.

Daniels drags the fight down to the ground.
Daniels seems keen to control Sakuraba's posture.
Daniels looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Daniels is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Sakuraba has gone for a leg lock! Daniels slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sakuraba's guard.
Daniels slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Daniels wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling his arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels works to advance to full mount. Sakuraba defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Sakuraba is wriggling around trying to escape.

Daniels looking for a guillotine from mount but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Sakuraba is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Daniels working Sakuraba over with strikes here.
Daniels landing punches.
Daniels working Sakuraba over with strikes here.
Sakuraba is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Daniels working for a choke but Sakuraba is defending well.
Daniels keeps control of the position as Sakuraba tries to break free.
Daniels misses with a punch to the head.
Daniels keeps control of the position as Sakuraba tries to break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sakuraba is trying to break free.
Daniels 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.
Sakuraba is working hard here to advance position.
Daniels trying to control.
Daniels is trying to stick to Sakuraba's back but Sakuraba is turning into Daniels. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Daniels's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Daniels tightens his grip and picks Sakuraba up, before dumping him to the ground. Sakuraba manages to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Daniels dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt

and Daniels counters by clinching up.

Daniels breaks from the clinch.
Daniels misses with a kick to the body.

Daniels fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sakuraba, pushing him back against the cage.
Sakuraba is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Daniels manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Daniels is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Daniels is on top in guard.
Daniels wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling his posture from full guard.

Sakuraba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Daniels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels controls from within his opponent's guard.

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

Sakuraba throws his legs up looking for a submission but Daniels uses it to pass to side control.

Daniels decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Daniels shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is trying to control the position but Daniels postures up.
Daniels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
Sakuraba controls Daniels momentarily but Daniels frees himself.
Daniels advances position into side control!

Daniels decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Daniels looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Daniels is looking to advance position but Sakuraba won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Daniels slows the pace down in half guard.
Sakuraba tries to roll over but Daniels keeps him under control.
Daniels is trying to control. Sakuraba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Daniels seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four 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.
Still in half guard, Daniels seems content to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakuraba doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Daniels counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sakuraba's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaoklai Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba has a closed guard, preventing Daniels from standing up.
Daniels wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Daniels is pushing down on Sakuraba's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sakuraba is fighting to maintain full guard but Daniels has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sakuraba moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Sakuraba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Daniels gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Daniels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Daniels shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sakuraba is trying to defend but Daniels finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Daniels tries to pass to full mount but Sakuraba defends it.
Sakuraba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Daniels trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuraba lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Daniels!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Daniels. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels tries to hold on but Sakuraba postures up.

Sakuraba has control of Daniels's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Daniels regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Sakuraba is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Daniels to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Daniels shrugs it off.
Sakuraba trying to control but Daniels is having none of it.

Sakuraba swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Daniels is now in Sakuraba's guard. A big mistake from Sakuraba there, giving up the dominant position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Daniels is one step ahead there.

Daniels thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakuraba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Daniels's guard.
Daniels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakuraba trying to control but Daniels is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Daniels can do anything to dispel that myth.

Sakuraba thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba drops back looking for a leg! Daniels is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Daniels manages to kick Sakuraba off! Sakuraba jumps back into Daniels's guard.
Daniels wants to sweep here but Sakuraba controlling him for the moment.
Sakuraba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Daniels swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Daniels wants to sweep but no luck.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Daniels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakuraba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Daniels counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sakuraba's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels pushing down on Sakuraba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Daniels is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba trying to hold on to Daniels's head to control him but Daniels postures up.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like Daniels is going to stand back up.
Daniels perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Daniels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Daniels 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Daniels!