PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Jits (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Sakuraba
vs
Jits

180 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

200 cm
19
196 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Jits!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jits is looking to clinch.
Jits tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakuraba paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sakuraba is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jits's half guard.
Jits trying to control from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Sakuraba.
Jits makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jits.
Jits is trying to control the position but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sakuraba knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jits on the ground.
Sakuraba trying to control but Jits is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Sakuraba gets to his feet - Jits follows without any prompting.

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sakuraba was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Jits tries to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
Sakuraba content just to control the position here.
Jits tries to hold on but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba breaks from Jits's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Jits working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jits tries to hold on but Sakuraba postures up.
Jits is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Jits regains half guard.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Jits is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba is thwarting Jits's attempts to control the position.
Jits makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jits.
Sakuraba has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jits looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakuraba is one step ahead there.

Jits escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuraba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jits wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Jits looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jits looking to control.
Sakuraba has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jits is proving hard to escape from.

Jits is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Sakuraba rolls with it to try and escape but Jits cranks on the arm and Sakuraba is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Jits!