PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

henderson
vs
Sakuraba

197 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ben henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
henderson closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuraba, looking for a takedown. henderson pushes Sakuraba against the cage but Sakuraba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Sakuraba darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sakuraba tries to pass to full mount but henderson defends it.
henderson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakuraba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakuraba's back!
Sakuraba trying to control but not successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
henderson missing with strikes from the back.
Sakuraba trying to control the action but henderson just sinks the hooks in.
henderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
henderson controlling well, preventing Sakuraba from escaping the position.
Sakuraba looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
henderson wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Sakuraba just trying to survive but henderson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Sakuraba tries to escape but henderson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
henderson somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Sakuraba is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by henderson.
Sakuraba trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Will henderson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Sakuraba is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sakuraba staying busy and making it hard for henderson to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
henderson is riding his opponent, not letting Sakuraba buck him off.
henderson tries to keep control of the position but Sakuraba is staying busy.

henderson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Sakuraba is trying to break free.
Sakuraba looking very determined here, making life difficult for henderson.

henderson looking to break Sakuraba's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Sakuraba remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise henderson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
henderson is breathing heavily.
henderson wants to control but Sakuraba manages to buck him off and is now in henderson's guard! Nice work there by Sakuraba!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking to work some ground and pound but henderson has wrist control.
Sakuraba seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Sakuraba drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakuraba jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
henderson keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.

Sakuraba got a little sloppy there for a moment and henderson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sakuraba has managed to get both his arms back between henderson's legs - danger averted.

henderson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sakuraba defends it easily.
Sakuraba connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
henderson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sakuraba is wriggling around trying to escape.
henderson looking to finish Sakuraba with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sakuraba!
Sakuraba tries to reverse the position but henderson maintains control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sakuraba tries to lock up and control but henderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
henderson looking to control but Sakuraba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

henderson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Sakuraba turns into him and now he's in henderson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ben henderson will probably get the nod.
That's time! henderson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

henderson misses with a takedown attempt

and Sakuraba holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

henderson manages to pull guard.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

henderson 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.

Sakuraba decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on henderson, up you get!
Sakuraba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but henderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
henderson fails with the takedown

and Sakuraba counters by moving into the clinch.
henderson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sakuraba pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba throws a sloppy head kick and henderson moves out of range easily.
henderson avoids the head kick by Sakuraba.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakuraba lands a right hook to the body.
Sakuraba throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba 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.
henderson being controlled here, momentarily.
Sakuraba must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
henderson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sakuraba!
Sakuraba prevents henderson from taking his back.
Sakuraba wants to control but henderson is having none of it.
henderson moves to back control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

henderson looking for the choke from the back.
Sakuraba rolls, trying to escape but henderson keeps control of the position.
henderson wants to control the position but Sakuraba frees himself and scrambles - henderson manages to regain control in side control.
henderson trying to control the action but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.

henderson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sakuraba rolls with the submission and now he's on top in henderson's guard! Nice work there by Sakuraba!

henderson is working an open guard so Sakuraba takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ben henderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

henderson shoots in and bounces Sakuraba off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
henderson won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing henderson from controlling successfully.
henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuraba swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to hit a scissor sweep but henderson is one step ahead there.
Sakuraba pulls henderson in close to prevent any damage.
henderson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sakuraba is looking to stand up but henderson isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
henderson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sakuraba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

henderson shoots and misses

and Sakuraba counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sakuraba slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
henderson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sakuraba off and has taken his back!
henderson controlling from the back.

henderson looking for the RNC.
Sakuraba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakuraba tries to lock up and control but henderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sakuraba is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but henderson is staying active.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
henderson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakuraba is looking to escape.
henderson with the ground and pound from mount.
Sakuraba is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! henderson has taken his back!
Sakuraba can't escape the position.

henderson has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Sakuraba has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Sakuraba showing good submission defense here.
henderson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
henderson controlling the position well here. Sakuraba rolled but henderson kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
henderson gets his hands free as Sakuraba looks to control.
Can Sakuraba hold on?! henderson is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
henderson has good solid back control here.
henderson throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to get back to his feet but henderson is in full control for now.
Sakuraba trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

henderson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
henderson trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
henderson misses with punches from the back.
Sakuraba is keeping busy.
henderson is trying to stick to Sakuraba's back but Sakuraba is turning into henderson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in henderson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Sakuraba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
henderson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
henderson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakuraba's guard.

henderson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
henderson content to stall in guard here.
henderson trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ben henderson.
I think henderson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kazushi Sakuraba!