PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and He Me (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Me is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hate Me Now. He Me is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sakurai
vs
Me

184 cm
19
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
175 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent knees
Knockout power

Zentrope Fighting Universe

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kazushi Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, He Me!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Hugh Johnson and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Me connects with a high kick.

It looks like Kazushi Sakurai has been cut.
Me blocks a jab.
Me doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakurai circles away.
Me wants to clinch up but Sakurai keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Me looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
He Me seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakurai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Me circles away.
Me is looking to clinch.
Sakurai lunges at Me with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Me's hand.
Me wants to clinch up but Sakurai keeps it at a distance.
Me tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakurai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Me as he jumps to the side.

Sakurai looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Me trying to control here.
Me moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Sakurai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sakurai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Me is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Me is not content to let Sakurai control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Sakurai is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Me knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sakurai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Me is not content to let Sakurai control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sakurai taking a break here but Me is having none of it and regains half guard.
Sakurai is pressing down on Me's thigh, looking to free his foot. Me is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sakurai controlling the action here.

Sakurai is trying to work for a kimura but Me is defending well.
Sakurai is looking to advance position but Me won't allow it.
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 Kazushi Sakurai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Sakurai's cut.
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.

Sakurai lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Me lands a front kick.
Me tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sakurai looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sakurai wants to pass the guard but Me is keeping the position.
Sakurai trying to control but Me is working from the bottom.
Sakurai is looking to work some ground and pound but Me has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Me has Sakurai pulled in close to control his posture.

Sakurai 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.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Me can do anything to dispel that myth.

Sakurai drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakurai jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sakurai drops back looking for a leg! Me is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Me manages to kick Sakurai off! Sakurai jumps back into Me's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sakurai circles away from the clinch attempt.

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.
Me is looking to clinch but Sakurai is avoiding it.
Me tries to clinch up.
Me moves away from the strike by Sakurai.
Me throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakurai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Me. Me obviously looking to wear him down.
Me lands a jab.
Sakurai connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Me catches Sakurai with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Me misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakurai.
Me tries to clinch there but Sakurai circles away.
Me tries to clinch there but Sakurai circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Me looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakurai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai circles away from the clinch attempt.
Me tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakurai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Sakurai.
Sakurai takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
The fight stays on the outside here - Me looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Me throws a nice looking combination but Sakurai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Me tries to clinch but Sakurai moves out of range.
Me wants to clinch up but Sakurai keeps it at a distance.
Me tries to clinch up but Sakurai circles away and keeps his distance.
Me tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakurai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakurai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Me defends it nicely.
Me tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakurai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Me tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakurai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Me tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A looping hook to the body misses from Me. Sakurai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Me is looking to clinch.
Me tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Me ducks under a wild hook from Sakurai.
Me fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kazushi Sakurai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Me tries to clinch up.
Me catches Sakurai with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Me lands with a kick to the ribs.
Me fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sakurai has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakurai throws a shot from downtown. Me moves away and avoids it.
Me tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakurai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

He Me showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Sakurai's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Me fails with an attempt to clinch.
Me is looking to clinch but Sakurai is avoiding it.
A right-left combo lands from Me.
Me is looking to clinch.
Me tries to clinch but Sakurai moves out of range.
Me throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Me tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakurai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Me throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakurai.
Me tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakurai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Me wants to clinch up but Sakurai keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Me fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sakurai keeps the fight on the outside.

Me rushes Sakurai and presses him up against the cage.
Me lands a nice knee to the body.
Me will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sakurai up against the cage.
Me tries a knee to the head but Sakurai blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Me landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Me with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Me lands a good knee to the midsection. Sakurai won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Me landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Me with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Me landing knees to the head.
Me lands a knee to the head.
Me lands a nice knee to the body.
Me using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sakurai has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sakurai is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Me gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sakurai tries to circle away but Me has him pinned against the cage.
Sakurai drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Me gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Me avoiding damage.
Me misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Me with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Me.
Me's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sakurai wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Sakurai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakurai is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Me pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sakurai is trying to drag Me to the mat but Me just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sakurai is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Me pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Me with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Me stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd are getting on Me's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Me connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Me.
A left hand lands to the body for Sakurai.
Sakurai has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Me avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Me using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Me tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Me connects with a knee to the head.
Sakurai letting Me take a breather here.
Sakurai dodges an elbow strike from Me.
Me misses with a knee to the head.
Me with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Me tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sakurai avoids it.
Sakurai is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Me gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sakurai tries for a takedown but Me manages to get underhooks.
Me tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Me just leaning against Sakurai, taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai tries to break free but Me pushes him back against the cage.
Sakurai tries to circle away but Me has him pinned against the cage.
Me tries to land a knee to the head but Sakurai blocks with his arms.
Sakurai has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Me avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Come on Me - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Me lands a knee to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Me just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sakurai's brow.
Me prevents the takedown attempt.
Me creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sakurai's defenses.
Sakurai has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Me avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Me.
Sakurai takes an elbow to the forehead.
Me lands a good knee to the midsection. Sakurai won't want to take too many of those.
Me is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Me throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sakurai blocks it with crossed arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
He Me comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Me has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... He Me!