PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bubba Willis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hanamichi Sakuragi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sakuragi
vs
Willis

167 cm
19
134 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bubba Willis!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuragi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Willis but Willis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sakuragi shoots in looking for a takedown but Willis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sakuragi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hanamichi Sakuragi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Willis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sakuragi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hanamichi Sakuragi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuragi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Willis avoids it really well and circles away.

Willis gets the takedown into side control.
Willis is chipping away with strikes.
Check out the look on Willis's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Willis tries to advance to mount but Sakuragi denies him.

Willis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Willis lands a nice forearm strike.
Sakuragi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Willis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sakuragi sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sakuragi is looking for a sweep. Willis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Willis seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi tries to get to full guard but Willis has control of the leg.
Sakuragi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sakuragi looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuragi, not yet.
Willis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sakuragi is working hard here to advance position.
Sakuragi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Willis trying to control but Sakuragi is working from the bottom.
Sakuragi wants to sweep here but Willis controlling him for the moment.
Willis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sakuragi keeping moving, preventing Willis from controlling successfully.
Willis won't allow Sakuragi to sweep him here.
Sakuragi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sakuragi pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Willis throwing hammer fists to the chest of Sakuragi. What's that going to do exactly?

Sakuragi swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Willis is now in Sakuragi's guard. A big mistake from Sakuragi there, giving up the dominant position!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuragi wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuragi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sakuragi wants to improve his position but instead Willis has moved into half guard.
Sakuragi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sakuragi looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuragi, not yet.

Sakuragi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Willis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Willis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sakuragi is breathing heavily.
Willis forces his way into half guard.
Sakuragi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Willis scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sakuragi tries to roll over but Willis keeps him under control.

Willis is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sakuragi is just riding it out for now. Willis eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willis prevents Sakuragi from improving his position.
Sakuragi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sakuragi.
Willis tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuragi is retaining full guard.
Sakuragi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Willis is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sakuragi wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Willis dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Willis clinches.
Sakuragi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Willis pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sakuragi with a poor takedown

and Willis counters with a shoot takedown. Sakuragi fights it but they end up in guard.
Willis slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sakuragi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sakuragi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sakuragi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Willis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Willis connects with a couple of short punches.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakuragi is on top in guard.
Sakuragi preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Willis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakuragi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakuragi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sakuragi tries to free his leg and advance position but Willis is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Willis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakuragi looking to pass the guard.

Sakuragi 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.
Sakuragi looking to pass the guard.
Willis wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two 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.
Sakuragi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Willis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuragi is aware though and is defending well.
Sakuragi passes into half guard.
Sakuragi moves into full mount! Willis won't be happy about that!
Bubba Willis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakuragi wants to take his opponent's back but Willis doesn't allow it.
Sakuragi takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Sakuragi working for a choke but Willis is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuragi is looking for the choke from the back position but Willis is controlling his hands well.

Sakuragi is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Willis defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Sakuragi looking for the choke but no joy.
Willis trying to control the hands but Sakuragi won't let him.

Sakuragi working for a choke but Willis is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Willis tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakuragi is working for a rear naked choke. Willis is not defending it well and Sakuragi has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Willis refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Willis's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Hanamichi Sakuragi!