PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ran Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Spackman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakamoto's entrance music is Wu tang tiger style. A fine choice. Spackman is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSWrepLjTKc&videos=gXE_R26bAm8&playnext=2. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sakamoto
vs
Spackman

173 cm
25
170 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

201 cm
26
177 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ran Sakamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dan Spackman!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakamoto defending well as Spackman loads up on a big left hand.
Sakamoto closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Spackman throws a right hand that Sakamoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakamoto also avoids with ease.
Sakamoto ducks under a wild hook from Spackman.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sakamoto.
Sakamoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Spackman.
Spackman throws a right hand that Sakamoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakamoto also avoids with ease.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Spackman.
Spackman tries to clinch but Sakamoto is having none of it.
Spackman catches Sakamoto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Spackman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Spackman tries to bum rush Sakamoto with a series of wild strikes but Sakamoto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sakamoto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spackman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sakamoto avoids it really well and circles away.
Spackman misses with a head kick.
Spackman throws a sloppy head kick and Sakamoto moves out of range easily.
Spackman dives in and grabs Sakamoto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakamoto pushes down on Spackman's head and hops out.
Sakamoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Spackman as he jumps to the side.
Spackman misses with a two punch combination.
Spackman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sakamoto.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ran Sakamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spackman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakamoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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.
Spackman throws a big shot that misses.
Spackman with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sakamoto counters with a single leg into guard. Spackman didn't expect that.
Spackman wants to sweep but no luck.

Sakamoto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Spackman managing to control the position.

Sakamoto drops back, looking for a kneebar! Spackman looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Spackman looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Spackman!
Spackman trying to control the position but Sakamoto is working away.
Spackman tries to move to mount but Sakamoto blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto is looking to regain half guard here but Spackman keeps moving and retains side control.
Spackman is looking to take a break and control but Sakamoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakamoto manages to work his way to half guard, despite Spackman's best efforts.
Sakamoto is staying active underneath Spackman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakamoto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spackman.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Spackman throws a series of punches but Sakamoto moves out of range.
Spackman is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Spackman looks gassed!
Sakamoto looks for a takedown but Spackman sprawls well.
Spackman throws a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spackman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spackman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Sakamoto counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Spackman looking for a sweep. Not yet Spackman, not yet.

Sakamoto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Spackman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Spackman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Sakamoto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakamoto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Spackman wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spackman controls Sakamoto momentarily but Sakamoto frees himself.
Spackman wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Spackman wants to clinch but Sakamoto slips to the side

and Sakamoto counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Spackman's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Spackman will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A head kick misses from Spackman.
Nice sprawl there from Sakamoto as Spackman shoots in.
Spackman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakamoto.
Spackman misses with a few strikes there.
A big left from Spackman misses.
Sakamoto avoids the head kick by Spackman.
Spackman misses with a few strikes there.
Spackman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Spackman wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spackman misses with a wild combination.
Spackman is breathing heavily.
Spackman tries to work over Sakamoto's front leg with a kick but Sakamoto checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spackman misses with a combination

and Sakamoto counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Sakamoto drops back looking for a leg! Spackman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Spackman manages to kick Sakamoto off! Sakamoto jumps back into Spackman's guard.
Sakamoto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sakamoto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Spackman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sakamoto has Spackman in his guard.
Sakamoto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Spackman controls the pace.

Sakamoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Spackman is aware though and is defending well.

Sakamoto looking for a guillotine here but Spackman defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spackman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Spackman forces his way into half guard.
Spackman is taking a breather. Sakamoto says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Spackman looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Spackman seems content to control.
Sakamoto wants to get back to full guard.
Well, if Spackman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Spackman lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spackman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Sakamoto actively working from the bottom here.
Spackman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Spackman scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Spackman scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Spackman wants to free his trapped foot but Sakamoto is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Spackman controlling the action here.
Sakamoto wants to get back to full guard.
Spackman works his foot free and advances to mount.
Spackman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakamoto is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sakamoto is working hard here to advance position.
Sakamoto taking shots to the head.
Spackman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sakamoto?
Spackman lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sakamoto regains half guard.

Sakamoto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan Spackman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Spackman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sakamoto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Spackman misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakamoto shoots in but Spackman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dan Spackman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Spackman scores a takedown into full mount!
Spackman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakamoto is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spackman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakamoto is looking to escape.
Sakamoto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sakamoto is not content to let Spackman control the position.

Sakamoto actively working from the bottom here.
Still in half guard, Spackman seems content to control.

Sakamoto actively working from the bottom here.
Spackman is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Spackman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Spackman keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.

Sakamoto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Spackman slows the pace down in half guard.
Sakamoto has hold of Spackman's hands but Spackman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Sakamoto actively working from the bottom here.
Spackman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Spackman lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sakamoto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spackman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sakamoto is looking to get to half guard.
Dan Spackman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakamoto takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Spackman with good strikes from the mount here!
Spackman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Spackman controlling from the full mount.
Ran Sakamoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Spackman looking to control but Sakamoto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Spackman is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Spackman is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sakamoto to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sakamoto shrugs it off.
Ran Sakamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakamoto is trying to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Spackman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Spackman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Spackman!