PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Danny Napper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Napper
vs
Sakuraba

190 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Nutrition Oracle

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, Danny Napper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
Napper slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that Napper avoids nicely.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
A jab from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba throws a nice looking combination but Napper bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba throws a jab when Napper was well out of range.
Sakuraba misses with a few strikes there.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that Napper avoids nicely.
Sakuraba misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Napper looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Napper wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.
Sakuraba wants to stand up but Napper is controlling him.
Napper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Napper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Napper pushing down on Sakuraba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Napper passes to side control.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Napper wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sakuraba, who protects the arm well.
Napper misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sakuraba is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

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

Napper is trying to get an arm triangle but Sakuraba is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Napper is controlling him well.

Napper is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sakuraba knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Napper in side control, throwing shots but Sakuraba defends.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The strikes coming from Napper are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four 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.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.

Napper is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sakuraba has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sakuraba defending against the ground and pound.

Napper goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sakuraba rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Napper's guard! Nice work there by Sakuraba!
Napper trying to strike off his back.
Sakuraba has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Napper is proving hard to escape from.

Sakuraba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sakuraba is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Napper has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Sakuraba is looking to defend but Napper has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Sakuraba! Napper pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Sakuraba taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Danny Napper!