PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryu Nakumura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nakumura
vs
Sakuraba

182 cm
18
173 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
183 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryu Nakumura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakumura darts in and clinches Sakuraba up against the cage.
Nakumura lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nakumura unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nakumura lands a left hand.
Sakuraba is looking to break free of the clinch but Nakumura has double underhooks.
Sakuraba's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A knee to the head by Nakumura.
Sakuraba goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nakumura prevents it.
Nakumura pressing his opponent against the cage.
Nakumura connects with a knee to the head.
Nakumura fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sakuraba is trying to force a seperation but Nakumura has the dominant position.
A short right from Nakumura on the inside.
Nakumura has Sakuraba pressed against the cage, preventing Sakuraba from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nakumura scores with a knee to the head.
Sakuraba wants a takedown.
Nakumura misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nakumura pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ryu Nakumura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Nakumura is looking to land body kicks.
Nakumura wants to clinch.
Nakumura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sakuraba takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nakumura tries to clinch but Sakuraba is having none of it.

Nakumura closes the distance and clinches.
Nakumura controlling the action here for a moment.
Sakuraba drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nakumura pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that Nakumura avoids nicely.

Nakumura clinches with his opponent.
Nakumura lands a nice knee to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Nakumura.
Nakumura'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.
Nakumura crunches a lovely knee into Sakuraba's ribcage.
Nakumura lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sakuraba takes an elbow to the temple.
Sakuraba is trying to push Nakumura away but Nakumura has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nakumura landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
A short left from Nakumura.
Nakumura holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Nakumura.
Nakumura lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nakumura crunches a lovely knee into Sakuraba's ribcage.
Nakumura connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.
Nakumura taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nakumura throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nakumura lands an elbow inside.
A shot in the inside from Nakumura.
Nakumura stalling in the clinch.
Nakumura presses Sakuraba against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nakumura with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nakumura lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Sakuraba is trying to break free.
Nakumura lands an elbow inside that Sakuraba shrugs off.
Nakumura with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Nakumura - that landed with a thud.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sakuraba.
Nakumura displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sakuraba up against the cage.
Sakuraba is trying to drag Nakumura to the mat but Nakumura just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nakumura lands an elbow just above Sakuraba 's eye.
Nakumura avoiding damage.
Nakumura swings wildly with an uppercut but Sakuraba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nakumura misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nakumura landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nakumura has Sakuraba pushed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Nakumura dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nakumura tries to clinch there but Sakuraba circles away.
Nakumura stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakuraba. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
No joy there for Sakuraba, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nakumura throws a head kick but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Nakumura connects with a high kick.
Nakumura throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Nakumura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nakumura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nakumura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuraba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ryu Nakumura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakumura is looking to clinch.
Sakuraba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nakumura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Nakumura.
Nakumura tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuraba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nakumura tries to clinch but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Nakumura wants to clinch but Sakuraba slips to the side

and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown. Nakumura fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sakuraba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakumura swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nakumura trying to keep a closed guard but Sakuraba is proving a slippery customer.
Sakuraba pushing down on Nakumura's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nakumura on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nakumura tries to get out of the position.
Sakuraba is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nakumura tries to reverse the position but Sakuraba maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking to secure an arm triangle but Nakumura defends it well.

Sakuraba looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nakumura slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nakumura defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba thows a huge punch but Nakumura dodges it nicely.

Sakuraba in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Nakumura tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Sakuraba!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kazushi Sakuraba!