PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sika Jauheliha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba comes to the cage accompanied by speed TK Remix. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sakuraba
vs
Jauheliha

183 cm
26
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
26
180 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sika Jauheliha!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Hugh Johnson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jauheliha counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Jauheliha instigates a clinch.
Sakuraba goes for a takedown attempt but Jauheliha pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jauheliha misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakuraba takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jauheliha forces Sakuraba back against the cage and clinches.
Jauheliha scores with a knee to the head.
Jauheliha controlling the action here for a moment.
Sakuraba takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Kazushi Sakuraba has been cut.
Jauheliha just leaning against Sakuraba, taking a breather.
Jauheliha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.
Jauheliha'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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sika Jauheliha.
Jauheliha throws a leg kick which misses Sakuraba's front leg but catches the back leg as Sakuraba tries to avoid it.
Sakuraba on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Jauheliha. Jauheliha obviously looking to wear him down.
Sakuraba blocks a head kick by Jauheliha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jauheliha chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Jauheliha lands a big head kick that sends Sakuraba tumbling to the mat! Jauheliha takes a step backwards and waves Sakuraba back to his feet - he wants the finish!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Jauheliha rushes Sakuraba and presses him up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Jauheliha.
Sakuraba takes a knee right on the jaw!

Kazushi Sakuraba's cut is getting worse.
The referee calls for Jauheliha to work.
Sakuraba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jauheliha walks away with a smile on his face. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jauheliha misses with the combination.
Jauheliha cracks the inside of Sakuraba's front leg.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jauheliha'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.
Jauheliha landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jauheliha landing knees to the body.
Jauheliha with a knee to the head.
Jauheliha unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jauheliha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.
Jauheliha connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jauheliha connects with a knee to the head.
Jauheliha landing knees to the head.
Jauheliha unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jauheliha scores a nice knee to the body.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The referee calls for Jauheliha to work.
Jauheliha lands a good knee to the midsection. Sakuraba won't want to take too many of those.
Jauheliha with a knee to the head.

Kazushi Sakuraba's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Jauheliha lands an elbow just above Sakuraba 's eye.
Jauheliha content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Jauheliha using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Jauheliha throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jauheliha gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Jauheliha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.
Jauheliha is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sakuraba tries to score a body lock takedown but Jauheliha shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jauheliha scores a nice knee to the body.
Jauheliha scores with a knee to the head.
Sakuraba is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jauheliha pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jauheliha using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jauheliha just leaning against Sakuraba, taking a breather.
Jauheliha prevents the takedown attempt.
Jauheliha landing knees to the head.
Jauheliha connects with a knee to the head.
Sakuraba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jauheliha walks away with a smile on his face. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jauheliha cracks a nice hook into Sakuraba's ribs.

Jauheliha rushes Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jauheliha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jauheliha gets underhooks to prevent Sakuraba's takedown attempt.
Jauheliha taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jauheliha connects with a knee to the head.
Sakuraba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jauheliha avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jauheliha scores with a knee to the head.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the body.
Jauheliha unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sakuraba goes for a takedown attempt but Jauheliha pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jauheliha lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jauheliha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jauheliha tries to score with a low kick but Sakuraba moves his leg out of the way.
Sakuraba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jauheliha circles away.
Jauheliha lands a high kick!
Sakuraba with a poor takedown
and Jauheliha counters with a leg kick.
Jauheliha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice body kick from Jauheliha.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt.

Jauheliha closes the distance and pushes Sakuraba back into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jauheliha controlling the action here for a moment.
Sakuraba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jauheliha gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sika Jauheliha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Sakuraba's cut.
That's time! Sakuraba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jauheliha lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Jauheliha.
Jauheliha lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Jauheliha.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Jauheliha.

Jauheliha has closed the distance and engaged Sakuraba in a clinch.
Jauheliha with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jauheliha content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Jauheliha.
Jauheliha scores with a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jauheliha - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Jauheliha continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A knee to the head by Jauheliha.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jauheliha.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee calls for Jauheliha to work.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jauheliha has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jauheliha effectively controlling the action here.
Sakuraba wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jauheliha effectively controlling the action here.
Sakuraba has Jauheliha pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jauheliha manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sakuraba is trying to break the clinch but Jauheliha is controlling him.
Jauheliha with a knee to the head.
Jauheliha unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakuraba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Sakuraba. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Jauheliha unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jauheliha lands a nice knee to the body.
Jauheliha leaning his opponent against the cage.
Jauheliha scores a nice knee to the body.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jauheliha misses with an elbow strike.
Sakuraba can't get the takedown.
Jauheliha with a knee to the head.
Sakuraba tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jauheliha avoids it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jauheliha obliges.
Sakuraba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jauheliha gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sakuraba is trying to drag Jauheliha to the mat but Jauheliha just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nice elbow from Jauheliha.
Jauheliha lands a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jauheliha'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.
Sakuraba is looking to break free of the clinch but Jauheliha has double underhooks.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the head.
Jauheliha misses with a knee to the head.
Sakuraba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jauheliha smiles and moves away.

Jauheliha fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sakuraba, pushing him back against the cage.
Jauheliha lands an elbow that stopped Sakuraba in his tracks for a moment.
Jauheliha is stalling here.
Sakuraba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jauheliha walks away with a smile on his face. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jauheliha as he jumps to the side.
Sika Jauheliha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jauheliha forces Sakuraba back against the cage and clinches.
Jauheliha scores with a knee to the head.
Sakuraba goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jauheliha prevents it.
Jauheliha lands a good knee to the midsection. Sakuraba won't want to take too many of those.
Sakuraba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jauheliha walks away with a smile on his face. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba tries to keep at a distance but Jauheliha has taken the fight into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Jauheliha.

Jeez, Kazushi Sakuraba's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Jauheliha leaning against his opponent.
Sakuraba jumps guard but Jauheliha stands there with Sakuraba around his waist. Sakuraba gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Jauheliha.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jauheliha.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the body.
Come on Jauheliha - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jauheliha prevents the takedown attempt.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Jauheliha.
Jauheliha landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sakuraba looking to slow down the pace here.
Sakuraba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jauheliha scores with a knee to the head.
Jauheliha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jauheliha lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Jauheliha lands a good knee to the midsection. Sakuraba won't want to take too many of those.
Sakuraba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jauheliha gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but Jauheliha holds him up against the cage and eventually Sakuraba drops back down to his feet.
A knee to the head by Jauheliha.
Sakuraba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sakuraba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jauheliha avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Jauheliha.
Sakuraba tries to break the clinch but Jauheliha is controlling the position.
Jauheliha pushes Sakuraba back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Jauheliha prevents Sakuraba from breaking the clinch.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sakuraba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Jauheliha tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jauheliha looking to throw knees to the head but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jauheliha landing knees to the head.
Jauheliha has Sakuraba pressed against the cage.
Sakuraba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jauheliha walks away with a smile on his face. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sakuraba fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jauheliha checks it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sika Jauheliha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Sakuraba'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. This is the final round!

Jauheliha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Jauheliha.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Sakuraba lands a nice shot that snaps Jauheliha's head back.
Sakuraba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Jauheliha clinches up against the cage.
Sakuraba can't get the takedown.
Jauheliha stalling.
Sakuraba fails to pull guard.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Jauheliha.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but Jauheliha won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jauheliha pressing his opponent against the cage.
Jauheliha looking to throw knees to the head but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Jauheliha landing knees to the head.
Sakuraba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jauheliha smiles and moves away.
Jauheliha throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jauheliha connects with a leg kick. Sakuraba looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jauheliha misses with a body kick.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt
and Jauheliha counters with a thumping low kick.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Jauheliha.

Jauheliha gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jauheliha - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but Jauheliha holds him up against the cage and eventually Sakuraba drops back down to his feet.
Jauheliha using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sakuraba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jauheliha smiles and moves away.
Jauheliha tries to score with a low kick but Sakuraba moves his leg out of the way.
Sika Jauheliha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuraba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jauheliha scoring well with a low kick there.
Sakuraba keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sakuraba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jauheliha avoids it really well and circles away.
Sakuraba blocks a head kick by Jauheliha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jauheliha closes the distance and clinches.
Jauheliha taking a breather.
Jauheliha is leaning against Sakuraba and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but Jauheliha holds him up against the cage and eventually Sakuraba drops back down to his feet.
Jauheliha prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jauheliha landing knees to the head.
Jauheliha lands a nice knee to the body.
Jauheliha putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakuraba in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Jauheliha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.
Sika Jauheliha seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Jauheliha lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sakuraba wants a takedown.
Sakuraba swings wildly with an uppercut but Jauheliha uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakuraba takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sakuraba on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jauheliha prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sakuraba is trying to drag Jauheliha to the mat but Jauheliha just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jauheliha crunches a lovely knee into Sakuraba's ribcage.
Jauheliha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.
Jauheliha pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakuraba leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jauheliha as Sakuraba tries to tie him up.

Sakuraba lands a takedown into guard.
Jauheliha wants to get back to his feet but Sakuraba is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakuraba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Jauheliha scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sika Jauheliha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Jauheliha sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jauheliha dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sakuraba. That did some damage!
Jauheliha lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a head kick but Jauheliha moves out of range.
Jauheliha throws a leg kick which misses Sakuraba's front leg but catches the back leg as Sakuraba tries to avoid it.
Sika Jauheliha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jauheliha jabs at Sakuraba's body.
Jauheliha scores with a head kick. Sakuraba tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Jauheliha looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jauheliha throws a head kick that misses.
Jauheliha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sakuraba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sakuraba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sakuraba looks for the body kick but Jauheliha saw that one coming.
Jauheliha lands a leg kick that knocks Sakuraba off balance momentarily.
Jauheliha throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Jauheliha lands a leg kick that knocks Sakuraba off balance momentarily.
Jauheliha connects with a leg kick. Sakuraba looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jauheliha checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A nice leg kick lands there from Jauheliha.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sika Jauheliha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jauheliha 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 John Mangel scores the fight 25:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 25:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sika Jauheliha!