PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Donald Mastadon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hanamichi Sakuragi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mastadon
vs
Sakuragi

178 cm
20
170 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

200 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Donald Mastadon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuragi throws a sloppy head kick and Mastadon moves out of range easily.
Mastadon shoots in for a double leg but Sakuragi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Mastadon throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sakuragi was covering up waiting for the punch and Mastadon finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mastadon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sakuragi trying to control the position here.
Mastadon is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Donald Mastadon.
Sakuragi swinging wildly here.

Mastadon looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mastadon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi is looking for a sweep. Mastadon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mastadon with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sakuragi trying to control from the bottom.
Sakuragi tries to get to full guard but Mastadon has control of the leg.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Donald Mastadon.
Mastadon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sakuragi as he jumps to the side.
Mastadon shoots for a takedown but Sakuragi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donald Mastadon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Sakuragi misses.

Mastadon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sakuragi is looking to reverse the position.
Sakuragi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The referee asks Mastadon politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Mastadon prefers to stall for the moment though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakuragi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sakuragi wants to control but Mastadon postures up.
Mastadon remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Sakuragi can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mastadon controlling the position from side mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Donald Mastadon.
Sakuragi leaves Mastadon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mastadon is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sakuragi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mastadon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sakuragi tries to work over Mastadon's front leg with a kick but Mastadon checks it.
Mastadon fails with the takedown.
Sakuragi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mastadon.
No luck for Mastadon with that takedown attempt.
Sakuragi throws a head kick that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Sakuragi as Mastadon shoots in.
Sakuragi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sakuragi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakuragi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mastadon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sakuragi as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mastadon closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuragi, looking for a takedown. Mastadon pushes Sakuragi against the cage but Sakuragi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mastadon is breathing heavily.
Mastadon moves away from the strike by Sakuragi.
Sakuragi tries to land a front kick but Mastadon steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mastadon blocks a head kick by Sakuragi.
Sakuragi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sakuragi wants it to stay on the feet.
A combination from Sakuragi does no damage.
Sakuragi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mastadon ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sakuragi misses with a body kick.
Sakuragi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mastadon avoids the head kick by Sakuragi.
Sakuragi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sakuragi wants it to stay on the feet.
Mastadon shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakuragi sprawls well. He's pushed Mastadon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mastadon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi throws a body kick that misses.
Hanamichi Sakuragi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mastadon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakuragi.
Sakuragi misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakuragi tries to score with a low kick but Mastadon moves his leg out of the way.
Sakuragi throws a right hand that Mastadon ducks under and follows up with a left that Mastadon also avoids with ease.
Mastadon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakuragi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Mastadon shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mastadon was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mastadon controlling from the full mount.
Mastadon prevents Sakuragi from getting the reversal.
Mastadon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sakuragi tries to hold on but Mastadon pushes him away.
Mastadon controlling the position easily from mount.
Sakuragi tries to hold on but Mastadon pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donald Mastadon dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mastadon avoids the body shot from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mastadon shoots in and drives through. Sakuragi sprawls well.
A combination from Sakuragi does no damage.
Sakuragi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mastadon.
A thudding body kick lands there by Sakuragi!
Hanamichi Sakuragi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuragi misses the target.
Sakuragi misses with a body kick.
Mastadon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sakuragi tries to avoid it but Mastadon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sakuragi to the ground. Sakuragi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sakuragi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mastadon.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donald Mastadon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuragi scores with a body shot.
Sakuragi throws a head kick that misses.
Sakuragi misses with a kick to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mastadon.
Mastadon takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sakuragi throws a sloppy head kick and Mastadon moves out of range easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sakuragi.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakuragi throws a sloppy head kick and Mastadon moves out of range easily.
Mastadon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakuragi defends it nicely.
Mastadon tries for a takedown but Sakuragi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mastadon moves out of range of the strikes.
Sakuragi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mastadon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mastadon fails with the takedown.
Sakuragi looks to land a combination but Mastadon avoids it well.
Sakuragi swinging wildly here.
Sakuragi misses with an uppercut.
Sakuragi throws a head kick but Mastadon moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Sakuragi. No joy for Mastadon on that attempt.
Sakuragi looks for the body kick but Mastadon saw that one coming.
Mastadon avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mastadon dodges the punch combination from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi slaps away a takedown attempt from Mastadon, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sakuragi throws a leg kick but Mastadon checks it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sakuragi throws the kick towards the body but Mastadon avoids it.
Sakuragi throws a series of punches but Mastadon moves out of range.
Mastadon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakuragi is fending him off so far but Mastadon persists. Nope, Sakuragi circles away and we're back to standing.
Mastadon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakuragi.

Sakuragi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sakuragi looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi keeping moving, preventing Mastadon from controlling successfully.
Sakuragi is pulling down on Mastadon's head to control his posture.
Sakuragi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mastadon is one step ahead there.
Mastadon slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Donald Mastadon has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sakuragi looks for the body kick but Mastadon saw that one coming.
Sakuragi throws a sloppy head kick and Mastadon moves out of range easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sakuragi.
Mastadon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuragi swivels and escapes.
Sakuragi leaves Mastadon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sakuragi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Mastadon drives through with a takedown into Sakuragi's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mastadon passes Sakuragi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mastadon is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sakuragi trying to control here.
Sakuragi is trying to get back to full guard.
Mastadon controlling the action here.
Sakuragi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mastadon is working away from the top position though.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Donald Mastadon.
Mastadon shoots in for a takedown but Sakuragi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi stuffs the takedown attempt from Mastadon. Mastadon gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakuragi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mastadon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakuragi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sakuragi misses with a head kick.
Sakuragi throws a body kick that misses.
Mastadon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakuragi throws a right and a left that Mastadon avoids nicely.
Sakuragi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sakuragi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mastadon shoots for a takedown but Sakuragi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Mastadon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sakuragi sprawls well initially but Mastadon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sakuragi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sakuragi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mastadon is working away from the top position though.
Sakuragi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mastadon kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hanamichi Sakuragi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sakuragi misses with the combination.
Sakuragi misses with a double jab.

Mastadon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sakuragi sprawls well initially but Mastadon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mastadon is taking a breather. Sakuragi 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.
Donald Mastadon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakuragi is trying to maintain the position but Mastadon is very close to passing his half guard.
Sakuragi keeping control of the position.
Mastadon prevents Sakuragi from improving his position.
Sakuragi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sakuragi throws a nice head kick!
Mastadon shoots in for a takedown but Sakuragi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakuragi. Mastadon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sakuragi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mastadon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi takes a swing at Mastadon's ribcage but misses.

Mastadon shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sakuragi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mastadon is working away from the top position though.
Mastadon seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sakuragi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mastadon is working away from the top position though.
Mastadon with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sakuragi wants to get back to full guard.
Sakuragi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mastadon is working away from the top position though.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hanamichi Sakuragi was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Mastadon feints and as Sakuragi raises his hands in defense, Mastadon changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mastadon wants to pass the guard but Sakuragi is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi trying to keep a closed guard but Mastadon is proving a slippery customer.
Mastadon tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuragi is retaining full guard.
Sakuragi has his hands on Mastadon's head, controlling the position.
Sakuragi controls Mastadon momentarily but Mastadon frees himself.

Hanamichi Sakuragi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sakuragi misses with a series of wild punches.
Mastadon checks a leg kick nicely.
Mastadon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donald Mastadon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sakuragi. That's going to slow Mastadon down.
Sakuragi throws a leg kick but Mastadon sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sakuragi scoring well with a low kick there.
Mastadon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakuragi.

Mastadon shoots in and gets a takedown into Sakuragi's guard.
Mastadon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mastadon won't allow Sakuragi to sweep him here.
Mastadon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sakuragi looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuragi, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Donald Mastadon.

Mastadon feints and as Sakuragi raises his hands in defense, Mastadon changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mastadon is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sakuragi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mastadon is one step ahead there.
Mastadon forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Mastadon 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.
Sakuragi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sakuragi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mastadon is looking to get to half guard.
Sakuragi lands a big elbow.
Mastadon really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mastadon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee warns Mastadon that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sakuragi throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donald Mastadon showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mastadon has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donald Mastadon!