PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Mashio (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.

Mashio
vs
Sakuraba

179 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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, Max Mashio!
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 Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mashio counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sakuraba won't be happy with that.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sakuraba manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Sakuraba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura here.

Sakuraba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mashio doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakuraba.
Mashio wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Mashio is defending against the submission attempts here by Sakuraba.
Mashio is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mashio is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakuraba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakuraba's back!

Mashio is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Sakuraba can't escape the position.

Mashio working for the choke.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakuraba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Mashio working for a submission but Sakuraba is keeping him at bay.
Sakuraba is desperately trying to improve his position but Mashio has a good base and remains in mount.

Mashio working for a submission but Sakuraba is keeping him at bay.

Mashio with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mashio throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mashio wants to control the pace but Sakuraba is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba is looking to get to half guard.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
Mashio looking to control and managing it successfully.

Mashio has control of Sakuraba's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Sakuraba regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Mashio is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sakuraba has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mashio passes to side control.

Mashio tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sakuraba tries to bench press Mashio off him but Mashio keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mashio thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Mashio is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sakuraba has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mashio off and has taken his back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mashio breaks Sakuraba's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Mashio got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sakuraba has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mashio has managed to get both his arms back between Sakuraba's legs - danger averted.
Mashio passes Sakuraba's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mashio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Mashio dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mashio shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sakuraba but Sakuraba pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sakuraba with a poor takedown

and Mashio counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back.

Sakuraba is defending against the submission attempts here by Mashio.

Sakuraba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Max Mashio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sakuraba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.

Mashio is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mashio is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakuraba sees it coming and defends easily.

Mashio is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Sakuraba is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Max Mashio!