PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryo Sakazaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Walsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Dean Walsh was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Sakazaki
vs
Walsh

179 cm
19
165 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

180 cm
18
156 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

HeavyWeight Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryo Sakazaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dean Walsh!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Eliza Hachem and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walsh misses with a takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sakazaki lets loose with a powerful body kick. Walsh will feel that in the morning.
Walsh looks for a takedown but Sakazaki sprawls well.
Sakazaki pushes Walsh away with a front kick.
Walsh takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Dean Walsh has been cut.
Sakazaki jabs Walsh right on the nose. Walsh blinks but takes it well.
A combination from Walsh does no damage.
Walsh looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Walsh tries for a takedown but Sakazaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ryo Sakazaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Walsh.
Sakazaki scores with a head kick. Walsh tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Walsh shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sakazaki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Walsh jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sakazaki manages to avoid the submission attempt.

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

Walsh tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Walsh has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Walsh working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Walsh crashes against the mat.
Walsh trying to control the action but Sakazaki is working from the bottom.
Sakazaki being controlled for a moment.
Walsh has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Sakazaki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Walsh on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sakazaki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Walsh has hold of Sakazaki's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sakazaki manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Walsh tries to control but Sakazaki wriggling away.
Walsh is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Walsh has control of Sakazaki's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Sakazaki regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Sakazaki holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Walsh tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Walsh putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Walsh working for a guillotine from mount but Sakazaki is in no mood to give up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakazaki wants to control but Walsh is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Walsh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dean Walsh's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sakazaki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Walsh.
Walsh looks for a takedown but Sakazaki sprawls well.
Sakazaki misses with a head kick.

Walsh is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sakazaki's half guard.
Walsh throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Walsh wants to control but Sakazaki is keeping him busy.
Walsh thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Walsh is looking to advance position but Sakazaki won't allow it.
Walsh not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walsh has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Walsh goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Sakazaki turns into him and now he's in Walsh's guard.
Walsh has a closed guard, preventing Sakazaki from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakazaki won't allow Walsh to sweep him here.
Sakazaki wants to pass the guard but Walsh is keeping the position.
Walsh has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Walsh is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Walsh sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sakazaki defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakazaki is not content to let Walsh control the position.

Walsh is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakazaki sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakazaki won't allow Walsh to pass to mount.
Walsh stalling.
Walsh missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Walsh wants to control but Sakazaki is keeping him busy.
Walsh missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sakazaki tries to kick Walsh off but Walsh keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Walsh slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sakazaki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Walsh.
Walsh is looking to take a break and control but Sakazaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Walsh throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Walsh is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sakazaki is trying to escape back to his feet but Walsh uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Walsh is looking to take a break and control but Sakazaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Walsh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dean Walsh's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Sakazaki.
Sakazaki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Walsh shoots for a takedown but Sakazaki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sakazaki throws a sloppy head kick and Walsh moves out of range easily.
Sakazaki lands a head kick. Walsh smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Walsh throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sakazaki counters with a body kick.
Walsh tries to clinch up
and Sakazaki counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakazaki throws a sloppy head kick and Walsh moves out of range easily.
Sakazaki throws a low kick but Walsh moves out of range easily.

Walsh shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Sakazaki is defending against the submission attempts here by Walsh.
Walsh uses his free foot to push down on Sakazaki's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sakazaki.
Walsh can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakazaki is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Walsh is working for a guillotine from mount but Sakazaki frees his head quite easily.
Walsh wants to control the pace but Sakazaki is squirming around nicely.

Walsh wants to finish this one by submission but Sakazaki is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Walsh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walsh tries to control but Sakazaki wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walsh looking for a guillotine from mount but Sakazaki is having none of it.
Ryo Sakazaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Walsh looking to secure an arm triangle but Sakazaki defends it well.
Walsh trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dean Walsh is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakazaki squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Walsh thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Walsh takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Walsh prevents Sakazaki from getting the reversal.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Walsh moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sakazaki has worked his arm free - good work by Sakazaki!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dean Walsh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Walsh 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 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dean Walsh!