PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gouki Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Jibba Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sakuraba
vs
Jibba Junior

177 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gouki Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Jibba Junior!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jibba Junior will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Sakuraba misses.
Jibba Junior throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jibba Junior shoots in for a double leg but Sakuraba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jibba Junior throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Jibba Junior!

It looks like Gouki Sakuraba has been cut.
Jibba Junior is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Jibba Junior shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sakuraba eats them both and turns towards Jibba Junior to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sakuraba just misses with a punch to the body.
Jibba Junior throws a right hand that Sakuraba ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakuraba also avoids with ease.
Sakuraba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jibba Junior tries a head kick but it misses.
Sakuraba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from Jibba Junior. Those never looked like landing.
A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
Jibba Junior displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jibba Junior shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sakuraba throws a right hand that Jibba Junior ducks under and follows up with a left that Jibba Junior also avoids with ease.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sakuraba connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sakuraba misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakuraba misses with a low kick as Jibba Junior jumps back.
Jibba Junior throws a head kick but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Sakuraba misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jibba Junior connects with a crisp jab.
Jibba Junior shoots in but Sakuraba avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gouki Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Jibba Junior.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jibba Junior shoots in but Sakuraba avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
A swing and a miss from Jibba Junior.
Sakuraba bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Jibba Junior's head backwards.
Jibba Junior throws a jab when Sakuraba was well out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Sakuraba. Those never looked like landing.
Gouki Sakuraba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuraba's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sakuraba duly obliges.
Jibba Junior closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuraba, looking for a takedown. Jibba Junior pushes Sakuraba against the cage but Sakuraba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jibba Junior tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuraba swivels and escapes.
Jibba Junior looks gassed!
Sakuraba looks to score with a jab to the body but Jibba Junior is just out of range.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakuraba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuraba lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that Jibba Junior avoids nicely.
Sakuraba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
Jibba Junior bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Jibba Junior dodges the punch combination from Sakuraba.
Jibba Junior keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jibba Junior shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sakuraba sprawls well. Sakuraba wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jibba Junior gets slowly back to his feet.
Jibba Junior fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba lands with a straight right. Jibba Junior didn't see that one coming.
Jibba Junior will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Jibba Junior avoids it well.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut. Jibba Junior saw that one coming.
Jibba Junior throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Sakuraba throws a shot from downtown. Jibba Junior moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sakuraba tries to bum rush Jibba Junior with a series of wild strikes but Jibba Junior uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jibba Junior avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jibba Junior tries a head kick but it misses.
Jibba Junior tries to bum rush Sakuraba with a series of wild strikes but Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sakuraba goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Sakuraba. No joy for Jibba Junior on that attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jibba Junior closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sakuraba connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jibba Junior's hands.
A big left from Sakuraba misses.
Jibba Junior swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jibba Junior misses with a wild combination.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jibba Junior fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jibba Junior lands a jab to the head.
Jibba Junior shoots in for a double leg but Sakuraba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
Jibba Junior shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakuraba defends it nicely.
Thomas Jibba Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jibba Junior avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jibba Junior slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a series of wild punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba misses with a wild body shot.
Sakuraba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Jibba Junior avoids it well.
No joy there for Sakuraba, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sakuraba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jibba Junior circles away quickly and effectively.
Sakuraba slaps away a takedown attempt from Jibba Junior, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jibba Junior throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gouki Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gouki Sakuraba's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
Jibba Junior tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuraba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jibba Junior.
Gouki Sakuraba is winning the standup battle so far.
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba looks to land a right hand but Jibba Junior moved out of range.
No joy there for Sakuraba, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jibba Junior has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Jibba Junior throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jibba Junior misses with a head kick.
Jibba Junior lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sakuraba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Donk. Jibba Junior catches Sakuraba right on the button with a cross.
Jibba Junior misses with a head kick.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
Jibba Junior shoots in for a takedown but Sakuraba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sakuraba scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Sakuraba feints a jab promting Jibba Junior to slip. Sakuraba then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Jibba Junior slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Jibba Junior is breathing heavily.
Sakuraba misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jibba Junior dodges the punch combination from Sakuraba.
Jibba Junior keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakuraba throws a body punch but Jibba Junior moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Jibba Junior.
Jibba Junior shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jibba Junior misses with a head kick.
Sakuraba's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sakuraba duly obliges.
Sakuraba lands with a right hand.
Sakuraba misses with a few strikes there.
Gouki Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jibba Junior throws a head kick that misses.
Jibba Junior avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuraba displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Jibba Junior misses with a few strikes there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jibba Junior.
Gouki Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Jibba Junior.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jibba Junior moves away.
Jibba Junior pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Jibba Junior avoids it well.
Nice takedown defense from Sakuraba. No joy for Jibba Junior on that attempt.
Sakuraba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jibba Junior avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuraba throws a low kick but it's checked well by Jibba Junior.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Jibba Junior avoids them all with ease.
Jibba Junior takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jibba Junior misses with a straight right.
Jibba Junior on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sakuraba. Sakuraba obviously looking to wear him down.
Sakuraba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jibba Junior throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sakuraba thuds a left hand into Jibba Junior's body.
No luck for Jibba Junior with that takedown attempt.
Jibba Junior slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jibba Junior on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sakuraba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sakuraba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jibba Junior.
Jibba Junior throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jibba Junior throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakuraba scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Some wild striking there from Jibba Junior.
Sakuraba feints a jab promting Jibba Junior to slip. Sakuraba then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Jibba Junior slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sakuraba throws a looping overhand right but Jibba Junior ducks down to avoid it.
Jibba Junior listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jibba Junior fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jibba Junior circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jibba Junior swinging wildly here.
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Jibba Junior moves out of range.
Donk. Sakuraba catches Jibba Junior right on the button with a cross.
Sakuraba lands with a cross.
Jibba Junior shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sakuraba eats them both and turns towards Jibba Junior to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sakuraba moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sakuraba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jibba Junior moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jibba Junior might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that Jibba Junior avoids nicely.
Jibba Junior fails with a takedown attempt.
A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
Sakuraba scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Jibba Junior doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jibba Junior tries a head kick but it misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jibba Junior moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jibba Junior tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuraba connects with a crisp jab.
Sakuraba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gouki Sakuraba dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gouki Sakuraba's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sakuraba throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jibba Junior misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jibba Junior scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jibba Junior throws a head kick but Sakuraba moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Jibba Junior.
Sakuraba throws a push kick but Jibba Junior slaps the foot to one side.
Jibba Junior displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Jibba Junior shoots in for a takedown but Sakuraba shows good takedown defense.
Jibba Junior throws a right and a left that Sakuraba avoids nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Jibba Junior. Those never looked like landing.
Sakuraba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jibba Junior moves away.
Sakuraba throws a series of strikes that have Jibba Junior backpedaling.
Sakuraba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jibba Junior looks to land a combination but Sakuraba avoids it well.
Jibba Junior showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakuraba.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No joy there for Jibba Junior, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A solid body kick from Sakuraba.
No joy there for Sakuraba, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No luck for Jibba Junior with that takedown attempt.
Jibba Junior dodges the punch combination from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a double jab.
Jibba Junior throws a head kick that misses.
Jibba Junior misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jibba Junior walks into a straight right hand from Sakuraba.
Jab by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
Sakuraba misses with the combination.
A head kick misses from Jibba Junior.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jibba Junior misses with a head kick.
Sakuraba misses with a series of wild punches.
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
Jibba Junior throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Nice takedown defense from Sakuraba. No joy for Jibba Junior on that attempt.
Gouki Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Jibba Junior.
Sakuraba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jibba Junior misses with a wild combination.
Sakuraba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A combination from Jibba Junior does no damage.
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Jibba Junior moves out of range.
Jibba Junior throws a right and a left that Sakuraba avoids nicely.
Sakuraba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jibba Junior.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jibba Junior fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jibba Junior dodges the punch combination from Sakuraba.
Jibba Junior throws a series of punches but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Jibba Junior pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakuraba scores with a jab. Jibba Junior acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Jibba Junior avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jibba Junior.
Sakuraba lands a right hook to the body.
Jibba Junior throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakuraba.
Jibba Junior walks into a straight right hand from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jibba Junior has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A nice combination there by Sakuraba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jibba Junior gets a clinch.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch but Jibba Junior keeps him there for the moment.
Jibba Junior wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sakuraba wants to stall.
Maybe Sakuraba would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Sakuraba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jibba Junior smiles and moves away.
Jibba Junior moves forwards but Sakuraba connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Thomas Jibba Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakuraba tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakuraba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Jibba Junior.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba tries to bum rush Jibba Junior with a series of wild strikes but Jibba Junior uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jibba Junior.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gouki Sakuraba.
Well Sakuraba has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gouki Sakuraba!