PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hayato Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz comes to the cage accompanied by Get out of my way. Sakurai has chosen Holy Orders as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Diaz
vs
Sakurai

188 cm
27
176 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

172 cm
24
174 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Patrick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hayato Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz misses with a hook
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sakurai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Patrick Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Diaz there.
A jab from Diaz does it's job there.
Diaz connects with a jab.
Sakurai misses with a jab to the body
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
Sakurai lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz looks to throw the jab but Sakurai is out of range.
A head kick misses from Diaz.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sakurai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diaz.
Horrible takedown by Diaz or perhaps it was just good defense by Sakurai which made him look bad.
Diaz misses with the combination.
Hayato Sakurai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sakurai gets caught napping as Diaz dives in and scores a takedown. Sakurai manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Diaz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Diaz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Diaz won't allow Sakurai to get back to his feet.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai is looking to stand up but Diaz isn't so interested in that idea.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Patrick Diaz just wasn't active enough.
Sakurai pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sakurai looks to land a left hand but Diaz moved out of range nicely.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sakurai as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakurai moves to clinch but Diaz breaks away
and Diaz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Sakurai.
Sakurai with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diaz blocks a jab.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sakurai sprawls well. Sakurai wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
A slow jab from Sakurai misses its intended target.
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 Patrick Diaz will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sakurai thuds his right hand into Diaz's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sakurai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sakurai throws a jab but it's blocked by Diaz.
Diaz lunges at Sakurai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sakurai's hand.
Sakurai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakurai throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Diaz.
Sakurai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.
Hayato Sakurai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakurai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diaz thows a body shot but no joy.
Sakurai misses the shot to the body.
That kick from Sakurai tenderised Diaz's leg. Diaz is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses.
Diaz takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Diaz fails with the takedown.
Sakurai throws a right hand that misses
and Diaz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sakurai misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakurai loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Diaz counters with a series of strikes. Sakurai will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sakurai takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Diaz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sakurai tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Diaz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakurai is trying to stand up here but Diaz is controlling him well.
Diaz is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakurai is keeping the position for now.

Sakurai wriggles free and stands up.
Sakurai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick from Diaz misses
and Sakurai counters with an inside leg kick.
Sakurai misses with a right hand

and Diaz counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hayato Sakurai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Diaz fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sakurai is out of range.
Sakurai fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Diaz takes a swing at Sakurai's ribcage but misses.
Sakurai blocks a head kick by Diaz.
Sakurai throws a nice looking combination but Diaz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Sakurai keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sakurai.
Sakurai misses with a lunging right hand
and Diaz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sakurai.
Diaz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Sakurai.
Sakurai blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses the jab.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Sakurai tries to sprawl out of it but Diaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sakurai manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz dives in and grabs Sakurai's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakurai pushes down on Diaz's head and hops out.
Sakurai misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a leg kick but Sakurai checks it.
Sakurai throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.
An inside leg kick from Sakurai misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sakurai.
Diaz takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Sakurai gets tackled into the cage by Diaz. Diaz maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to control Sakurai's arms but Sakurai gets an underhook and turns him. Now Diaz has his back to the cage.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Sakurai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Diaz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sakurai lands a nice looking kick to the body. Diaz takes a step back to recover.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Sakurai avoids nicely.
Sakurai connects with a leg kick. Diaz looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hayato Sakurai.
I think Sakurai has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hayato Sakurai!