PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hyun Sudo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba has chosen Wax Tailor feat. The Others as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sudo
vs
Sakuraba

187 cm
24
185 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

175 cm
23
180 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hyun Sudo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses
and Sudo counters with a series of strikes. Sakuraba will be more careful next time no doubt.

Sakuraba manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sudo on his heels. He'll look to pass Sudo's guard now, I'm sure.
Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Sudo blocks nicely.

Sudo looking for a guillotine here but Sakuraba defends easily.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Sudo keeps moving.
Sudo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuraba.
Sudo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakuraba is one step ahead there.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Sudo keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba won't allow Sudo to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kazuushi Sakuraba.
Sudo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sudo looks for the body kick but Sakuraba saw that one coming.
Sudo gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Sakuraba counters with a left and a right that stings Sudo.
Sakuraba throws a low kick but Sudo avoids it.
Sudo connects with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Sudo.
Sakuraba throws a head kick but Sudo moves out of range.
Sudo tries to land a leg kick but Sakuraba saw it coming and moves away.
A head kick from Sakuraba lands but Sudo takes it in his stride.
Sudo takes a swing at Sakuraba's ribcage but misses.
A lazy body kick from Sakuraba
and Sudo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sudo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kazuushi Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sudo shoots in for a double leg but Sakuraba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sakuraba takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A combination from Sudo does no damage.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sudo.
Sakuraba looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sakuraba blocks a jab.
Sakuraba misses with a body kick.
Sudo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sudo misses with a wild combination.
Sakuraba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakuraba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sudo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakuraba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sudo shoots and misses
and Sakuraba counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sudo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sudo.
Sudo is breathing heavily.
Sakuraba throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sudo's head.
Sudo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sudo blocks the body kick.
Sakuraba throws a body kick that misses.
Sakuraba slaps away a takedown attempt from Sudo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hyun Sudo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba throws a sloppy head kick and Sudo moves out of range easily.
Sakuraba misses with a wild combination.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sudo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sakuraba is able to avoid easily.
Sakuraba avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sudo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sudo connects with a body shot.
Sudo checks a leg kick.
Sakuraba lands a head kick!
Sakuraba throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuraba looks for the body kick but Sudo saw that one coming.
Sakuraba works Sudo's body with a nice hook.

Sakuraba drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Sakuraba drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sudo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sakuraba has Sudo in his guard.
Sakuraba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sudo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sudo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sakuraba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sakuraba controlling the position.
Sudo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sakuraba has control of Sudo's left arm, preventing Sudo from doing any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sudo connects with a couple of short punches.
Sudo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sakuraba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sudo is one step ahead there.
Sakuraba looking to control.
Sudo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sudo throwing strikes from guard but Sakuraba blocks nicely.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sudo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sudo won't allow Sakuraba to get back to his feet.
Sudo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sudo passes into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba is looking for a sweep. Sudo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sudo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sakuraba defending well though.
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sakuraba trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sudo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sudo trying to control from Sakuraba's half guard. Sakuraba has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet but Sudo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sudo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sakuraba can't keep his opponent in guard - Sudo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sudo is nestled in close to Sakuraba, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position.
Sudo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sudo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sakuraba tries to get to full guard but Sudo has control of the leg.
Sakuraba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sudo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sudo's back!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Sakuraba.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sudo is trying to break free.
Sudo trying to control the action but Sakuraba just sinks the hooks in.

Sudo is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sudo tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sudo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba looking to control but Sudo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sudo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakuraba lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sakuraba tries to control but Sudo wriggling away.
The referee warns Sudo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sudo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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 Hyun Sudo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sakuraba - that will leave a mark!
Sudo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sudo has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sudo throws a lazy right hand but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good work by Sudo as he checks the leg kick.
Sakuraba swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sakuraba misses with a low kick as Sudo jumps back.
Sakuraba throws a low kick but Sudo avoids it.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses
and Sudo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sakuraba is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sudo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sakuraba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sudo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sudo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sudo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hyun Sudo is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakuraba thows a leg kick but Sudo checks it
and Sudo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sudo throws a series of punches but Sakuraba avoids them all with ease.
Sudo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sudo walks into a jab.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakuraba tries to land a front kick but Sudo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sudo throws a series of punches but Sakuraba avoids them all with ease.
Sakuraba throws a head kick but Sudo moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Sudo. Those never looked like landing.
Sakuraba misses the shot to the body.
Sakuraba does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sakuraba thows a body shot but no joy.
Sakuraba is looking to land body kicks.
Sakuraba throws a solid leg kick but Sudo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sakuraba.
Sudo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakuraba is fending him off so far but Sudo persists. Nope, Sakuraba circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakuraba loads up on a big right hand but Sudo slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sudo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sakuraba throws a sloppy head kick and Sudo moves out of range easily.
Sakuraba misses with a low kick as Sudo jumps back.
Sudo avoids the head kick by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba takes a swing at Sudo's ribcage but misses.
Hyun Sudo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuraba paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sakuraba does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sudo. Sakuraba shrugs it off though.
Nice body kick from Sakuraba.
Sudo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sudo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sudo.
Sudo blocks a leg kick.
Sakuraba thows a leg kick but Sudo checks it

and Sudo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sakuraba won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba sneaks back into half guard.
Hyun Sudo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sudo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sudo lands strikes from half guard.
Sakuraba works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sudo stops Sakuraba from standing up.
Sakuraba is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sudo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sudo throwing strikes from guard but Sakuraba blocks nicely.
Sudo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sakuraba is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sakuraba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sudo wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.
Sakuraba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sakuraba wants to stand and escape but Sudo is having none of it.
Sakuraba trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kazuushi Sakuraba was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sudo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sudo manages to avoid it.
Sakuraba throws a wild body kick that Sudo sees coming a mile off.
Sudo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sakuraba has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sudo lands a high kick!
Some wild striking there from Sudo.
Sudo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sakuraba throws out the jab.
Sudo throws a series of punches but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Sudo swinging wildly here.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sudo checks a leg kick.
A punch combination from Sudo misses.
Sakuraba throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sudo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sakuraba is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sudo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakuraba.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba lands with an overhand left.
Sudo is looking to wear down Sakuraba with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A head kick misses from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sudo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sudo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba trying to control the position but Sudo is working away.
Sudo manages to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sudo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sakuraba drops an elbow to the side of Sudo's head.
Still in half guard, Sakuraba seems content to control.

Sudo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakuraba pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sakuraba in particular looking to stall.
Sakuraba wants to stand up but Sudo is controlling the position.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Sudo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Sakuraba.
Sudo wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy.
Sudo punching from the bottom.
Sudo trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.
Sudo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A bone on bone clash there as Sudo blocks the leg kick.
Sudo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a lunging right hand
and Sudo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sakuraba lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sudo backs up against the cage.
Sudo checks a leg kick nicely.
Sudo checks a low kick from Sakuraba.
Sudo checks a leg kick.
Sakuraba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sudo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sudo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sudo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sakuraba will feel that in the morning.
Sudo misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kazuushi Sakuraba.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Kazuushi Sakuraba!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Kazuushi Sakuraba!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Hyun Sudo!

Kazuushi Sakuraba wins by split decision!
After winning the bout, Kazuushi Sakuraba thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.