PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Altropos Takota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Sakuraba
vs
Takota

182 cm
20
183 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

178 cm
26
175 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Raw Edge Gear (R.E.G)

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Altropos Takota!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takota pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Takota throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sakuraba tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Takota is in Sakuraba's guard.
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.
Takota postures up.
Takota showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Takota pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakuraba is on top in guard.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takota is keeping the position for now.
Sakuraba passes Takota's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to pass the half guard into mount. Takota knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sakuraba wants to control but Takota is keeping him busy.

Sakuraba looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sakuraba slips a nice elbow through Takota's hands, connecting with Takota's forehead.

Sakuraba seems to be looking for submissions.
Sakuraba moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sakuraba has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sakuraba throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Check out the look on Sakuraba's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sakuraba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Takota, who protects the arm well.

Sakuraba tries for a kimura but Takota is defending well.
Takota struggling a bit here.
Sakuraba looks up at the clock and then as Takota takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sakuraba smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws an elbow but Takota slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sakuraba 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.
You can see the frustration on Takota's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sakuraba is trying to get an arm triangle but Takota is defending well.
Takota is looking for a sweep.

Sakuraba is trying to get an arm triangle but Takota is defending well.
Takota takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Takota has escaped the position, nice work there.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba trying to control the position but Takota is working away.

Sakuraba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Takota, who protects the arm well.
Sakuraba connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Takota some visible discomfort.
Takota really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakuraba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sakuraba tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sakuraba has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takota is not content to let Sakuraba control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A slow jab from Sakuraba misses its intended target.

Takota moves into the clinch.

Takota has Sakuraba pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Takota pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sakuraba tumbling to the mat - Takota dives into Sakuraba's guard.

Sakuraba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Takota doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Takota manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Takota with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuraba lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Takota!
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kazushi Sakuraba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takota tries to lock up and control but Sakuraba gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sakuraba throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Takota blocking the ground and pound.

Sakuraba quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Sakuraba but it's paid off an Takota is forced to tap! Nice work by Sakuraba.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kazushi Sakuraba!
Kazushi Sakuraba thanked the fans post fight for their support.