PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Dance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Sakuraba acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Dance
vs
Sakuraba

187 cm
21
185 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
183 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Broken Halo Pride Nutrition

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Samuel Dance!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Dance thuds a left hand into Sakuraba's body.
Sakuraba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dance is fending him off so far but Sakuraba persists. Nope, Dance circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakuraba will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sakuraba scores with a takedown into Dance's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Sakuraba drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dance looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dance looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dance!
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Dance stands up and beckons Sakuraba to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown.
Samuel Dance has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Dance swings for the body but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Dance throws a lazy right hand but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice uppercut there from Dance.
Dance connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Dance works Sakuraba's body with a nice hook.
Sakuraba uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dance.
Dance misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dance connects with a solid leg kick.
Sakuraba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dance misses with a looping right.
Dance throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakuraba.

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dance is keeping the position for now.
Sakuraba throwing strikes but missing.
Dance is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sakuraba is controlling him.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dance has his hands on Sakuraba's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Dance is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Sakuraba has gone for a leg lock! Dance slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sakuraba's guard.
Dance wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling his posture from full guard.

Sakuraba is working an open guard so Dance takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dance sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dance tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dance waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sakuraba.
Nice defenses there by Sakuraba.
Dance connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Dance throws a big shot that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dance throws an off balance right hand

and Sakuraba counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dance's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakuraba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
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 Samuel Dance will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sakuraba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dance.
Dance misses with a straight left.

Sakuraba closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sakuraba lands in his opponent's guard.
Dance keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.

Dance pushes Sakuraba off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Dance keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba has a takedown stuffed.
Dance throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Sakuraba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sakuraba ducks under a wild hook from Dance.
Dance throws a body punch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dance stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dance wants it to stay on the feet.
Samuel Dance has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Sakuraba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dance.
Sakuraba has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Dance finds it's way round the side to connect with Sakuraba's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sakuraba takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Samuel Dance is winning the standup battle so far.
Sakuraba has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sakuraba there as he acknowledges the shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Dance stuffs the takedown.
Dance throws a lazy uppercut

and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Sakuraba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dance is just riding it out for now. Sakuraba eventually gives up the hold.
Dance trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dance is trying to stand back up but Sakuraba is controlling him
Dance won't allow Sakuraba to pass to mount.
Dance is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Dance is defending against the submission attempts here by Sakuraba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sakuraba lands a big elbow.
Dance trying desperately to get to his feet.

Sakuraba swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Dance is now in Sakuraba's guard. A big mistake from Sakuraba there, giving up the dominant position!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba wants to sweep here but Dance controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Samuel Dance will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sakuraba jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dance throws a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head but Sakuraba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakuraba avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Dance sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sakuraba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dance pinned against the cage. Dance gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dance dodges the punch combination from Sakuraba.
Dance throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance misses with a right hand

and Sakuraba counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Sakuraba seems to be looking for submissions.
Dance wants to get back to his feet.

Dance kicks off Sakuraba and gets to his feet.
Sakuraba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sakuraba shoots in and drives through. Dance sprawls well.
Samuel Dance has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown.
Dance lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dance connects with a body shot that sends Sakuraba's belly button to the back.
Jab by Dance.
Sakuraba slips under a jab.
Dance lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Dance displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sakuraba.
Samuel Dance is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dance misses with a body shot.
A cross from Dance lands.
Dance misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Dance. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dance.
Dance misses with a wild body shot.

Sakuraba scores with a takedown into Dance's guard.
Sakuraba won't allow Dance to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba looking to sit in guard and control but Dance gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dance preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dance wants to stand but Sakuraba has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kazushi Sakuraba has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.

Dance stands up and waves to Sakuraba to follow him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dance throws a body punch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Samuel Dance is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dance attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Dance showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dance, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samuel Dance!