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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mieszko Szczygiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.
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| 175 cm
26
189 lbs
8 - 6 - 0 |
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183 cm
23
190 lbs
10 - 4 - 0 |
BJJ Brown Belt
Good knees
Granite chin |
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Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mieszko Szczygiel!
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 Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szczygiel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakuraba tries to work over Szczygiel's front leg with a kick but Szczygiel checks it.
Sakuraba checks the leg kick nicely there.
Szczygiel slaps away a takedown attempt from Sakuraba, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Szczygiel clinches up against the ropes.
Szczygiel breaks from the clinch.
Szczygiel darts in and clinches Sakuraba up against the ropes.
Sakuraba blocks an elbow strike from Szczygiel.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Szczygiel breaks the clinch.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Szczygiel wants to clinch up but Sakuraba keeps it at a distance.
Mieszko Szczygiel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Szczygiel.
Szczygiel moves in looking to clinch but Sakuraba pushes him off.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczygiel throws a head kick that Sakuraba semi-blocks.
Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sakuraba counters with a three punch combo that has Szczygiel backing up. Szczygiel nods at Sakuraba to acknowledge the strikes.
Szczygiel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakuraba avoids the head kick by Szczygiel.
Sakuraba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.
Szczygiel looking to control.
Sakuraba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Szczygiel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba preventing the sweep.
Sakuraba is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szczygiel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakuraba defends well.
Sakuraba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakuraba passes into half guard.
Szczygiel is trying to get back to full guard.
Szczygiel is working hard here to advance position.
Sakuraba thows a huge punch but Szczygiel dodges it nicely.
Szczygiel controlling the position well.
Szczygiel trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Szczygiel is defending well.
Szczygiel controlling the position well.
Sakuraba is working for a submission of some sort.
Szczygiel is trying to control but can't.
Sakuraba passes the guard and advances to mount!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Szczygiel tries to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Szczygiel in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Szczygiel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sakuraba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Szczygiel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Szczygiel wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Szczygiel from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba has his foot on Szczygiel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Szczygiel works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Szczygiel tries to clinch there but Sakuraba circles away.
Szczygiel looks for the body kick but Sakuraba saw that one coming.
Sakuraba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Szczygiel.
Sakuraba chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Szczygiel can pounce on him.
Szczygiel is looking to clinch but Sakuraba is avoiding it.
Szczygiel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Szczygiel sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sakuraba tries to clinch there but Szczygiel circles away.
Szczygiel darts in trying to clinch
and Sakuraba counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Szczygiel defends it well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczygiel trying to hold on to Sakuraba's head to control him but Sakuraba postures up.
Szczygiel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakuraba pulls his head out easily.
Szczygiel is in trouble now - Sakuraba has advanced to mount!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Szczygiel is trying to escape the mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Sakuraba there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sakuraba punishing his opponent with strikes.
Szczygiel has given up his back.
A lull in the action here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with an elbow to the head.
Sakuraba has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Well, with Sakuraba on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Szczygiel is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuraba gets his hands free as Szczygiel looks to control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Szczygiel trying to survive by controlling the hands.
Szczygiel tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sakuraba is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sakuraba wants to control the pace but Szczygiel is squirming around nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Sakuraba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Szczygiel trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba tries to pass to full mount but Szczygiel defends it.
Sakuraba not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sakuraba wants to take a breather but Szczygiel is having none of it.
Szczygiel trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Szczygiel gets full guard.
Szczygiel keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Szczygiel is retaining full guard.
Sakuraba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sakuraba working some strikes from top position.
Sakuraba content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szczygiel keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Szczygiel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuraba.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kazushi Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
A jab from Sakuraba finds it's way through Szczygiel's defenses.
Sakuraba scores with a takedown into Szczygiel's guard.
Sakuraba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Szczygiel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakuraba manages to get himself to full guard.
Szczygiel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakuraba has his foot on Szczygiel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Szczygiel works his way back into a safe position though.
Sakuraba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Szczygiel defends it easily.
Sakuraba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Szczygiel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Szczygiel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szczygiel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba can't keep his opponent in guard - Szczygiel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sakuraba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Szczygiel pulls his head out easily.
Szczygiel is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Szczygiel prevents Sakuraba from improving his position.
Sakuraba regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Szczygiel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Szczygiel trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Szczygiel wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.
Szczygiel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mieszko Szczygiel.
Sakuraba swats away the attempt to clinch by Szczygiel.
Szczygiel tries to clinch up but Sakuraba circles away and keeps his distance.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Szczygiel wants to clinch.
Szczygiel darts in and clinches Sakuraba up against the ropes.
Szczygiel is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba drops down looking for an ankle pick but Szczygiel pulls his leg out and moves away.
Szczygiel goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel clinches with his opponent.
Szczygiel looking to slow down the pace here.
Szczygiel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Szczygiel lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Mieszko Szczygiel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Szczygiel clinches with his opponent.
Szczygiel breaks the clinch.
Szczygiel throws a push kick but Sakuraba slaps the foot to one side.
Szczygiel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sakuraba, pushing him back against the ropes.
Kazushi Sakuraba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Szczygiel gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Mieszko Szczygiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szczygiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that's the end of the fight!
Mieszko Szczygiel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sakuraba 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazushi Sakuraba!
A very excited looking Kazushi Sakuraba made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
77% |
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