PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gouki Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thore Turunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Sakuraba
vs
Turunen

177 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gouki Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thore Turunen!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that Turunen avoids nicely.
Horrible takedown by Turunen or perhaps it was just good defense by Sakuraba which made him look bad.
An inside leg kick lands from Sakuraba.
Turunen shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well. He's pushed Turunen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Turunen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gouki Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thore Turunen.
Turunen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sakuraba throws a nice looking combination but Turunen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sakuraba connects with a good right hand that stumbles Turunen. Turunen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sakuraba tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Turunen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Turunen has Sakuraba pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Turunen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sakuraba tumbling to the mat - Turunen dives into Sakuraba's guard.
Turunen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Turunen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sakuraba manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Turunen has Sakuraba in his guard.
Sakuraba engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Turunen trying to control the position.
Sakuraba has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Turunen is proving hard to escape from.
Sakuraba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Turunen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Turunen wants to sweep but no luck.
Turunen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Turunen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Turunen looking for a guillotine here but Sakuraba defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Turunen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Turunen moves out of range.
Sakuraba gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Turunen.

Turunen gets a clinch.
Turunen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sakuraba can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Turunen has clasped his hands together around Sakuraba's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Turunen has knee on belly momentarily but Sakuraba bucks him off and regains half guard.
Turunen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sakuraba defending well though.
Turunen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakuraba keeps working.
Sakuraba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Turunen there.

It looks like Gouki Sakuraba has been cut.
Turunen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba blocking the ground and pound attempt from Turunen.
Sakuraba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Turunen.
Turunen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Turunen is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Turunen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sakuraba's head.
Turunen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Sakuraba is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Turunen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Oh Sakuraba is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Turunen lands a big elbow - Sakuraba is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Turunen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thore Turunen!
Thore Turunen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.