PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Dance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sakuraba
vs
Dance

182 cm
21
183 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

187 cm
21
185 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q
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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Samuel Dance!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dance misses with a hook

and Sakuraba counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sakuraba.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sakuraba with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuraba prevents Dance from getting back to his feet.
Dance keeping full guard, as Sakuraba tries to pass.
Sakuraba slips nicely into half guard.
Sakuraba works his foot free and advances to mount.
Sakuraba unloads with some shots from mount but Dance bucks and avoids them well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance prevents Sakuraba from taking his back.
Dance is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Sakuraba is trying to take his opponent's back.
Sakuraba throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Sakuraba throwing strikes here but Dance is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Sakuraba goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Dance turns into him and now he's in Sakuraba's guard.
Dance would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 looking to control.

Dance gets to his feet. Sakuraba looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Samuel Dance seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dance slips under a jab.
Samuel Dance is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A cross from Dance lands.
Nice cross by Dance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dance with a nice cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dance throws a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head but Sakuraba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dance lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nice uppercut lands for Dance. That snapped Sakuraba's head back.

Sakuraba fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dance to the ground. Sakuraba is now in Dance's guard.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Dance is keeping the position.

Dance manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sakuraba misses with a two punch combination.
Dance connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dance uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sakuraba has time to react.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dance throws a body punch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Sakuraba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dance's waist but Dance gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sakuraba off to one side.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dance sprawls well. Dance wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakuraba is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dance sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dance throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sakuraba on the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Dance lands a nice looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Samuel Dance will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sakuraba checks a leg kick nicely.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big right from Dance misses.
Dance changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sakuraba was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sakuraba wants to control but instead Dance manages to regain half guard.
Sakuraba trying to advance position but Dance counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Dance is retaining full guard.
Dance wants to sweep but no luck.
Sakuraba tries to free his leg and advance position but Dance is retaining full guard.
Sakuraba is pushing down on Dance's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dance is fighting to maintain full guard but Sakuraba has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dance controlling the position well.

Sakuraba looking for a submission but Dance manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Dance can't keep his opponent in guard - Sakuraba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to free his trapped foot but Dance is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Dance is defending against the submission attempts here by Sakuraba.
Dance won't allow Sakuraba to pass to mount.

Sakuraba is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dance has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sakuraba prevents Dance from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dance is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Sakuraba passes the guard and advances to mount!
Dance really wants to buck Sakuraba off and get back to his feet.
Dance is looking to improve his position but Sakuraba isn't that keen on the idea.

Sakuraba with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sakuraba fails to take his opponent's back.
Dance is trying to stand.
Sakuraba is trying to take his opponent's back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakuraba thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Sakuraba goes for an armbar but Dance turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Dance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dance misses with a double jab
and Sakuraba counters with a right hand to the body.
Sakuraba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dance throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Dance sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dance lands a jab to the nose.
Sakuraba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakuraba slips a jab from Dance.
Sakuraba blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance misses with a straight left.
Dance scores with a shot to the body.
Samuel Dance seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dance bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sakuraba's head backwards.
Sakuraba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dance.
Dance works Sakuraba's body with a nice hook.
Dance throws a good cross that connects.
Sakuraba misses with a few strikes there.
Dance looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dance lands with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a hook to the side of Dance's head but Dance sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dance misses with a hook.
Sakuraba throws a lazy right hand but Dance sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sakuraba missing with a left hand there. Dance was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakuraba throws a jab when Dance was well out of range.
A jab from Dance finds it's way through Sakuraba's defenses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
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.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Dance.
A jab from Dance misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dance connects with a nice looking jab.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dance sprawls well. Dance wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dance thuds his right hand into Sakuraba's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Left hook, right uppercut from Dance.
Dance dips to his left and cracks Sakuraba with an uppercut!
Dance lunges at Sakuraba with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sakuraba's hand.
Dance throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba slips a jab from Dance.
Dance lands a slapping body shot.
Dance connects with a crisp jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dance misses with an uppercut.
Dance tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakuraba was well out of range. Poor timing from Dance.
Sakuraba misses with a lunging right hand
and Dance makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dance drops his hands momentarily and Sakuraba takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sakuraba takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Dance comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dance 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

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