PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Marcello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Sakuraba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sakuraba
vs
Marcello

185 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dominick Marcello!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marcello misses with a hook. Sakuraba ducked under it nicely.
Sakuraba bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Marcello's head backwards.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Marcello.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Marcello avoids it easily.
Sakuraba lands an overhand right.
Marcello defending well as Sakuraba loads up on a big left hand.
Sakuraba throws a shot from downtown. Marcello moves away and avoids it.
Sakuraba slips under a jab.
Sakuraba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marcello.
Marcello defending well as Sakuraba loads up on a big left hand.
Marcello uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakuraba.
Marcello missing with a left hand there. Sakuraba was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab from Marcello does it's job there.
A big left from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba blocks a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab, jab by Sakuraba - just one landing.
A lazy left from Sakuraba finds it's target.
Marcello bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sakuraba's head backwards.
Marcello uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Marcello on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Marcello avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Marcello.
Sakuraba is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A swing and a miss from Marcello.
Sakuraba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marcello.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcello moves out of range of the strikes.
Marcello moves out of range as Sakuraba strikes.
Sakuraba slips a straight right by Marcello.
Sakuraba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A punch lands to the side of Marcello 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sakuraba blocks a jab.
Sakuraba lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuraba misses the target.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marcello connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sakuraba's hands.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marcello looks to throw the jab but Sakuraba is out of range.
Marcello throws a big shot that misses.
Good exchange - Sakuraba coming out on top.
Marcello ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marcello throws out the jab.
Marcello looks to land a right hand but Sakuraba moved out of range.
Sakuraba is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sakuraba throws out a loose jab but Marcello uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakuraba throws a hook to the side of Marcello's head but Marcello sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakuraba staying out of range there.
Marcello misses with a straight left.
Marcello slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Marcello blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcello throws a jab when Sakuraba was well out of range.
Sakuraba uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marcello.
A jab from Marcello misses.
Marcello throws out a loose jab but Sakuraba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakuraba defending well as Marcello loads up on a big left hand.
Sakuraba loads up on a big right hand but Marcello slips the punch.
Marcello misses with a straight right.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Marcello avoids it easily.
Marcello avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marcello walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Marcello connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sakuraba. Sakuraba circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut. Marcello saw that one coming.
Marcello gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sakuraba slips a jab from Marcello.
Sakuraba throws an overhand right that lands on Marcello's shoulder, as Marcello tries to avoid the shot.
Marcello loads up on a big right hand but Sakuraba slips the punch.
Marcello bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Marcello blocks it.
A jab from Marcello misses.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut.
A slow jab from Marcello misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcello connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sakuraba slips a jab from Marcello.
Marcello scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sakuraba 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.
Marcello takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A swing and a miss from Sakuraba.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Marcello slips a straight right by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba's jab looks to have found its range, popping Marcello under the eye.
Marcello with a hook.
A jab from Marcello does it's job there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marcello throws out the jab.
Sakuraba takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The fighters circling - Marcello throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marcello looks to land a left hand but Sakuraba moved out of range nicely.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sakuraba throws a lazy right hand but Marcello sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Marcello throws an overhand right that lands on Sakuraba's shoulder, as Sakuraba tries to avoid the shot.
A slow jab from Sakuraba misses its intended target.
A telegraphed right hand from Marcello misses the target.
Sakuraba misses the jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuraba misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Sakuraba misses its intended target.
Marcello moves away from the strike by Sakuraba.
Marcello moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuraba misses the target.
Nice shot by Sakuraba.
Marcello slips under a jab.
Sakuraba walks into a straight right hand from Marcello.
Nice uppercut lands for Marcello. That snapped Sakuraba's head back.
Sakuraba throws a big shot that misses.
Sakuraba defending well as Marcello loads up on a big left hand.
Marcello ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.
Marcello slips under a jab.
A big left from Marcello misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Marcello misses the target.
Sakuraba slips under a jab.
A swing and a miss from Marcello.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice defenses there by Marcello.
Marcello swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sakuraba moves out of range as Marcello strikes.
Marcello defending well as Sakuraba loads up on a big left hand.
Sakuraba misses with a straight right.
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 Kazushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sakuraba connects with a looping right hand.
Marcello throws a looping overhand right but Sakuraba ducks down to avoid it.
Marcello throws a jab when Sakuraba was well out of range.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Marcello.
Marcello connects with a looping right hand.
Marcello takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Marcello is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakuraba.
Marcello looks to land a left hand but Sakuraba moved out of range nicely.
Marcello on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A swing and a miss from Marcello.
Marcello throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sakuraba blocks a jab.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jab from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba lands a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sakuraba scores with a sloppy right hand. Marcello should have avoided that one.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut.
Marcello has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sakuraba throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Marcello avoids it easily.
Kazushi Sakuraba is winning the standup battle so far.
Sakuraba thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sakuraba throws a lazy right hand but Marcello sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marcello.
Marcello dips to his left and cracks Sakuraba with an uppercut!
Marcello avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jab, jab by Marcello - just one landing.
The fighters circle momentarily. Marcello darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sakuraba has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sakuraba there as he acknowledges the shot.
Marcello staying out of range there.
Marcello throws an overhand right that lands on Sakuraba's shoulder, as Sakuraba tries to avoid the shot.
Sakuraba scores with a jab to the jaw.
A jab from Sakuraba misses.
Marcello tests Sakuraba's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Marcello avoids it easily.
Marcello throws a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head but Sakuraba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Marcello misses with a looping right.
Sakuraba staying out of range there.
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!
Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marcello.
Sakuraba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sakuraba tests Marcello's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sakuraba takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sakuraba walks into a straight right hand from Marcello.
Marcello displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sakuraba throws out the jab.
Sakuraba ducks under a wild hook from Marcello.
Marcello throws a hook but Sakuraba avoids it easily.
Sakuraba misses with a looping left.
Marcello uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a big shot that misses.
A big right from Marcello misses.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Marcello ducked under it nicely.
Marcello misses with a looping right.
Sakuraba moves away from the strike by Marcello.
Marcello moves out of range as Sakuraba strikes.
Marcello moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice shot lands for Sakuraba.
Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marcello.
Marcello slips under a jab from Sakuraba.
Marcello throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sakuraba slips a straight right by Marcello.
Sakuraba 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcello throws a lazy right hand but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A big left from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba looks to land a left hand but Marcello moved out of range nicely.
Marcello getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sakuraba moves away from the strike by Marcello.
Marcello throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sakuraba on the side of the head.
Marcello is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Marcello throws a shot from downtown. Sakuraba moves away and avoids it.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Marcello throws a lazy right hand but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sakuraba throws a looping overhand right but Marcello ducks down to avoid it.
Sakuraba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marcello throws out the jab.
Sakuraba blocks a jab.
Marcello bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sakuraba missing with a left hand there. Marcello was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakuraba thows a left - swing and a miss!
Marcello staying out of range there.
Sakuraba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marcello.
Marcello misses with an uppercut.
Sakuraba takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba drops his hands momentarily and Marcello takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Marcello steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakuraba.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marcello moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sakuraba slips a straight right by Marcello.
Sakuraba getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Marcello moves out of range as Sakuraba strikes.
Marcello walks into a stiff left hand from Sakuraba.
Marcello moves forwards but Sakuraba connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Marcello misses with a straight right.
Marcello gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Marcello slips under a jab.
Sakuraba tests Marcello's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marcello clobbers Sakuraba with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba slips under a jab.
Sakuraba looks to land a right hand but Marcello moved out of range.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Marcello.
A big right from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba ducks under a wild hook from Marcello.
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 Kazushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sakuraba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Marcello throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Marcello connects with a looping right hand.
Sakuraba staying out of range there.
Marcello throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakuraba.
A telegraphed right hand from Marcello misses the target.
Sakuraba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marcello.
Sakuraba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marcello.
Sakuraba lands the left hand.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut. Marcello saw that one coming.
Sakuraba throws out a powerful jab.
Marcello drops his hands momentarily and Sakuraba takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sakuraba loads up on a big right hand but Marcello slips the punch.
Marcello throws a hook but Sakuraba blocks it.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Marcello throws a big shot that misses.
Sakuraba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Marcello slips a straight right by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marcello.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Sakuraba waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marcello.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marcello moves out of range as Sakuraba strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with a looping right.
Marcello misses with an uppercut.
Nice cross by Marcello.
Sakuraba walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sakuraba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marcello.
Sakuraba misses with a straight right.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Marcello ducked under it nicely.
Marcello is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Marcello finds it's way round the side to connect with Sakuraba's head.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut.
Marcello connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sakuraba lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sakuraba misses with a looping left.
Marcello ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.
Marcello throws a looping overhand right but Sakuraba ducks down to avoid it.
Sakuraba looks to land a right hand but Marcello moved out of range.
Sakuraba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marcello throws out the jab.
Sakuraba has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Marcello finds it's way round the side to connect with Sakuraba's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marcello looks to throw the jab but Sakuraba is out of range.
Sakuraba jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Marcello misses its intended target.
Marcello misses with an uppercut. Sakuraba saw that one coming.
Marcello throws an overhand right that lands on Sakuraba's shoulder, as Sakuraba tries to avoid the shot.
Marcello throws a jab when Sakuraba was well out of range.
Sakuraba misses with a looping right.
Sakuraba loads up on a big right hand but Marcello slips the punch.
Marcello thows a left - swing and a miss!
Marcello swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Marcello throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sakuraba looks to land a right hand but Marcello moved out of range.
Sakuraba misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuraba misses the target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marcello slips under a jab.
Sakuraba jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sakuraba with a hook.
Marcello misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba throws a lazy right hand but Marcello sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice defenses there by Sakuraba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looks to throw the jab but Marcello is out of range.
Marcello throws a jab when Sakuraba was well out of range.
Marcello misses with an uppercut. Sakuraba saw that one coming.
Marcello throws a looping overhand right but Sakuraba ducks down to avoid it.
Sakuraba defending well as Marcello loads up on a big left hand.
Sakuraba moves out of range as Marcello strikes.
Sakuraba misses the jab.
Sakuraba throws a jab but it's blocked by Marcello.
Good exchange - Marcello coming out on top.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Marcello blocks it.
Sakuraba jabs Marcello right on the nose. Marcello blinks but takes it well.
Sakuraba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marcello moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Marcello displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sakuraba throws out the jab.
Marcello throws a shot from downtown. Sakuraba moves away and avoids it.
Marcello uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Marcello throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Marcello jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcello throws an overhand right that lands on Sakuraba's shoulder, as Sakuraba tries to avoid the shot.
Marcello throws a lazy right hand but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Marcello ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good standup being displayed there by Sakuraba as he connects with a hook.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut. Marcello saw that one coming.
Marcello swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A slow jab from Marcello misses its intended target.
Marcello drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Marcello misses with a straight right.
Sakuraba slips under a jab.
Marcello walks into a stiff left hand from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba ducks under a wild hook from Marcello.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Marcello.
Nice defenses there by Sakuraba.
A big left from Marcello misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marcello's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sakuraba connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Marcello scrambles back to his feet.
Marcello scores with a sloppy right hand. Sakuraba should have avoided that one.
Sakuraba uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marcello.
Jab from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba walks into a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dominick Marcello.
Well Sakuraba has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight as a draw!

Kazushi Sakuraba wins by majority decision!