PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naruto Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steel's entrance music is Ain't No Sunshine. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steel
vs
Sakuraba

183 cm
21
165 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Vitality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Naruto Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel misses with a series of wild punches.
Steel takes one to the chin there.
Sakuraba lands a glancing blow to the side of Steel's head.
Sakuraba misses the shot to the body.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Steel sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sakuraba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Steel circles away quickly and effectively.
Steel works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Steel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Steel.
Steel swinging wildly here.
A big right from Steel misses.
Steel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Steel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Steel throws a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head but Sakuraba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakuraba misses with a straight right.
Sakuraba misses with a few strikes there.
A swing and a miss from Sakuraba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Steel tries to bum rush Sakuraba with a series of wild strikes but Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Steel slips under a jab from Sakuraba.
Steel swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sakuraba.

Sakuraba changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Steel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Steel is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sakuraba has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sakuraba is chipping away with strikes.
Steel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakuraba on the ground.
Sakuraba throws a strike aimed at the side of Steel's head but Steel avoids it well.
Sakuraba looks up at the clock and then as Steel takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sakuraba smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Steel wants to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Steel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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!
Steel managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is chipping away with strikes.
Sakuraba wants to control but Steel is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel parries the strikes from Sakuraba easily there. Sakuraba is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Steel to escape.

Sakuraba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Steel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Steel prevents Sakuraba from moving into mount.
Sloppy strikes there by Sakuraba.
Steel pushes Sakuraba away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sakuraba gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Steel dodges the ground and pound from Sakuraba.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel is trying to control Sakuraba's posture but Sakuraba avoids it.
Sakuraba is working Steel over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sakuraba taking a break here but Steel is having none of it and regains half guard.
Sakuraba controlling the pace.
Steel is positioning himself well to prevent Sakuraba advancing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Steel is trying to control but can't.
Steel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sakuraba passes to full mount!
Sakuraba lands a big elbow.
Sakuraba breaks from Steel's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Sakuraba is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Steel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sakuraba pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sakuraba looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sakuraba postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Steel looks a forlorn figure.
Sakuraba looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba has hold of Steel's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Steel manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Steel defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Steel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sakuraba with a couple of short strikes.
The referee warns Steel that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Steel is rocked!
Sakuraba connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Oh Steel is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sakuraba postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Steel bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Sakuraba and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Naruto Sakuraba!
An out of breath and clearly excited Naruto Sakuraba thanked Vitality for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).