PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ebbe Emmanuel Ibssen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naruto Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ibssen comes to the cage accompanied by DJ Encore - I see right through you. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Emmanuel Ibssen
vs
Sakuraba

175 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Vitality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ebbe Emmanuel Ibssen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Naruto Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ibssen slips under a jab from Sakuraba.
No luck for Ibssen with that takedown attempt.
Nice shot by Sakuraba.

Sakuraba feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Ibssen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakuraba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakuraba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ibssen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ibssen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakuraba on the ground.

Ibssen has his foot on Sakuraba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakuraba works his way back into a safe position though.
Sakuraba is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ibssen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sakuraba passes into side control.
Ibssen gets back to half guard.
Sakuraba looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sakuraba prevents Ibssen from improving his position.

Ibssen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ibssen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ibssen wants to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sakuraba working the head and body with strikes.
Sakuraba looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sakuraba lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibssen is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sakuraba moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Ibssen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sakuraba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ibssen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sakuraba is putting a hurting on Ibssen here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ibssen taking a bit of punishment here - Sakuraba scoring with strikes.

Sakuraba tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ibssen is not content to let Sakuraba control the position.
Ibssen is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibssen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Ibssen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ibssen actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Sakuraba there.
Sakuraba takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ibssen taking some punishment here, with Sakuraba in his half guard.

Ibssen looking for subs from the bottom but Sakuraba mounts him!
Sakuraba landing punches.
Ibssen 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 looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sakuraba is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ibssen wants to get back to full guard.
Ibssen is refusing to be controlled, as Sakuraba sits in half guard.
Sakuraba takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sakuraba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Ibssen actively working from the bottom here.

Ibssen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ibssen actively working from the bottom here.
Sakuraba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakuraba works his way into side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ibssen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Sakuraba tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sakuraba has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naruto Sakuraba dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ibssen gets caught flat footed, as Sakuraba shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sakuraba looking to sit in guard and control but Ibssen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ibssen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ibssen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sakuraba has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ibssen has managed to get both his arms back between Sakuraba's legs - danger averted.

Ibssen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sakuraba looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sakuraba looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sakuraba!
Ibssen is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibssen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ibssen trying to get back to full guard but Sakuraba takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Ibssen working to try and regain half guard.
Sakuraba looking to finish Ibssen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ibssen!
Sakuraba is landing with some decent strikes but Ibssen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Ibssen can't escape the position.
Sakuraba is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ibssen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ibssen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ibssen is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibssen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba scoring with strikes but Ibssen is staying in there.
Ibssen can't escape the position.
Sakuraba lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ibssen hang on?
Sakuraba lands a big shot there that rocks Ibssen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Ibssen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ibssen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibssen tries to reverse the position but Sakuraba maintains control.
Ibssen is bucking up trying to escape but Sakuraba cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Ibssen is rocked!
Ibssen is trying desperately to improve position.
Oh Ibssen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sakuraba trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ibssen tries to reverse the position but Sakuraba maintains control.

Sakuraba looking to secure an arm triangle but Ibssen defends it well.
Sakuraba pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sakuraba scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ibssen?
Sakuraba can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ibssen is looking to escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ibssen is trying to escape the mount.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ibssen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakuraba loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Ibssen scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Sakuraba land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Sakuraba stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Naruto Sakuraba!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Naruto Sakuraba made sure he mentioned Vitality, along with how happy he was to win his fight.