PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Wilkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Wilkins's choice of entrance music: The Champ is Here. This should be fireworks!

Sakuraba
vs
Wilkins

183 cm
29
175 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

182 cm
29
177 lbs
19 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[IMMA] DTK Designs (Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jay Wilkins!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Wilkins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wilkins scores with a head kick. Sakuraba tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Wilkins throws a right and a left that Sakuraba avoids nicely.
Wilkins moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Wilkins closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sakuraba's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Wilkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wilkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wilkins postures up and lands a big shot to Sakuraba's brow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Wilkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wilkins drops back looking for a leg! Sakuraba is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sakuraba manages to kick Wilkins off! Wilkins jumps back into Sakuraba's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wilkins is looking to stand up but Sakuraba won't let him.
Wilkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Wilkins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Wilkins defends easily.
Wilkins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuraba swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wilkins has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sakuraba is proving hard to escape from.
Wilkins is in close to Sakuraba's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Wilkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakuraba has wrist control.

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

Wilkins drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sakuraba dives on top into guard.
Wilkins is trying to keep Sakuraba in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Wilkins blocks nicely.
Sakuraba throws a big right hand that misses.
Sakuraba preventing the sweep.
Sakuraba trying to control but Wilkins is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba wants to control but Wilkins is keeping him busy.
Wilkins is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba lands an elbow.
Sakuraba cracks Wilkins with a big right hand but Wilkins just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sakuraba working away.

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!
Wilkins is looking for a sweep.
Wilkins taking punishment in the form of punches.
Wilkins tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sakuraba wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sakuraba's best efforts.
Wilkins is refusing to be controlled, as Sakuraba sits in half guard.
Wilkins is trying to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba lands with a punch from half guard.
Wilkins has hold of Sakuraba's hands but Sakuraba slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Wilkins tries to get to full guard but Sakuraba has control of the leg.
Wilkins is refusing to be controlled, as Sakuraba sits in half guard.
Sakuraba is looking to advance position but Wilkins won't allow it.
Sakuraba prevents Wilkins from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Wilkins is defending well.
Wilkins wants to improve his position but Sakuraba is controlling well.
Wilkins is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sakuraba wants to free his trapped foot but Wilkins is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba prevents Wilkins from improving his position.
Sakuraba lands with a punch from half guard.

Sakuraba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Wilkins is just riding it out for now. Sakuraba eventually gives up the hold.
Sakuraba drops an elbow to the side of Wilkins's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jay Wilkins will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sakuraba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Wilkins throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Wilkins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sakuraba manages to get to full guard.
Wilkins working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Wilkins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Sakuraba controls Wilkins momentarily but Wilkins frees himself.
Wilkins throws a big elbow that misses.

Sakuraba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wilkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakuraba has wrist control.
Sakuraba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wilkins.
Sakuraba trying to control the position.

Sakuraba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wilkins defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkins content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Wilkins postures up in Sakuraba's guard and throws a big left but Sakuraba blocks it.
Wilkins has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wilkins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jay Wilkins has got the better of the ground game so far.

Wilkins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Wilkins postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Wilkins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wilkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sakuraba lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Wilkins!
Wilkins is desperately trying to improve his position but Sakuraba has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wilkins slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sakuraba prevents Wilkins from improving his position.
Wilkins is breathing heavily.
Sakuraba is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Sakuraba looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Wilkins pushes Sakuraba off looking to stand but Sakuraba dives back in and keeps control.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wilkins keeps working.
Wilkins is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Wilkins trying to get back to full guard but Sakuraba takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Wilkins is trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Wilkins takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Wilkins is wriggling around trying to escape.

Sakuraba with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sakuraba connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sakuraba prevents Wilkins from getting the reversal.
Wilkins swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Wilkins is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wilkins bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Wilkins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sakuraba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wilkins doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wilkins manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sakuraba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wilkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sakuraba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wilkins defends it easily.
Wilkins throwing strikes from guard but Sakuraba blocks nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Wilkins working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Wilkins landing some decent shots from guard.
Wilkins throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jay Wilkins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Wilkins connects with a body shot that sends Sakuraba's belly button to the back.
Jay Wilkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wilkins lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Wilkins.

Wilkins closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sakuraba's guard.
Wilkins postures up.

Sakuraba is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wilkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wilkins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuraba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sakuraba trying to control the position.

Sakuraba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wilkins throwing strikes but missing.

Wilkins is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Wilkins pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wilkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wilkins postures up.
Wilkins works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Wilkins working over Sakuraba with some ground and pound. Sakuraba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sakuraba wants to improve his position but Wilkins is controlling well.
Wilkins working the head and body with strikes.
Sakuraba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wilkins.
Sakuraba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wilkins.
Wilkins lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wilkins lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wilkins lands with a punch from half guard.
Sakuraba blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wilkins.
Sakuraba is pressing down on Wilkins's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Wilkins postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wilkins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Wilkins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sakuraba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Wilkins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sakuraba has his feet on Wilkins's thighs here. He's pushed Wilkins off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Wilkins screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kazushi Sakuraba!
Kazushi Sakuraba is the new welterweight champion!
After winning the bout, Kazushi Sakuraba thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.