PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Naruto Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Yauch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Yauch's choice of entrance music: No Sleep Till Brooklyn. Adam Yauch has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Naruto Sakuraba's chin.

Sakuraba
vs
Yauch

175 cm
21
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
22
154 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Naruto Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adam Yauch!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Yauch is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Sakuraba throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Yauch tries to improve position but can't.
Sakuraba lands a few punches from side control.
Sakuraba has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Yauch dodges the ground and pound from Sakuraba.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba wants to control but Yauch is keeping him busy.
Sakuraba moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Yauch wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
An elbow from Sakuraba crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yauch gets back to half guard.
Sakuraba throwing shots but Yauch is blocking nicely.

Sakuraba is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yauch has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yauch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakuraba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sakuraba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakuraba is controlling the pace.
Sakuraba thows a huge punch but Yauch dodges it nicely.

Sakuraba is working for a submission of some sort.
Yauch trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yauch regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba stops Yauch from standing up.
Yauch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yauch is looking to stand up but Sakuraba isn't so interested in that idea.
Sakuraba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sakuraba throws an elbow that misses. Yauch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sakuraba's guard. Nice move by Yauch!
Yauch would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yauch defends it easily.
Sakuraba trying to keep a closed guard but Yauch is proving a slippery customer.

Sakuraba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yauch can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sakuraba controlling the position.
Yauch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuraba swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yauch trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Yauch wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.

Sakuraba looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Yauch has picked Sakuraba up and slammed him! Sakuraba can't keep hold of the triangle and Yauch manages to pass to side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yauch wants to stand but Sakuraba has his arm trapped.
Sakuraba tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yauch wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naruto Sakuraba dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sakuraba misses the jab.
Sakuraba shoots in looking for a takedown but Yauch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sakuraba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sakuraba throws a good cross that connects.
Yauch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sakuraba.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sakuraba loads up on a big right hand but Yauch slips the punch.
Yauch lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sakuraba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yauch.
Sakuraba takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yauch throws a right and a left that Sakuraba avoids nicely.
Adam Yauch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Sakuraba misses
enabling Yauch to counter with a crisp jab.
Yauch throws a lazy right hand but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yauch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sakuraba throws out the jab.
Sakuraba avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Sakuraba dives in and scores a takedown into Yauch's guard.
Sakuraba stopping the sweep attempt from Yauch.
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.
Sakuraba trying to control but Yauch is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yauch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sakuraba lands a couple of digs.
Yauch wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yauch working a defensive guard here.
Sakuraba engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Naruto Sakuraba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A slow jab from Yauch misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yauch punishes Sakuraba's body with a nice straight punch.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Yauch blocks it.
Yauch slips under a jab from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Yauch connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Yauch sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sakuraba moves out of range of the strikes.
Yauch thows a body shot but no joy.
Yauch misses with an uppercut. Sakuraba saw that one coming.
Yauch thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut. Yauch saw that one coming.

Sakuraba closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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 Naruto Sakuraba 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. This is the final round!

Sakuraba throws a lazy right hand but Yauch sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sakuraba is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Yauch's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Yauch misses with a looping left.
Sakuraba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yauch throws out the jab.
Sakuraba moves away from the strike by Yauch.
Yauch lands with a right hand.
Sakuraba lands with an uppercut that bounces Yauch off the cage and back into range.
Donk. Yauch catches Sakuraba right on the button with a cross.
Sakuraba defending well as Yauch loads up on a big left hand.
Sakuraba is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sakuraba thows a leg kick but Yauch checks it
and Yauch counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yauch scores with a jab to the body.
Sakuraba slips a jab from Yauch.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt.
Yauch getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Naruto Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba shoots in and drives through. Yauch sprawls well.
Sakuraba looks to land a right hand but Yauch moved out of range.
Sakuraba has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Yauch finds it's way round the side to connect with Sakuraba's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yauch 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.
Yauch ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yauch throws a hook but Sakuraba blocks it.
Sakuraba misses with a looping right.
Yauch swings widly with a right hand
letting Sakuraba counter with a right hand.
Yauch connects with a jab.
Yauch staying out of range there.
Sakuraba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Yauch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naruto Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A slow jab from Yauch misses its intended target.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yauch as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Yauch misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yauch moves out of range as Sakuraba strikes.
Adam Yauch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A telegraphed right hand from Yauch misses the target.
Yauch ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.
Naruto Sakuraba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakuraba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sakuraba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakuraba misses with a looping left.
Sakuraba misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adam Yauch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sakuraba has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.