PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yonder Alonso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nobuo Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sakuraba's choice of entrance music: Mono - Battle for Heaven. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Alonso
vs
Sakuraba

185 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Dragon

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yonder Alonso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nobuo Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alonso jabs Sakuraba to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sakuraba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Alonso!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sakuraba.
Sakuraba dodges the punch combination from Alonso.

Alonso closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alonso lands in his opponent's guard.
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!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Alonso slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Alonso would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sakuraba is looking to stand up but Alonso isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba working a defensive guard here.

Alonso decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Alonso swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alonso swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sakuraba counters by clinching up.
Alonso misses with a punch to the body.

Sakuraba has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Alonso uses from the top position.
Sakuraba is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Alonso trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sakuraba's guard.

Alonso stands up from Sakuraba's guard - Alonso perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alonso scores with a punch to the head.
Alonso tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakuraba was well out of range. Poor timing from Alonso.
Sakuraba tries to clinch up but Alonso circles away and keeps his distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A combination from Alonso does no damage.
Alonso misses with the combination.
Sakuraba dodges the punch combination from Alonso.
Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakuraba looks winded!
Alonso looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Sakuraba shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alonso's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alonso wants to stand and escape but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Sakuraba must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sakuraba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sakuraba has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alonso is proving hard to escape from.
Alonso wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba trying to control but Alonso is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba prevents Alonso from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but Alonso moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Alonso. Those never looked like landing.
Sakuraba stalks Alonso and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Alonso's face. Alonso staggers backwards, shaken.
Alonso smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Alonso scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alonso moves in looking to clinch but Sakuraba pushes him off.
Some wild striking there from Alonso.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alonso has Sakuraba up against the cage in a clinch.
Alonso is pressed up against the cage. Sakuraba has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Alonso down to the mat. Alonso avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yonder Alonso dominated that round.
That's time! Alonso's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sakuraba tries to land a front kick but Alonso steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Alonso looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sakuraba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Alonso tries to kick Sakuraba off but Sakuraba keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Alonso trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Sakuraba wants to take a breather but Alonso is having none of it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Alonso is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alonso won't allow Sakuraba to pass to mount.
Alonso is trying to stand back up but Sakuraba is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nobuo Sakuraba has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Alonso misses the shot to the body.
Yonder Alonso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alonso misses with a wild body shot.
Sakuraba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alonso moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alonso paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alonso throws a poor cross that misses
and Sakuraba counters with a left and a right that stings Alonso.
A lazy left from Sakuraba finds it's target.
Sakuraba takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alonso.
Alonso throws a series of punches but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Alonso is looking to wear down Sakuraba with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jab, jab by Alonso - just one landing.
A shot to the body from Alonso misses
and Sakuraba counters with a big head kick but Alonso shrugs it off.
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!
The fighters circle momentarily. Alonso darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Alonso scores with a jab. Sakuraba acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Sakuraba clinches up against the cage.
Sakuraba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Alonso avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Alonso breaks from the clinch.
Alonso swings for the body but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alonso sprawls well. Alonso wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
Yonder Alonso is winning the standup battle so far.
Alonso stalks Sakuraba and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sakuraba's face. Sakuraba staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alonso is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sakuraba sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alonso lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Alonso scores with a jab.
Yonder Alonso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alonso throws a series of punches but Sakuraba avoids them all with ease.
Alonso throws a right and a left that Sakuraba avoids nicely.

Sakuraba closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Alonso quickly recovers to half guard.
Alonso is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Alonso trying to control from the bottom.
Sakuraba stops Alonso from getting back to his feet.
Alonso tries to roll over but Sakuraba keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control from half guard but Alonso is working away.

Alonso has one foot on Sakuraba's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alonso throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sakuraba moves into the clinch.
Sakuraba lands a right hand.
Sakuraba tries to score a body lock takedown but Alonso shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Yonder Alonso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nobuo Sakuraba.
Alonso tries to throw a body punch but Sakuraba avoids it by throwing Alonso back against the cage.

Sakuraba jumps guard and drags Alonso to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yonder Alonso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sakuraba is working an open guard so Alonso takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A nice combination there by Alonso.
A right-left combo lands from Alonso.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yonder Alonso dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Alonso misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakuraba.
Some wild striking there from Alonso.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Alonso.
Sakuraba avoids the body shot from Alonso.
Alonso throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Alonso misses with a double jab.

Sakuraba drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Alonso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.

Alonso wriggles free and stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alonso falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sakuraba counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Alonso avoids the head kick by Sakuraba.
Alonso throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alonso swinging wildly here.
Sakuraba shoots in but Alonso avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alonso connects with a looping right hand.
Sakuraba takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Alonso lunges at Sakuraba with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sakuraba's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alonso scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sakuraba moves in looking to clinch but Alonso pushes him off.
Alonso throws a shot to the body.
Alonso looks to land a combination but Sakuraba avoids it well.
Alonso will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alonso stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakuraba. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
Alonso lands with a shot to the body.
Alonso moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sakuraba looks for a takedown but Alonso sprawls well.
Yonder Alonso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nobuo Sakuraba.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alonso scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alonso digs a good hook to Sakuraba's body.
Alonso works Sakuraba's body with a nice hook.
Alonso shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakuraba defends it nicely.

Sakuraba looking to score a takedown here. Alonso is defending well but Sakuraba drives through and ends up in Alonso's guard.

Sakuraba thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakuraba would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Alonso keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alonso pushes Sakuraba off and gets back to his feet.
Alonso's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Alonso duly obliges.
Alonso throws a combination that misses
letting Sakuraba counter with a right hand.
Alonso displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
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 wants to clinch.
Nice jab there from Alonso.
Nobuo Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yonder Alonso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alonso scores with a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yonder Alonso showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alonso, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yonder Alonso!