PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arturo Gatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Sakuragi
vs
Gatti

190 cm
35
194 lbs
13 - 20 - 0

176 cm
34
185 lbs
15 - 22 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 20 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arturo Gatti!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatti leaves Sakuragi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sakuragi takes a swing at Gatti's ribcage but misses.
Sakuragi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gatti swinging wildly here.
Sakuragi throws a right hand that Gatti ducks under and follows up with a left that Gatti also avoids with ease.
Gatti throws a shot to the body.
Sakuragi shoots in looking for a takedown but Gatti manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sakuragi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hanamichi Sakuragi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A low kick from Gatti misses

and Sakuragi counters with a takedown into side control.
Sakuragi moves into full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gatti is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Gatti regains half guard.
Sakuragi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gatti is looking to improve his position.
Sakuragi scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sakuragi slips a nice elbow through Gatti's hands, connecting with Gatti's forehead.
Sakuragi working the head and body with strikes.
Sakuragi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gatti taking some punishment here, with Sakuragi in his half guard.
Gatti trying to control here.
Sakuragi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gatti trying to control but Sakuragi postures up.
Gatti wants to get back to full guard.
Gatti wants to get back to his feet.
Sakuragi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuragi prevents Gatti from standing back up.
Sakuragi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sakuragi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gatti defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatti blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sakuragi connects with a nice short shot to Gatti's temple.
Sakuragi 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.
Gatti keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sakuragi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gatti taking some punishment here, with Sakuragi in his half guard.

It looks like Arturo Gatti has been cut.
Gatti tries to kick Sakuragi off but Sakuragi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sakuragi throwing shots but Gatti is blocking nicely.
Sakuragi prevents Gatti from standing back up.
Sakuragi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sakuragi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sakuragi thows a huge punch but Gatti dodges it nicely.
Gatti keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gatti tries to roll over but Sakuragi keeps him under control.
Gatti on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gatti has hold of Sakuragi's hands but Sakuragi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sakuragi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sakuragi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Sakuragi there.
Sakuragi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sakuragi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sakuragi thows a huge punch but Gatti dodges it nicely.
Sakuragi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gatti's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gatti manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gatti controls Sakuragi momentarily but Sakuragi frees himself.
Sakuragi is working Gatti over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sakuragi lands a couple of elbows.
Sakuragi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sakuragi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuragi won't allow Gatti to get back to his feet.
Sakuragi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sakuragi postures up.
Gatti wants to stand but Sakuragi is controlling the position.
Sakuragi chips away with some ground and pound.

Gatti is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gatti is still in real trouble! Can Sakuragi finish him?
Sakuragi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sakuragi postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Gatti covers up, he's hurt! Sakuragi keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Sakuragi and the ref steps in to end the fight! Sakuragi can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hanamichi Sakuragi!