PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yurei Sasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmed Bruce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yurei Sasaki has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sasaki
vs
Bruce

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yurei Sasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ahmed Bruce!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bruce closes the distance and pushes Sasaki back into the cage.
Sasaki can't break the clinch.
Sasaki throws a punch but it's blocked by Bruce.
Bruce blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bruce keeps control of Sasaki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A bit of stalling here from Bruce.
Sasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sasaki has had enough of the clinch but Bruce keeps him there for the moment.
Sasaki stops a takedown attempt from Bruce.
Sasaki is trying to break the clinch but Bruce has him pressed against the cage.
Sasaki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Bruce breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bruce prevents Sasaki from breaking the clinch.
Sasaki wants to break free but Bruce has control.
Bruce prevents Sasaki from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce keeps control of Sasaki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Bruce drags the fight down to the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Bruce had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sasaki defends it easily.
Bruce seems keen to control Sasaki's posture.
Sasaki chips away with some ground and pound.
Bruce utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Bruce scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sasaki leaves Bruce with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bruce throws a series of punches but Sasaki avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruce is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sasaki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yurei Sasaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahmed Bruce.
Bruce fails with a takedown attempt.
Bruce lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Bruce looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bruce wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruce is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sasaki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A punch combination from Bruce misses.
Bruce moves in looking to clinch but Sasaki pushes him off.

Bruce closes the distance and clinches.
Bruce prevents Sasaki from breaking the clinch.
Sasaki can't break the clinch.

Bruce pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bruce fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sasaki avoids it really well and circles away.
Bruce looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruce is looking to clinch but Sasaki is avoiding it.

Bruce shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sasaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bruce slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmed Bruce dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Horrible takedown by Bruce or perhaps it was just good defense by Sasaki which made him look bad.

Bruce clinches.
Sasaki working hard to break the clinch.

Bruce decides to pull guard.
Sasaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bruce works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Bruce throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sasaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bruce works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sasaki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sasaki landing with the ground and pound.
Bruce is pulling down on Sasaki's head. It's preventing any offense from Sasaki, at least for the moment.
Bruce has a closed guard, preventing Sasaki from standing up.
Sasaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bruce managing to control the position.
Bruce looking for a sweep. Not yet Bruce, not yet.
Sasaki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bruce looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sasaki throwing strikes but missing.
Bruce controlling Sasaki's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sasaki lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sasaki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ahmed Bruce has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bruce looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sasaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bruce looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sasaki stopping the sweep attempt from Bruce.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sasaki working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bruce wriggles free and stands up.

Bruce drives through and clinches with Sasaki against the cage.
Sasaki is trying to force a seperation but Bruce has the dominant position.
Sasaki tries to break the clinch but Bruce is controlling the position.

Bruce breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bruce instigates a clinch.
Bruce pushes Sasaki back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sasaki working hard to break the clinch.
Bruce tries to land knees in the clinch but Sasaki avoids the damage to the body.
Sasaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Bruce won't allow it.
Sasaki is trying to break the clinch but Bruce is controlling him.
Bruce lands a knee to the head.
Bruce goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sasaki prevents it.
Bruce is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruce has Sasaki pressed against the cage, preventing Sasaki from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bruce keeps control of Sasaki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sasaki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sasaki wants to break free but Bruce has control.
Sasaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Bruce won't allow it.
Sasaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Bruce breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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!
Bruce misses with a few strikes there.
Bruce changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sasaki tries to avoid it but Bruce manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sasaki to the ground. Sasaki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yurei Sasaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahmed Bruce.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bruce misses with a looping left.
Sasaki leaves Bruce with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ahmed Bruce will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Sasaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sasaki leaves Bruce with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bruce shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sasaki defends it nicely.
Bruce misses with a takedown attempt - Sasaki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Yurei Sasaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahmed Bruce.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bruce tries to close the distance and clinch but Sasaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yurei Sasaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce moves in looking to clinch but Sasaki pushes him off.
Sasaki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bruce.
Bruce takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bruce shoots for a takedown but Sasaki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bruce looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bruce looks for a takedown but Sasaki sprawls well.
Bruce doesn't manage to clinch there - Sasaki circles away.
Yurei Sasaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruce shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sasaki but Sasaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bruce shoots in for a takedown but Sasaki shows good takedown defense.
Bruce wants to clinch up but Sasaki keeps it at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bruce.
Bruce shoots in but Sasaki avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruce wants to clinch.
Bruce shoots in looking for a takedown. Sasaki tries to sprawl out of it but Bruce keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sasaki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Bruce with that takedown attempt.
Bruce shoots in for a takedown but Sasaki shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruce fails with the takedown.
Bruce tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sasaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sasaki stuffs the takedown.
Bruce closes the distance and clinches up with Sasaki, looking for a takedown. Bruce pushes Sasaki against the cage but Sasaki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ahmed Bruce seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bruce shoots in but Sasaki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bruce misses with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ahmed Bruce comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bruce has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmed Bruce!