PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Sankara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Asano Arai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arai has chosen Fantastic Baby - BIG BANG as his entrance music. On his way into the ring it seems that Thomas Sankara has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Thomas Sankara seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Sankara
vs
Arai

184 cm
24
223 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
225 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Sankara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Asano Arai!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Sankara. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sankara.
Nice defenses there by Arai.
Sankara has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Jax Meat Off in the buildup to the fight.
Arai looks to land a body kick but Sankara moved away.
Thomas Sankara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sankara throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sankara throws a lazy uppercut
and Arai counters with a slapping leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Arai. Beautiful body shot.
Arai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sankara.
Nice uppercut there from Arai.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sankara is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Arai's half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sankara prevents Arai from improving his position.
Sankara is looking to stall here but Arai recovers full guard.
Arai looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sankara seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Arai told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Sankara throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Arai is still trying to improve position.
Sankara prevents Arai from getting back to his feet.
Arai wants to sweep here but Sankara controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arai seems keen to control Sankara's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sankara misses with a jab to the body
and Arai makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Arai looks to score with a jab to the body but Sankara is just out of range.
Sankara swings widly with a right hand
and Arai counters with a stiff right hand.
Sankara takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sankara misses with the combination.
Arai thumps Sankara with a low kick.

Arai darts in and clinches Sankara up against the ropes.
Arai lands a hook that snaps the head of Sankara backwards.
Sankara blocks an uppercut.
Sankara wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sankara has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Arai regains guard immediately.
Arai keeping moving, preventing Sankara from controlling successfully.
Arai controlling Sankara's posture.
Sankara trying to control but Arai is working from the bottom.
Sankara showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thomas Sankara wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sankara throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sankara misses with the combination.
Arai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sankara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Arai looks to score with a jab to the body but Sankara is just out of range.
Arai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sankara.
Sankara throws an off balance right hand
enabling Arai to counter with a crisp jab.
Sankara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arai.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd cheers as Sankara lands an impressive looking overhand right. Arai doesn't seem phased though.
Sankara takes one to the side of the head.
Arai throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sankara counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A shot to the liver by Arai. Beautiful body shot.
Sankara swings widly with a right hand
enabling Arai to counter with a crisp jab.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sankara blocks a leg kick.
Arai moves out of range as Sankara strikes.
Sankara uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Arai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sankara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sankara. Arai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sankara looks to land a right hand but Arai moved out of range.
A head kick misses from Sankara.
Arai connects with a nice looking jab.

Sankara is rocked!
Sankara rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Arai counters with a powerful cross that connects right on the chin and the lights go out! A massive one punch knock out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Asano Arai!
Asano Arai thanked the fans post fight for their support.