PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jin Kwo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sandstorm by Darude. Hiro Sakurai is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kwo
vs
Sakurai

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

KAISER

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jin Kwo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai swinging wildly here.

Sakurai closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kwo to the mat! Kwo manages to get full guard.
Sakurai distracts Kwo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sakurai with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kwo controlling the position.
Kwo can't keep his opponent in guard - Sakurai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sakurai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Kwo is working from the bottom.

Sakurai wants to work for an arm triangle but Kwo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kwo misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai is trying to control. Kwo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sakurai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sakurai controlling the action here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hiro Sakurai wasn't active enough on the ground.

Kwo gets caught flat footed, as Sakurai shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sakurai with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Kwo keeps moving.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kwo wants to sweep but no luck.
Sakurai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sakurai is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakurai won't allow Kwo to sweep him here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hiro Sakurai wasn't active enough on the ground.

Kwo gets caught flat footed, as Sakurai shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sakurai has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakurai postures up in Kwo's guard and throws a big left but Kwo blocks it.
Kwo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakurai on the ground.
Kwo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakurai is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai throwing strikes from guard but Kwo blocks nicely.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Kwo keeps moving.
Sakurai passes Kwo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sakurai thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Kwo with the active half guard here but Sakurai passes nicely into side control.
Kwo is breathing heavily.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Kwo is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai has hold of Kwo's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Kwo tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Sakurai cranks the arm and Kwo screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Kwo, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Hiro Sakurai!
Hiro Sakurai decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.