|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Jaffer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naruto Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jaffer comes to the cage accompanied by DubRaider- Starry Eyes. 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.
 |
|
 |
| 179 cm
27
146 lbs
16 - 5 - 0 |
|
175 cm
24
155 lbs
9 - 3 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin |
|
Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Powerful |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Jaffer!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Naruto Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jaffer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Sakuraba tries to land a front kick but Jaffer steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sakuraba throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jaffer throws a nice head kick!
Jaffer blocks a head kick by Sakuraba.
Jaffer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jaffer lands a jab.
James Jaffer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jaffer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jaffer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jaffer tries to clinch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Sakuraba tries a head kick but it misses.
We've been told by Jaffer's head coaches at EUOLUCAO MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Jaffer fails to land with a series of punches.
Jaffer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sakuraba misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jaffer.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jaffer fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jaffer throws a series of punches but Sakuraba avoids them all with ease.
No joy there for Jaffer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jaffer throws a body punch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Sakuraba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jaffer swivels and escapes.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Jaffer throws a nice looking combination but Sakuraba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jaffer throws a series of punches but Sakuraba avoids them all with ease.
Jaffer cracks Sakuraba with a good jab.
Sakuraba misses with a leg kick
and Jaffer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jaffer prevents the takedown attempt.
James Jaffer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Naruto Sakuraba.
Jaffer lands a body punch in the clinch.
Jaffer avoiding damage as Sakuraba throws knees to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaffer with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba drags the fight down to the ground.
Jaffer trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Jaffer stays in close to Sakuraba's body and controls the position.
Jaffer stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba pulls Jaffer in to control the position.
Jaffer won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of James Jaffer.
Jaffer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sakuraba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jaffer misses with a wild combination.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Jaffer.
Sakuraba ducks under a wild hook from Jaffer.
A nice combination there by Jaffer.
Jaffer throws a head kick that misses.
Sakuraba gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jaffer to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Jaffer is stalling in the full guard.
Jaffer passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sakuraba gets back to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba won't allow Jaffer to pass to mount.
Sakuraba tries to kick Jaffer off but Jaffer keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jaffer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Jaffer is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Sakuraba reverses the position - he's now on top in Jaffer's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
James Jaffer dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Jaffer closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuraba, looking for a takedown. Jaffer pushes Sakuraba against the cage but Sakuraba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jaffer stuns Sakuraba with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sakuraba lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jaffer at a distance.
Jaffer closes the distance and clinches.
Jaffer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sakuraba successfully pulls guard.
Sakuraba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakuraba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakuraba is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sakuraba looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sakuraba is looking to stand up but Jaffer isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Naruto Sakuraba wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jaffer has Sakuraba up against the cage in a clinch.
Jaffer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jaffer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jaffer throws a punch but it's blocked by Sakuraba.
Jaffer looking to slow down the pace here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Jaffer.
Jaffer wants a takedown but no success here.
Sakuraba manages to break the clinch.
Jaffer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakuraba defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Jaffer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jaffer throws a big shot that misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba avoids the body shot from Jaffer.
Jaffer tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuraba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jaffer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Jaffer misses with a punch to the body.
Sakuraba blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch but Jaffer keeps him there for the moment.
Jaffer has Sakuraba pressed against the cage, preventing Sakuraba from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sakuraba is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jaffer is defending well.
Sakuraba looking to throw knees to the head but Jaffer is blocking nicely.
Sakuraba is trying to force a seperation but Jaffer has the dominant position.
Jaffer is working Sakuraba over against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba is pressed up against the cage. Jaffer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sakuraba down to the mat. Sakuraba avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to keep at a distance but Jaffer has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sakuraba is trying to force a seperation but Jaffer has the dominant position.
Sakuraba taking a breather.
Jaffer is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sakuraba tries to break the clinch but Jaffer is controlling the position.
Sakuraba breaks from the clinch.
Jaffer looks to score with a jab to the body but Sakuraba is just out of range.
Jaffer avoids the head kick by Sakuraba.
Jaffer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sakuraba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jaffer clinches up with Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Jaffer.
Sakuraba breaks the clinch.
James Jaffer is winning the standup battle so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba ducks under a wild hook from Jaffer.
Sakuraba tries to close the distance and clinch but Jaffer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sakuraba is looking to clinch.
Jaffer pushes Sakuraba up against the cage in a clinch.
Jaffer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Jaffer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sakuraba breaks the clinch.
James Jaffer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jaffer clinches up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jaffer scores a nice knee to the body.
Sakuraba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jaffer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jaffer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jaffer looking to slow down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
James Jaffer dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Sakuraba stuffs the takedown.
Jaffer scores with a decent looking hook.
Jaffer misses with a wild body shot.
Sakuraba shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Jaffer is trying to control but can't.
Jaffer gets full guard.
Jaffer pulls Sakuraba in close to prevent any damage.
Jaffer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sakuraba is in close to Jaffer's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sakuraba pushing down on Jaffer's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sakuraba is looking to stall here but Jaffer recovers full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba gets to his feet. Jaffer looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jaffer throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Jaffer lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sakuraba moves into range and clinches up with Jaffer.
Sakuraba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sakuraba dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Jaffer can't get the takedown.
Jaffer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sakuraba tries to land a knee to the head but Jaffer blocks with his arms.
Jaffer gets underhooks to prevent Sakuraba's takedown attempt.
James Jaffer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sakuraba drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jaffer pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaffer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jaffer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Jaffer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakuraba shoots in and drives through. Jaffer sprawls well.
James Jaffer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Naruto Sakuraba.
Jaffer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sakuraba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jaffer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sakuraba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jaffer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jaffer throws a body punch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
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 tries to clinch up but Jaffer circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakuraba looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jaffer throws a series of punches but Sakuraba avoids them all with ease.
Sakuraba blocks a jab.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaffer throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sakuraba takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jaffer closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jaffer tries a body shot but Sakuraba blocks it.
Jaffer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sakuraba softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sakuraba tries to score a body lock takedown but Jaffer shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jaffer trying to stall but Sakuraba improves his position.
Jaffer can't get the takedown.
Sakuraba gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Jaffer gets back to full guard.
Jaffer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuraba is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba working some strikes from top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakuraba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sakuraba postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sakuraba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jaffer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jaffer is keeping the position for now.
Sakuraba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sakuraba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sakuraba distracts Jaffer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Jaffer keeps moving.
Jaffer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakuraba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jaffer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close third round but Naruto Sakuraba just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Jaffer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Jaffer tries to bum rush Sakuraba with a series of wild strikes but Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jaffer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakuraba has a takedown stuffed.
Jaffer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jaffer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jaffer takes the fight into the clinch.
Sakuraba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jaffer lands with a short shot to the head.
Jaffer struggles to land a body shot inside as Sakuraba controls his hands.
Jaffer trying to land knees to the body.
Jaffer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaffer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jaffer misses with some punches.
Sakuraba misses with a body punch.
Jaffer trying to land knees to the body.
Sakuraba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jaffer backwards.
Sakuraba pulls guard.
Sakuraba wants to stand but Jaffer is controlling the position.
Sakuraba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jaffer is one step ahead there.
Sakuraba is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sakuraba being controlled here, momentarily.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sakuraba tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jaffer is able to avoid easily.
Jaffer tries to clinch but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Jaffer swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakuraba.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sakuraba crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Jaffer - the referee stops the clock and Sakuraba gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Jaffer. Sakuraba manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a body kick that misses.
Jaffer is looking to wear down Sakuraba with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jaffer misses with a two punch combination.
Jaffer rushes Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jaffer scores with a shoulder strike.
Sakuraba prevents a body shot from Jaffer.
Jaffer is trying to drag Sakuraba to the mat but Sakuraba just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jaffer drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sakuraba has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Jaffer seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Sakuraba can turn it around.
Jaffer looking to stall.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jaffer.
Jaffer tries to work over Sakuraba's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jaffer drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sakuraba pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Jaffer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jaffer misses the body punch
and Sakuraba counters with a series of strikes. Jaffer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sakuraba ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jaffer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jaffer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakuraba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sakuraba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jaffer is looking to sweep but instead, Sakuraba has passed into half guard.
Jaffer tries to kick Sakuraba off but Sakuraba keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that James Jaffer will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Sakuraba wants to clinch up but Jaffer keeps it at a distance.
Jaffer misses with a wild body shot.
Sakuraba tries a head kick but it misses.
No joy there for Sakuraba, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jaffer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jaffer tries a body shot but Sakuraba blocks it.
Sakuraba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sakuraba is trying to break free.
Jaffer lands a nice uppercut.
Sakuraba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jaffer gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but Jaffer holds him up against the cage and eventually Sakuraba drops back down to his feet.
Jaffer has a couple of punches blocked by Sakuraba.
Jaffer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jaffer digs a good hook to Sakuraba's body.
Jaffer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sakuraba walks into a left hand.
Jaffer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Jaffer scores with a four punch combination!
A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
Jaffer scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jaffer manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sakuraba on his heels. He'll look to pass Sakuraba's guard now, I'm sure.
Jaffer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sakuraba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jaffer.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jaffer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sakuraba manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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!
Jaffer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakuraba fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sakuraba is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jaffer is trying desperately to improve position.
Jaffer is trying to stand.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Jaffer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Jaffer is in a horrible position here. Sakuraba smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Naruto Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakuraba prevents Jaffer from getting the reversal.
Sakuraba working Jaffer over with strikes here.
Sakuraba trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sakuraba looking to finish Jaffer with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jaffer!
Sakuraba lands with some strikes.
Sakuraba lands a nice shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sakuraba pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Jaffer is rocked!
Sakuraba thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sakuraba landing strikes from the mount.
Oh Jaffer is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaffer is trying desperately to improve position.
Jaffer seems to have got his legs back now.
Jaffer is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Jaffer is looking to get to half guard.
Sakuraba tries to control but Jaffer wriggling away.
Jaffer tries to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
Sakuraba lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jaffer wants to control but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Sakuraba landing strikes from the mount and Jaffer is in trouble!
James Jaffer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jaffer is bucking up trying to escape but Sakuraba cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that's the end of the fight!
Naruto Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jaffer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 48:47
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 48:48
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 48:48
The fight is ruled a majority draw!
James Jaffer retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
