PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Woolett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Woolett
vs
Sakuragi

190 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shawn Woolett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tim Sakuragi!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woolett tries for a takedown but Sakuragi circles away easily
and Sakuragi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Woolett with a poor takedown
and Sakuragi counters with a three punch combo that has Woolett backing up. Woolett nods at Sakuragi to acknowledge the strikes.
Sakuragi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Woolett looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Woolett lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Woolett.

It looks like Tim Sakuragi has been cut.
Woolett wants to clinch

and Sakuragi counters by clinching up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice left hand lands by Sakuragi.
Sakuragi prevents Woolett from breaking the clinch.
Sakuragi unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Sakuragi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sakuragi should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Woolett swinging wildly here.
Woolett loads up on a big right hand but Sakuragi slips the punch.

Sakuragi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuragi breaks the clinch.
Sakuragi lands a body shot.
Woolett has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sakuragi scores with a hook.
Woolett with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakuragi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Woolett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Woolett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sakuragi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sakuragi closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Shawn Woolett has been cut.
Woolett shoots and misses

and Sakuragi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sakuragi.
Woolett wants a takedown.
Woolett is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sakuragi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Woolett is breathing heavily.
Woolett trying to land knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sakuragi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Woolett throws a wild body kick that Sakuragi sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woolett takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sakuragi throws a sloppy head kick and Woolett moves out of range easily.
Sakuragi looks to land a combination. Woolett sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sakuragi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Woolett.
Sakuragi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Sakuragi has eaten all the pies!

Sakuragi takes the fight into the clinch.
Woolett tries to score a body lock takedown but Sakuragi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Sakuragi manages to break the clinch.
Woolett throws a head kick but Sakuragi moves out of range.
Woolett digs a good body shot into Sakuragi's ribs.
Sakuragi lands with a nice combination. Woolett backs away looking to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woolett looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Woolett closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sakuragi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Woolett gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sakuragi counters with a head kick.
Sakuragi lands with a hook. Woolett tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sakuragi stuffs the takedown.
Tim Sakuragi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuragi blocks a head kick by Woolett.
Sakuragi jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Woolett thows a leg kick but Sakuragi checks it
and Sakuragi counters with a straight right hand.
Nice straight punches there by Sakuragi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sakuragi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuragi sizes up Woolett with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Woolett takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sakuragi is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Woolett had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

Sakuragi pushes Woolett up against the cage in a clinch.
Sakuragi lands a shot to the body.

Sakuragi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Woolett walks into a stiff left hand from Sakuragi.
Woolett fails to land the takedown.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuragi connects with a looping right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Woolett. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Sakuragi dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Woolett is looking to land body kicks.
Sakuragi scores with a jab.

Sakuragi moves into the clinch.
Sakuragi cracks Woolett with a nice body shot.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Woolett. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Sakuragi digs a right hand into Woolett's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Woolett's gas tank.
Still in the clinch, Sakuragi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nice body punch from Sakuragi - that landed with a thud.
Sakuragi is working Woolett over against the cage.
Woolett has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sakuragi blocks an elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuragi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sakuragi lunges at Woolett with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Woolett's hand.

Sakuragi clinches with his opponent.
Woolett can't get the takedown.

Sakuragi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakuragi throws a leg kick which misses Woolett's front leg but catches the back leg as Woolett tries to avoid it.
Shawn Woolett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuragi misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakuragi has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Woolett.

Sakuragi feints and as Woolett raises his hands in defense, Sakuragi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sakuragi looking to pass the guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Woolett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakuragi's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woolett wants to control from the top but Sakuragi keeps moving.
Woolett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuragi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Woolett trying to control but Sakuragi is working from the bottom.
Sakuragi pulls Woolett in close to prevent any damage.
Woolett looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woolett wants to stand but Sakuragi is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Shawn Woolett.
Sakuragi jabs Woolett right on the nose. Woolett blinks but takes it well.

Sakuragi gets a clinch.
Woolett struggles to land a body shot inside as Sakuragi controls his hands.

Sakuragi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Woolett fails to land the takedown.
Woolett darts in looking for a takedown but Sakuragi gets double underhooks and turns Woolett into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Woolett. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi stalling in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi has Woolett pressed against the cage.
Woolett tries to pull guard but Sakuragi won't allow it.
Sakuragi avoiding damage as Woolett throws knees to the body.
A short right from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Woolett backwards.
Sakuragi prevents Woolett from breaking the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Woolett tries to pull guard but Sakuragi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sakuragi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sakuragi has Woolett pushed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Sakuragi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Woolett walks into a left hand.
Woolett walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Woolett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakuragi was well out of range. Poor timing from Woolett.
Sakuragi lands a right hook to the body.
Woolett shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sakuragi as he avoids it easily.
Sakuragi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Woolett's head.
Sakuragi swats away the attempt to clinch by Woolett.

Sakuragi pushes Woolett up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sakuragi.
Woolett pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakuragi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Sakuragi breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuragi moves into the clinch.
Woolett tries to stall but Sakuragi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Sakuragi breaks from the clinch.
Woolett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sakuragi sprawls well. Sakuragi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Woolett gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakuragi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Woolett counters with a three punch combo that has Sakuragi backing up. Sakuragi nods at Woolett to acknowledge the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Woolett fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Woolett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuragi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Woolett on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Sakuragi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sakuragi connects with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Woolett wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi is struggling to control the position.
Woolett wants to get back to striking at distance but Sakuragi won't allow it.

Sakuragi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Woolett tries to move into range but Sakuragi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Good shot there by Sakuragi.
Woolett tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sakuragi counters with a stiff right hand.

Sakuragi moves into the clinch.
A short right from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi gets underhooks to prevent Woolett's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Woolett's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sakuragi presses Woolett against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Woolett tries to circle away but Sakuragi has him pinned against the cage.

Sakuragi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sakuragi scores with a jab to the jaw.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Woolett.
Sakuragi clobbers Woolett with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A left and a right from Sakuragi both land. Nice combination.
Sakuragi misses with the combination.
Sakuragi lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sakuragi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuragi lands a nice hook to Woolett's body. Woolett takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sakuragi misses with a few strikes there.
Tim Sakuragi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jab from Sakuragi.
Woolett is looking to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakuragi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Woolett moves forwards but Sakuragi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Woolett with a poor takedown
and Sakuragi counters with a straight right hand.
Shawn Woolett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tim Sakuragi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Woolett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Sakuragi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sakuragi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Sakuragi!