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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Musashi Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba comes to the cage accompanied by Lose yourself. Kato has chosen 神風 as his entrance music. Musashi Kato has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 185 cm
28
199 lbs
18 - 1 - 2 |
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188 cm
29
190 lbs
18 - 6 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
18 - 1 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Musashi Kato!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Topper Green and Chris Dean.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba throws a body kick that misses.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses.
Kato staying out of range there.
Sakuraba scores with a push kick.
Good exchange - Sakuraba coming out on top.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kato!
Sakuraba attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sakuraba works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sakuraba misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kato looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakuraba is fending him off so far but Kato persists. Nope, Sakuraba circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakuraba moves in looking to clinch but Kato pushes him off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kato blocks the body kick.
Sakuraba tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kato was well out of range. Poor timing from Sakuraba.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato moves away from the strike by Sakuraba.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kato has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kazushi Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Kato blocks it.
Sloppy strikes from Sakuraba. Those never looked like landing.
Sakuraba has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kato.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuraba with a hook.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Sakuraba.
Kato fails to land with a series of punches.
Kato scores with a shot to the body.
Donk. Kato catches Sakuraba right on the button with a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakuraba getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kato connects with a nice looking jab.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba rushes Kato and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sakuraba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Our sources have told us that Sakuraba has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Sakuraba lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sakuraba lands an elbow inside.
It looks like Musashi Kato has been cut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sakuraba creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kato lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Sakuraba creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sakuraba softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kato swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kato takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sakuraba blocking some punches.
Kato misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kato goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba lands an elbow just above Kato 's eye.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sakuraba throws an elbow but misses.
Sakuraba misses with an elbow strike.
Sakuraba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sakuraba blocking some punches.
A body shot lands from Kato.
Kato tries to work over Sakuraba's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sakuraba lands a nice elbow.
Kato works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kato misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kato is leaning against Sakuraba and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sakuraba blocking some punches.
Sakuraba takes a shot to the head.
Kato misses with the head strike.
Kato is looking to take this one to 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!
Kato misses with some punches.
Sakuraba misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakuraba.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba tries to throw a body punch but Kato avoids it by throwing Sakuraba back against the cage.
Kato throws a head punch that misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato swings wildly with an uppercut but Sakuraba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakuraba lands a hook that snaps the head of Kato backwards.
Sakuraba's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sakuraba misses with an elbow strike.
Kato lands a right hand.
A head punch on the inside from Sakuraba fails to land.
Sakuraba throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Katos head.
Nice body punch from Kato.
Kato lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kato gets through Sakuraba's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sakuraba throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sakuraba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sakuraba just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kato's brow.
Kato scores with a shot to the side of Sakuraba's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba lands an elbow inside.
A short uppercut from Kato.
Kato lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kato blocks an elbow strike from Sakuraba.
Kato dodges an elbow strike from Sakuraba.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Musashi Kato will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Musashi Kato's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Kato on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
Kato pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
No joy there for Sakuraba, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sakuraba ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kato misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kato on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kato keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakuraba lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kato blocks a low kick nicely.
Sakuraba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakuraba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kato avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuraba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kato ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sakuraba takes a swing at Kato's ribcage but misses.
Sakuraba tries to land a front kick but Kato steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kato on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sakuraba. Sakuraba obviously looking to wear him down.
Kato blocks the body kick.
Kazushi Sakuraba is winning the standup battle so far.
Kato looks to land a body kick but Sakuraba moved away.
Sakuraba throws out a loose jab but Kato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakuraba lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sakuraba keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kato throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Sakuraba is looking to clinch but Kato is avoiding it.
Kato throws a solid leg kick but Sakuraba takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kato.
Nice uppercut lands for Sakuraba. That snapped Kato's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kato lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kato takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sakuraba throws a right hand that misses
and Kato counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sakuraba's knee momentarily.
Kato throws a big shot that misses.
Sakuraba moves into the clinch.
Sakuraba throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with a punch to the body.
Kato can't find room to land a body shot as Sakuraba controls the action.
Kato dodges an elbow strike from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws an elbow but it misses.
Sakuraba prevents a body shot from Kato.
Kato working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sakuraba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kato's defenses.
Kato working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kato working aggressively here.
Kato tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sakuraba misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sakuraba blocking some punches.
Kato lands an uppercut.
Sakuraba misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kato lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Kato misses with the head strike.
A short right from Sakuraba on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuraba misses with a punch on the inside.
Sakuraba misses with a punch to the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato working aggressively here.
Sakuraba lands a nice elbow.
Kato dodges an elbow strike from Sakuraba.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kato.
Sakuraba lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sakuraba digs a right hand underneath Kato's ribcage. Kato let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sakuraba pushes Kato back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sakuraba throws a head punch that misses.
Sakuraba struggles to land a body shot inside as Kato controls his hands.
A short right from Sakuraba on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sakuraba throws an elbow but misses.
Sakuraba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kato's elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sakuraba.
That has opened up Musashi Kato's cut even more.
Sakuraba working aggressively here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kato avoids the elbow strike from Sakuraba, against the cage.
Sakuraba misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Kato scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kato scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kato tries to throw a body punch but Sakuraba avoids it by throwing Kato back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Musashi Kato's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Kato goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba lands a head kick!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kato lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sakuraba has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sakuraba and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but Kato is having none of it.
Kato tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuraba tries to clinch up
and Kato counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sakuraba scores with a nice body kick.
Kato throws a leg kick but Sakuraba moved away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakuraba scores with a shot to the body.
Kato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sakuraba doesn't manage to clinch there - Kato circles away.
Sakuraba cracks Kato with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sakuraba slaps away a takedown attempt from Kato, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kato throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sakuraba's head.
Sakuraba throws a body punch but Kato moves out of range.
Kato throws a push kick but Sakuraba slaps the foot to one side.
Sakuraba throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sakuraba takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kato just misses with a punch to the body.
Kato tests Sakuraba's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Donk. Sakuraba catches Kato right on the button with a cross.
Kato moves out of range of the body kick from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba pushes Kato up against the cage in a clinch.
Sakuraba lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kato.
Sakuraba has a couple of punches blocked by Kato.
A hook to the body from Sakuraba.
Kato avoids the elbow strike from Sakuraba, against the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba has a couple of punches blocked by Kato.
Sakuraba lands an elbow just above Kato 's eye.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sakuraba throws an elbow but misses.
Kato throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kazushi Sakuraba has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sakuraba misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sakuraba lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Kato fails to land.
Sakuraba misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kato throws a punch but it's blocked by Sakuraba.
Kato misses with some punches.
Kato misses with some punches.
Sakuraba misses with an elbow over the top.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sakuraba just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kato's brow.
Sakuraba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kato is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sakuraba throws an elbow but misses.
Sakuraba misses with a punch to the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kato avoids the elbow strike from Sakuraba, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba struggles to land a body shot inside as Kato controls his hands.
Sakuraba throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kato is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sakuraba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakuraba stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kato blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kato misses with a punch to the body.
Kato is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sakuraba prevents a body shot from Kato.
Sakuraba misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Kato.
Nice body punch from Sakuraba - that landed with a thud.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kato.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kazushi Sakuraba clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Musashi Kato's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Sakuraba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice jab there from Kato.
Sakuraba moves out of range of the body kick.
Sakuraba connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kato momentarily.
Kato will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kato thuds his shin into the meat of Sakuraba's side.
Sakuraba feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kato's calf.
Sakuraba thows a leg kick but Kato checks it
and Kato counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kato trying to control the action but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Kato from controlling successfully.
Kato stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.
Kato is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakuraba has wrist control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato is in close to Sakuraba's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sakuraba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kato slips nicely into half guard.
Sakuraba wants to improve his position but Kato is controlling well.
Kato sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sakuraba defending well though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato trying to mount his opponent but Sakuraba defends it.
Kato has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakuraba is trying to stand up here but Kato is controlling him well.
Kato thows a huge punch but Sakuraba dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Kato there.
Kato is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sakuraba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to stand up but Kato is controlling him.
Kato keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Sakuraba has momentary wrist control but Kato slips an elbow through the middle.
Kato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuraba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kato wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Musashi Kato dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Musashi Kato's cut.
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. This is the final round!
Sakuraba looks to throw the jab but Kato is out of range.
Sakuraba throws the kick towards the body but Kato avoids it.
Kato fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
Kato blocks a jab.
Sakuraba lands a front kick.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut. Kato saw that one coming.
Sakuraba fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kato checks it well.
Sakuraba is looking to clinch but Kato is avoiding it.
Sakuraba looks to throw a body kick
and Kato counters with a shoot takedown. Sakuraba fights it but they end up in guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kato wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kato wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Kato might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sakuraba haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sakuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Musashi Kato has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but Kato is having none of it.
Sakuraba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakuraba checks a leg kick.
Kato on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sakuraba scores with a head kick. Kato tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Sakuraba blocks a head kick by Kato.
Sakuraba with a nice cross.
Sakuraba throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sakuraba throws a right hand that misses
and Kato counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sakuraba!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kato is putting a hurting on Sakuraba here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kato working away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato cracks Sakuraba with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kato cracks Sakuraba with a big right hand but Sakuraba just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sakuraba tries to control but Kato manages to take his back.
Kato is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Kato gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Kato gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Kato apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Sakuraba connects with a single shot there.
Kato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Sakuraba throws a lazy uppercut
and Kato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good exchange - Sakuraba coming out on top.
Sakuraba slips a jab and a cross from Kato.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looks to throw a body kick
and Kato counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kato throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kato is thwarting Sakuraba's attempts to control the position.
Kato trying to control the action but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba is pressing down on Kato's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sakuraba trying to keep a closed guard but Kato is proving a slippery customer.
And that's the end of the fight!
Musashi Kato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kato has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Erwin scores the fight 47:48
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 47:48
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 47:48
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Musashi Kato!
Musashi Kato is the new middleweight champion!
Musashi Kato decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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