PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leon Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leon Lewis is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Lewis
vs
Sakuraba

187 cm
20
248 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
275 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Leon Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.

Lewis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sakuraba, pushing him back against the cage.
Sakuraba tries to circle away but Lewis has him pinned against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lewis creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lewis lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sakuraba.
Lewis lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lewis lands a nice uppercut.
Lewis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Sakuraba is trying to push Lewis away but Lewis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lewis lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lewis keeps control of Sakuraba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lewis lands a right hand.
Sakuraba can't break the clinch.
Lewis lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Sakuraba is trying to pull guard but Lewis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sakuraba 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.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch but Lewis keeps him there for the moment.
Nice body punch from Lewis - that landed with a thud.
Lewis slows down the pace here.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch but Lewis keeps him there for the moment.
Sakuraba is looking to break free of the clinch but Lewis has double underhooks.
A short right from Lewis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sakuraba tries to break the clinch but Lewis is controlling the position.
Lewis lands with a right to the head.
Lewis scores with a nice hook to the head.

It looks like Kazushi Sakuraba has been cut.

Lewis manages to break the clinch.
Lewis with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Lewis drives through and clinches with Sakuraba against the cage.
Lewis lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Lewis stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lewis lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lewis lands with a short shot to the head.
Lewis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lewis gets underhooks to prevent Sakuraba's takedown attempt.
Sakuraba looks winded!
Lewis tries to land a knee to the head but Sakuraba blocks with his arms.
Lewis lands a nice uppercut.
Sakuraba is trying to break free.
Lewis lands a nice shot to the body.

Lewis breaks the clinch.
Lewis moves in looking to clinch but Sakuraba pushes him off.
We've been told by Lewis's head coaches at [CBK] Punch-kicker Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Lewis doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuraba circles away.
Leon Lewis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis wants to clinch.

Lewis closes the distance and clinches.
Lewis working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lewis lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sakuraba or not.
Sakuraba wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sakuraba tries to break free but Lewis pushes him back against the cage.
Sakuraba is trying to push Lewis away but Lewis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lewis lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lewis.
A shot in the inside from Lewis.
Lewis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sakuraba is trying to push Lewis away but Lewis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lewis gets through Sakuraba's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sakuraba tries to circle away but Lewis has him pinned against the cage.
Lewis has Sakuraba pressed against the cage, preventing Sakuraba from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A body shot lands from Lewis.
Lewis tries to land a knee to the head but Sakuraba blocks with his arms.
Lewis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis prevents Sakuraba from breaking the clinch.
Sakuraba tries to break free but Lewis pushes him back against the cage.
Lewis scores with a shoulder strike.
A short uppercut from Lewis.
Sakuraba takes a shot to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Lewis.
Lewis lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Lewis softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sakuraba wants to break free but Lewis has control.
Lewis lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lewis scores with a hook to the body.
A short right from Lewis.
Sakuraba tries to break the clinch but Lewis is controlling the position.
Lewis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lewis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lewis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short left from Lewis.
Lewis lands with a right to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lewis lands a right hand.
Lewis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba working hard to break the clinch.
Sakuraba is looking for a takedown.
Leon Lewis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
A short right from Lewis on the inside.
A short left from Lewis.
Lewis scores with a shot to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Lewis lands with a right to the head.
Sakuraba wants to get back to striking at distance but Lewis won't allow it.
Sakuraba wants to break free but Lewis has control.
Lewis lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lewis taking a breather.
Lewis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lewis lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Lewis lands a shot to the body.
Lewis throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sakuraba is trying to break free.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lewis lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch but Lewis keeps him there for the moment.
Lewis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Lewis prevents Sakuraba from breaking the clinch.
Lewis lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Lewis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Sakuraba's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lewis ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lewis throws a series of punches but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Lewis 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.
Lewis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuraba swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Lewis moves into the clinch.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch but Lewis keeps him there for the moment.
Lewis lands with a short shot to the head.
Lewis lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lewis.
Leon Lewis has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lewis lands with a left to the head.
Lewis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sakuraba has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lewis gets through Sakuraba's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Lewis.
Lewis throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lewis softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Lewis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lewis is looking to clinch.
Lewis wants to clinch up but Sakuraba keeps it at a distance.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Lewis here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Lewis lands a left and a right that sends Sakuraba crashing to the canvas! Lewis dives into mount looking to finish!

Sakuraba is rocked!

That has opened up Kazushi Sakuraba's cut even more.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lewis controlling from the full mount.
Sakuraba is still in real trouble! Can Lewis finish him?
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba seems to have recovered his senses.
Lewis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sakuraba can do to turn this around?
Sakuraba is looking to get to half guard.
Lewis controlling the position easily from mount.
Sakuraba really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lewis content just to control the position here.
Sakuraba working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis controlling from mount.
Sakuraba really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lewis looking to control but Sakuraba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lewis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lewis trying to control but he's not successful this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Leon Lewis just wasn't active enough.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lewis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lewis takes the fight into the clinch.
Lewis softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Lewis.
Lewis scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lewis lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lewis lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sakuraba or not.
Lewis is pushing Sakuraba up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sakuraba is trying to pull guard but Lewis has him pressed against the cage.
Lewis connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sakuraba's face.

The cut above Kazushi Sakuraba's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Lewis lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sakuraba.
Lewis scores with a shot to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Lewis scores with a shoulder strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Lewis.
Lewis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Lewis misses with a knee to the head.
Lewis lands a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuraba wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lewis has him pressed against the cage.
Lewis lands with a right to the head.
Lewis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sakuraba wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lewis has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lewis lands a body shot.
Lewis lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lewis landing knees to the head.
Lewis scores with a shot to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Lewis throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Lewis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.

Kazushi Sakuraba's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Lewis breaks the clinch.
Sakuraba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lewis tries to clinch but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Lewis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lewis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lewis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lewis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lewis tries to clinch up.
Lewis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakuraba misses with a hook to the body

and Lewis counters by moving into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Lewis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Lewis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Sakuraba's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sakuraba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Lewis drives through and clinches with Sakuraba against the cage.
Sakuraba wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lewis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lewis just stands there and leans against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lewis.

Lewis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leon Lewis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuraba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lewis.

Lewis darts in and clinches Sakuraba up against the cage.
Lewis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lewis lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lewis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.
Sakuraba is trying to break the clinch but Lewis has him pressed against the cage.
Lewis lands a left hand.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sakuraba's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba takes a shot to the head.
Lewis lands a body punch.

Lewis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lewis tries to clinch there but Sakuraba circles away.

Lewis rushes Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lewis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sakuraba backwards.

Lewis has the Thai plumb, controlling the head nicely. He loads up with a big knee to the head and Sakuraba goes down! Lewis pounces into side control - this one could be over soon!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Kazushi Sakuraba's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Leon Lewis!
Our winner, Leon Lewis, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.