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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Massey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.
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| 190 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0 |
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182 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power |
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BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Josh Massey!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Massey fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Sakuragi as Massey shoots in.
Sakuragi misses with an uppercut.
Sakuragi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sakuragi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sakuragi is breathing heavily.
Sakuragi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sakuragi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Massey.
Hanamichi Sakuragi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Massey.
Sakuragi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Massey is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sakuragi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Massey with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Massey tries to clinch up but Sakuragi circles away and keeps his distance.
Massey wants to clinch up but Sakuragi keeps it at a distance.
Sakuragi dodges the punch combination from Massey.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Massey shoots in but no luck this time.
Massey looks for a takedown but Sakuragi sprawls well.
Sakuragi shoots in for a takedown but Massey shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Massey.
Massey dives in and grabs Sakuragi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakuragi pushes down on Massey's head and hops out.
Horrible takedown by Massey or perhaps it was just good defense by Sakuragi which made him look bad.
Massey shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sakuragi as he avoids it easily.
Massey goes for a double leg but Sakuragi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sakuragi continues to drive forward.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Massey goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sakuragi prevents it.
Massey has a couple of punches blocked by Sakuragi.
Sakuragi lands a shoulder strike.
Sakuragi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Massey attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Massey fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sakuragi fails to land the takedown.
Massey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuragi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Massey shoots for a takedown but Sakuragi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Massey.
Sakuragi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Massey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakuragi has a takedown stuffed.
Massey fails with the takedown.
Massey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sakuragi tries to avoid it but Massey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sakuragi to the ground. Sakuragi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sakuragi stuffs the takedown.
Sakuragi stuffs the takedown.
Massey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakuragi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Massey.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sakuragi is defended easily by Massey.
Massey wants to clinch up but Sakuragi keeps it at a distance.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Massey 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 Sakuragi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sakuragi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Massey doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuragi circles away.
Massey shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakuragi defends it nicely.
Sakuragi circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Massey looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakuragi is fending him off so far but Massey persists. Nope, Sakuragi circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Josh Massey dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Sakuragi clinches.
Sakuragi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sakuragi pulls guard effortlessly.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sakuragi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuragi scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Massey misses with a body kick.
Massey dives in and grabs Sakuragi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakuragi pushes down on Massey's head and hops out.
Sakuragi moves into range and clinches up with Massey.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Massey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Massey fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hanamichi Sakuragi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Massey.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi keeps control of Massey as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Massey gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi gets underhooks to prevent Massey's takedown attempt.
Massey jumps guard but Sakuragi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
I was talking to Sakuragi's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Sakuragi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Massey uses from the top position.
Sakuragi has Massey pulled in close to control his posture.
Massey wanted to stand there but Sakuragi had control of the position.
Massey wants to stand and escape but instead Sakuragi has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Massey working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakuragi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakuragi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Massey wants to sweep here but Sakuragi controlling him for the moment.
Massey looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sakuragi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massey is looking to improve his position.
Massey wants to get back to his feet.
Sakuragi controlling the pace.
Sakuragi is pressing down on Massey's thigh, looking to free his foot. Massey is holding on for now.
Sakuragi stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Massey to get to his feet.
Massey fails to land the takedown.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi moves into the clinch successfully.
Massey missing with knees to the body.
Massey tries to pull guard but Sakuragi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sakuragi breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Massey.
Massey lands a head shot.
Sakuragi avoids the head kick by Massey.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Massey throws a wild body kick that Sakuragi sees coming a mile off.
Massey throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sakuragi's waist but Sakuragi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Massey off to one side.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Massey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Hanamichi Sakuragi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Massey shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sakuragi pinned against the cage. Sakuragi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Massey with a nice cross.
Sakuragi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sakuragi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Massey sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sakuragi has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hanamichi Sakuragi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Massey misses with a leg kick.
Massey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuragi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hanamichi Sakuragi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Massey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Massey is looking to clinch but Sakuragi is avoiding it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Massey tries to clinch but Sakuragi moves out of range.
Massey attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Massey closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sakuragi circles away.
Massey swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakuragi.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Massey!
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Massey is looking for a takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sakuragi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Massey gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Massey tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sakuragi smiles and moves away.
No luck for Massey with that takedown attempt.
Massey throws a shot to the body.
Massey closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuragi, looking for a takedown. Massey pushes Sakuragi against the cage but Sakuragi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sakuragi tries to clinch but Massey is having none of it.
Massey is looking to clinch but Sakuragi is avoiding it.
Massey shoots in looking for a takedown but Sakuragi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Massey's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Massey shoots in and drives through. Sakuragi sprawls well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massey dives in and grabs Sakuragi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakuragi pushes down on Massey's head and hops out.
Sakuragi misses with a double jab.
Massey punishes Sakuragi's body with a nice straight punch.
Massey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Massey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuragi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakuragi is looking to clinch.
Massey shoots for a takedown but Sakuragi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Massey darts in looking for a takedown but Sakuragi gets double underhooks and turns Massey into the cage.
Sakuragi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sakuragi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Massey wants to control from the top but Sakuragi keeps moving.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Massey looking to pass the guard.
Sakuragi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Massey stays in close to Sakuragi's body and controls the position.
Sakuragi keeping full guard, as Massey tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Massey throws an elbow that misses. Sakuragi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Massey's guard. Nice move by Sakuragi!
And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Massey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Massey 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Massey!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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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
50% |
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