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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jean-Louis Andre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naruto Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Naruto Sakuraba told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!
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| 172 cm
25
153 lbs
13 - 10 - 0 |
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175 cm
26
155 lbs
12 - 6 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jean-Louis Andre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Naruto Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andre is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sakuraba sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sakuraba throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Andre sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sakuraba's coach down at World Class Fitness and Grappling was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Sakuraba's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Andre takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Sakuraba loads up on a big right hand but Andre slips the punch.
Andre takes a swing at Sakuraba's ribcage but misses.
Sakuraba dives in for a single leg takedown but Andre sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sakuraba misses with a knee strike.
Andre unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Andre scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sakuraba wants a takedown but no success here.
Andre has a couple of punches blocked by Sakuraba.
Andre working aggressively here.
Andre misses with a hook to the ribs.
Andre looking for a takedown.
Andre breaks the clinch.
Sakuraba lands with a good body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Andre sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sakuraba throws an off balance right hand
and Andre counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sakuraba is trying to control but can't.
Nice strikes from Andre there.
Andre moves into full mount! Sakuraba won't be happy about that!
Andre throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Andre misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Andre throwing strikes here but Sakuraba is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Andre throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Andre punching from mount but Sakuraba doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Andre trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Andre prevents Sakuraba from getting the reversal.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andre throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sakuraba because Andre loaded up on that one.
Andre throws some wild stikes that Sakuraba manages to avoid easily.
Andre unloads with some shots from mount but Sakuraba bucks and avoids them well.
Andre avoids the attempt from Sakuraba to control.
Sakuraba taking shots to the head.
Andre throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position but Andre isn't that keen on the idea.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Andre.
Sakuraba is in a horrible position here. Andre smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sakuraba is trying to escape the mount.
Andre is working for a guillotine from mount but Sakuraba frees his head quite easily.
Andre looking to ground and pound but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position but Andre isn't that keen on the idea.
Sakuraba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andre scoring with strikes but Sakuraba is staying in there.
Sakuraba is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Andre passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sakuraba!
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!
Andre throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sakuraba because Andre loaded up on that one.
Sakuraba slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sakuraba trying to control here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position.
Sakuraba is staying active underneath Andre, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jean-Louis Andre dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Sakuraba staying out of range there.
Sakuraba lands a jab to the head.
Andre uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Andre connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sakuraba scrambles back to his feet.
Sakuraba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Andre throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sakuraba throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sakuraba uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Andre has time to react.
Sakuraba throws a right hand that misses
so Andre counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!
Andre trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jean-Louis Andre overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakuraba trying to keep a closed guard but Andre is proving a slippery customer.
Andre throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Andre from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Andre postures up.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sakuraba swings away with a body shot that misses
and Andre counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sakuraba's guard now.
Andre trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Andre preventing the sweep.
Andre postures up.
Andre slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sakuraba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Sakuraba enables Andre to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sakuraba manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Andre from controlling successfully.
Andre drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sakuraba manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Andre has Sakuraba in his guard.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Andre is keeping the position for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Andre keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Andre trying to control the position.
Andre is pulling down on Sakuraba's head. It's preventing any offense from Sakuraba, at least for the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Andre can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sakuraba controls the pace.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Jean-Louis Andre wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A slapping leg kick lands for Andre.
Sakuraba moves out of range of the strikes.
Andre throws a right hand that Sakuraba ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakuraba also avoids with ease.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Andre.
Andre lands with a straight right. Sakuraba didn't see that one coming.
Sakuraba closes the distance and clinches up with Andre, looking for a takedown. Sakuraba pushes Andre against the cage but Andre circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Andre throws a lazy uppercut
and Sakuraba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Andre's guard.
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 looking to pass the guard.
Andre has his foot on Sakuraba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakuraba works his way back into a safe position though.
Andre is trying to keep Sakuraba in close.
Andre working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakuraba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakuraba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jean-Louis Andre dominated that second round.
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!
Andre pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Andre throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Andre connects with a body shot that sends Sakuraba's belly button to the back.
Sakuraba works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Andre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Andre wants it to stay on the feet.
Andre scores with a sloppy right hand. Sakuraba should have avoided that one.
Naruto Sakuraba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Andre tries a head kick but it misses.
Andre connects with a body shot that sends Sakuraba's belly button to the back.
Andre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Andre wants it to stay on the feet.
Andre looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sakuraba!
Sakuraba is trying to control Andre's posture but Andre avoids it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to buck Andre off but Andre is having none of it.
Andre is trying to get an arm triangle but Sakuraba is defending well.
Sakuraba regains half guard.
Andre is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Sakuraba still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Sakuraba has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Andre manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sakuraba's best efforts.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Andre makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Andre.
Sakuraba pushes down on Andre's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Andre trying to control from the bottom.
Naruto Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andre wants to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Andre doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Andre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is working for a submission of some sort.
Sakuraba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sakuraba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Andre doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakuraba.
Sakuraba prevents Andre from improving his position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba seems to be looking for submissions.
Andre is pressing down on Sakuraba's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sakuraba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Andre is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Sakuraba has his hands clasped together but Andre extends and breaks Sakuraba's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Andre.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jean-Louis Andre!
During a confident post fight interview, Jean-Louis Andre thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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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
69% |
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