PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nero Fire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Sakuraba will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Fire
vs
Sakuraba

155 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
152 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nero Fire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fire swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Fire as Sakuraba shoots in.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown.
Nero Fire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Fire misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Sakuraba shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sakuraba showed some decent athleticism there.
Fire might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sakuraba stalling.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kazushi Sakuraba wasn't active enough on the ground.
Fire throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown but Fire shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba goes for a double leg but Fire avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fire continues to drive forward.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Fire manages to get underhooks.
Fire looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Fire's face as he tries to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakuraba.
Fire is trying to push Sakuraba away but Sakuraba has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Fire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fire lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sakuraba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fire swivels and escapes.
Sakuraba shoots for a takedown but Fire saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sakuraba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fire is breathing heavily.
Sakuraba fails to land the takedown.
Sakuraba shoots in but Fire avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A nice combination there by Fire.
Fire scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nero Fire is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fire fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba slips a jab and a cross from Fire.
Fire looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown but Fire shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sakuraba shoots in looking for a takedown but Fire manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sakuraba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuraba dives in and grabs Fire's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fire pushes down on Sakuraba's head and hops out.
Fire stalks Sakuraba and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sakuraba's face. Sakuraba staggers backwards, shaken.
Danga de danga de dang - Fire scores with a four punch combination!
Sakuraba closes the distance and clinches up with Fire, looking for a takedown. Sakuraba pushes Fire against the cage but Fire circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fire pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sakuraba back to the cage. Fire follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Sakuraba gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba controlling the pace.
Sakuraba is keen to just control but Fire is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba not doing much here.
It looks like Sakuraba might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Fire pushes Sakuraba off looking to stand but Sakuraba dives back in and keeps control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kazushi Sakuraba.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sakuraba is defended easily by Fire.
Some wild striking there from Fire.

Sakuraba looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Fire!

Sakuraba is trying to get an arm triangle but Fire is defending well.
Sakuraba taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fire has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fire is trying to get back to his feet.

Sakuraba is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Fire looks calm but he's in trouble here. Sakuraba gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Fire is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Sakuraba lets go of the hold and Fire can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kazushi Sakuraba!