PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Domingo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sakurai's choice of entrance music: Blood Rave. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Domingo
vs
Sakurai

188 cm
23
222 lbs
14 - 2 - 0

192 cm
20
220 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jorge Domingo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hiro Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Domingo throws a right hand that Sakurai ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakurai also avoids with ease.
Sakurai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Domingo tries to avoid it but Sakurai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Domingo to the ground. Domingo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sakurai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Domingo swivels and escapes.
Sakurai dives in for a single leg takedown but Domingo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jorge Domingo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Sakurai.
Domingo controlling the action here for a moment.
Domingo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakurai drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Domingo lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakurai backwards.
Sakurai fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Domingo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short right from Domingo on the inside.
Sakurai looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Domingo can't find room to land a body shot as Sakurai controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Domingo lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakurai backwards.
Sakurai has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Domingo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Domingo has a couple of punches blocked by Sakurai.
Domingo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Domingo.
A short uppercut from Domingo.
Domingo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sakurai backwards.
A short left from Domingo.
Domingo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Sakurai is rocked!
Domingo stalling.

Sakurai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sakurai shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakurai shoots and misses
and Domingo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Domingo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sakurai.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Domingo throws a series of punches but Sakurai avoids them all with ease.
Sakurai shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Domingo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sakurai shoots in for a double leg but Domingo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sakurai misses with a takedown
and Domingo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Domingo throws a good cross that connects.
Sakurai is still on wobbly legs! Can Domingo finish him?
Domingo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sakurais jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sakurai slips a jab and a cross from Domingo.
Sakurai seems to have recovered his senses.
Domingo throws a series of punches but Sakurai avoids them all with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Domingo. No joy for Sakurai on that attempt.
Domingo lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai with a lazy takedown attempt
and Domingo counters with a stiff right hand.
Sakurai has his takedown stuffed
and Sakurai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sakurai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sakurai or perhaps it was just good defense by Domingo, which made it look bad.
Domingo is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sakurai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sakurai tries to clinch there but Domingo circles away.
Domingo fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakurai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Domingo counters with a nice body shot.
We've been told by Domingo's head coaches at Brown House that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sakurai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Domingo punishes Sakurai's body with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Domingo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sakurai.
Domingo scores with a three punch combo!
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!
Sakurai tries to clinch but Domingo moves away
and Domingo counters with a straight right hand.
Domingo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sakurai slips a straight right by Domingo.
Domingo lands with a straight right. Sakurai didn't see that one coming.
Sakurai moves to clinch but Domingo breaks away
and Domingo counters with a series of strikes. Sakurai will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakurai takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Domingo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sakurais jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sakurai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Domingo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Domingo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Domingo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Sakurai looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Domingo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Domingo holds on and takes a little breather.
Domingo keeping moving, preventing Sakurai from controlling successfully.
Sakurai stands up over Domingo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Domingo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sakurai trying to control but Domingo is working from the bottom.
Sakurai looking to sit in guard and control but Domingo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sakurai is trying to keep Domingo in close.
Sakurai wants to sweep but no luck.

Domingo gets to his feet - Sakurai follows without any prompting.
Domingo misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Domingo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sakurai.
Domingo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Domingo can't do much from the bottom here.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Domingo is working from the bottom.
Sakurai is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Domingo's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Sakurai has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sakurai working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakurai throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sakurai in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sakurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Domingo keeps working.
Sakurai sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Domingo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Domingo is trying to control Sakurai's posture but Sakurai avoids it.
Domingo prevents Sakurai from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Domingo keeps working.
Domingo tries to buck Sakurai off but Sakurai is having none of it.

Sakurai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hiro Sakurai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakurai sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Domingo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Sakurai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Domingo keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakurai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Domingo avoids it really well and circles away.
Domingo misses with a hook. Sakurai ducked under it nicely.
Sakurai slips a jab and a cross from Domingo.
Sakurai slips a jab and a cross from Domingo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai wants to clinch.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown but Domingo shows good takedown defense.
Sakurai tries to clinch but Domingo moves away
and Domingo counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai takes one on the button.
Sakurai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jorge Domingo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Sakurai.
Sakurai closes the distance looking to clinch
and Domingo counters with a straight right hand.
Sakurai wants to clinch.
Sakurai closes the distance looking to clinch
and Domingo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Jorge Domingo is winning the standup battle so far.
Sakurai has a takedown stuffed.
Domingo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sakurai has his takedown stuffed
and Domingo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Domingo lands the left hand.
Hiro Sakurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Domingo throws out a loose jab but Sakurai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakurai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Domingo avoids it really well and circles away.
Domingo keeps the fight on the outside.
Domingo defending well as Sakurai loads up on a big left hand.
Sakurai with a poor takedown
and Domingo counters with a three punch combo that has Sakurai backing up. Sakurai nods at Domingo to acknowledge the strikes.
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!
Domingo throws a series of punches but Sakurai avoids them all with ease.
Sakurai shoots in but Domingo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice sprawl there from Domingo as Sakurai shoots in.
Sakurai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Domingo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sakurai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch but Domingo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Domingo works over Sakurai's head and body with a nice combination.
Sakurai looks for a takedown but Domingo sprawls well.
Sakurai shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Domingo pinned against the cage. Domingo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Domingo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Domingo dips to his left and cracks Sakurai with an uppercut!
Domingo stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakurai. Sakurai gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakurai shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Domingo sprawls well. Domingo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sakurai gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Domingo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Domingo wants it to stay on the feet.
Sakurai tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Domingo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sakurai moves out of range of the strikes.
Domingo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Domingo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sakurai on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Jorge Domingo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakurai slips under a jab from Domingo.
Sakurai tries to clinch but Domingo moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Domingo lands an overhand right.
Sakurai takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sakurai misses with a takedown attempt - Domingo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jorge Domingo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Domingo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jorge Domingo!
An out of breath Jorge Domingo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.