PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Viavao Kaho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaho's entrance music is Joey B - Tonga (Feat. Sarkodie) . A fine choice. Kazushi Sakuraba has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Viavao Kaho's chin.

Kaho
vs
Sakuraba

170 cm
21
163 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

176 cm
26
152 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Viavao Kaho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Ron Honeybunn and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaho gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sakuraba counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Kaho throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sakuraba passes Kaho's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sakuraba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kaho doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakuraba.
We've been hearing good reports from Kaho's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Kaho looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaho regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaho is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakuraba defends well.
Kaho is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kaho working for a triangle but Sakuraba defends it easily.

Kaho looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kaho looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Sakuraba has picked Kaho up and slammed him! Kaho can't keep hold of the triangle and Sakuraba manages to pass to side control!
Sakuraba wants to control but Kaho is keeping him busy.
Kaho is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sakuraba has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kaho is trying to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba trying to control the action but Kaho is working from the bottom.
Kaho manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kaho is thwarting Sakuraba's attempts to control the position.
Kaho tries to pass to full mount but Sakuraba defends it.
Sakuraba trying to control but Kaho postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is staying active underneath Kaho, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position.
Sakuraba is trying to maintain the position but Kaho is very close to passing his half guard.

Kaho looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kaho prevents Sakuraba from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kaho passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sakuraba!
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Kaho postures up.
Sakuraba is desperately trying to improve his position but Kaho has a good base and remains in mount.
Kaho wants to control the pace but Sakuraba is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kaho jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sakuraba manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kaho swings around for an armbar but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kaho's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kazushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sakuraba is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kaho sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaho fails with the takedown.
Viavao Kaho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sakuraba darts in looking for a takedown but Kaho gets double underhooks and turns Sakuraba into the cage.
Viavao Kaho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.

Kaho gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Kaho is looking for a kimura but Sakuraba is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kaho to get the leverage.

Kaho is looking for a kimura but Sakuraba is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kaho to get the leverage.
Kaho is looking to stall here but Sakuraba recovers full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sakuraba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kaho tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuraba is retaining full guard.
Viavao Kaho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba can't keep his opponent in guard - Kaho advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.

Kaho is looking for a kimura here.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.

Kaho is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sakuraba is staying active underneath Kaho, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kaho passes to side control.

Kaho working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sakuraba regains half guard.

Kaho seems to be looking for submissions.
Kaho is looking to advance position but Sakuraba won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is defending against the submission attempts here by Kaho.
Kaho uses his free foot to push down on Sakuraba's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sakuraba.

Kaho looking to secure an arm triangle but Sakuraba defends it well.
Kaho avoids the attempt from Sakuraba to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaho tries to control but Sakuraba wriggling away.
Sakuraba is looking to get to half guard.
Sakuraba gets back to half guard.

Sakuraba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kaho is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sakuraba is just riding it out for now. Kaho eventually gives up the hold.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kaho wants to take a breather but Sakuraba is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viavao Kaho dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Kaho or perhaps it was just good defense by Sakuraba, which made it look bad.
Kaho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sakuraba drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Kaho is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kaho keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sakuraba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kaho is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Kaho's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaho is trying to get back to half guard.

Sakuraba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kaho is trying to control Sakuraba's posture but Sakuraba avoids it.
Kaho manages to get back to half guard.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura but Kaho is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sakuraba to get the leverage.

Kaho looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kaho keeping hold of Sakuraba's head, controlling as best he can.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Kaho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kaho looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kaho is looking to control Sakuraba's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kaho avoid being mounted?

Kaho looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kaho looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kaho is looking to improve his position.

Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kaho defends it well.
Sakuraba trying to control from half guard but Kaho is working away.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kaho is defending against the submission attempts here by Sakuraba.
Kaho wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sakuraba goes for a double leg but Kaho avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kaho continues to drive forward.

Kaho tightens his grip and picks Sakuraba up, before dumping him to the ground. Sakuraba manages to land in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kaho trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Kaho wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sakuraba 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazushi Sakuraba!