PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Desean Bryant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Sakuraba has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Desean Bryant's chin.

Bryant
vs
Sakuraba

169 cm
24
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
27
152 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Desean Bryant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Darius Henderson and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba walks into a straight right hand from Bryant.
Bryant stuffs the takedown.
Sakuraba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bryant's waist but Bryant gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sakuraba off to one side.
Bryant drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sakuraba sprawls and moves away.
Bryant works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bryant lands with a straight right. Sakuraba didn't see that one coming.

Bryant closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba is trying to improve his position.
Sakuraba struggling a bit here.
Bryant works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sakuraba takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bryant laying and praying for a moment but Sakuraba takes advantage and regains half guard.
Bryant slips a nice elbow through Sakuraba's hands, connecting with Sakuraba's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sakuraba manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Bryant pushes his legs off easily.
Sakuraba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sakuraba looking to control.
Bryant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bryant postures up and lands a big shot to Sakuraba's brow.
Bryant working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Sakuraba working for submissions but it's allowed Bryant to get to half guard.
Bryant lands with a punch from half guard.
Sakuraba wants to control but Bryant passes into side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant lands a nice forearm strike.
Bryant in side control lands a decent elbow.
Bryant is putting a hurting on Sakuraba here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sakuraba is working to avoid the ground and pound but Bryant connects with a decent elbow.
Sakuraba keeping his opponent close.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sakuraba gets back to half guard.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sakuraba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sakuraba won't allow Bryant to pass to mount.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bryant connects with a nice short shot to Sakuraba's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bryant lands a nice short elbow.

Bryant is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakuraba sees it coming and defends easily.
Sakuraba trying to control but Bryant postures up.
Sakuraba might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bryant haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bryant frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bryant working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant lands with some strikes.
Bryant scoring with strikes but Sakuraba is staying in there.
Bryant trying to control but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Bryant working the ground and pound effectively.
Sakuraba wants to control but Bryant is having none of it.
Sakuraba taking shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bryant raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desean Bryant dominated that round.
That's time! Bryant's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bryant closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bryant lands in his opponent's guard.
Sakuraba controls Bryant momentarily but Bryant frees himself.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bryant's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bryant works over Sakuraba with some ground and pound from guard.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Bryant defends easily.
Bryant wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryant is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bryant is in close to Sakuraba's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bryant landing with the ground and pound.

Sakuraba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bryant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bryant slips nicely into half guard.
Sakuraba is trying to maintain the position but Bryant is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant slips a nice elbow through Sakuraba's hands, connecting with Sakuraba's forehead.
Bryant seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bryant lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bryant trying to mount his opponent but Sakuraba defends it.
Sakuraba is trying to control but Bryant manages to pass to mount!
Sakuraba regains half guard.
Bryant is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Bryant is looking for a kimura but Sakuraba is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bryant to get the leverage.
Bryant lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bryant lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bryant is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bryant is nestled in close to Sakuraba, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sakuraba trying to hold on to Bryant's head to control him but Bryant postures up.
Bryant knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakuraba on the ground.
Bryant scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sakuraba trying to hold on to Bryant's head to control him but Bryant postures up.
Bryant working over Sakuraba with some ground and pound. Sakuraba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bryant is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sakuraba can do to turn this around?
Bryant working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bryant looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sakuraba with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bryant slips a nice elbow through Sakuraba's hands, connecting with Sakuraba's forehead.

Bryant 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. Bryant eventually gives up the hold.
Bryant is nestled in close to Sakuraba, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bryant lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bryant is nestled in close to Sakuraba, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desean Bryant dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bryant getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bryant displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sakuraba.
Bryant fails to land the takedown.
Bryant dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bryant lands a jab.

Bryant closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sakuraba quickly recovers to half guard.
Bryant looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sakuraba wants to improve his position but Bryant is controlling well.
Bryant thows a huge punch but Sakuraba dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bryant looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sakuraba with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Desean Bryant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bryant scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bryant throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bryant thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sakuraba works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bryant working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Bryant scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bryant lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sakuraba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sakuraba has momentary wrist control but Bryant slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant lands a couple of digs.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Bryant defends easily.

Sakuraba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bryant works over Sakuraba with some ground and pound from guard.
Bryant wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Bryant content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bryant wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuraba is retaining full guard.
Bryant is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Sakuraba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bryant wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.
Bryant content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bryant throws a big elbow that misses.
Bryant postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bryant looking to pass the guard.
Bryant lands a couple of elbows.
Bryant distracts Sakuraba with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bryant wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle here but Bryant uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Desean Bryant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakuraba takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Desean Bryant showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bryant has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:26
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Desean Bryant!