PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoshimitzu Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba comes to the cage accompanied by Pride theme song blares through the speaker as fireworks erupt . Mickey Henderson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sakuraba
vs
Henderson

191 cm
25
272 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Alcatraz Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yoshimitzu Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mickey Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson lands with a nice body punch.
Henderson works over Sakuraba's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Yoshimitzu Sakuraba has been cut.
Henderson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sakuraba looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Henderson staying out of range there.
Henderson throws a lazy uppercut

and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sakuraba lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sakuraba lands a nice short elbow.
Sakuraba has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ground and pound from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Henderson wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy.
Sakuraba seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sakuraba landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson trying to hold on to Sakuraba's head to control him but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sakuraba slows the pace down in half guard.
Sakuraba has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

It looks like Mickey Henderson has been cut.
Henderson taking some punishment here, with Sakuraba in his half guard.

That has opened up Mickey Henderson's cut even more.
Sakuraba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sakuraba with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Henderson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sakuraba is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Henderson!
Henderson tries to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
Sakuraba postures up and throws a big right hand. BOOM! Right on the button! Henderson is out cold - huge knockout for Sakuraba!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Yoshimitzu Sakuraba!
Yoshimitzu Sakuraba tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.