PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoshimitzu Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamarcus Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba comes to the cage accompanied by Pride theme song blares through the speaker as fireworks erupt . On his way into the cage it seems that Yoshimitzu Sakuraba has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Yoshimitzu Sakuraba seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Sakuraba
vs
Russell

191 cm
25
272 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
280 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jamarcus Russell!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell misses with a wild combination.
Sakuraba feinted with a counter takedown.
Sakuraba could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Russell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Russell feints the counter takedown.
Russell pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sakuraba shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Russell's guard.
Sakuraba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Russell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sakuraba working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Russell's head.
Sakuraba is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sakuraba stands up over Russell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sakuraba is in close to Russell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sakuraba distracts Russell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Russell keeps moving.
Russell looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Russell wants to sweep here but Sakuraba controlling him for the moment.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell is adopting a defensive guard.
We've been hearing that Sakuraba has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Sakuraba chips away with some ground and pound.
Sakuraba lands a couple of digs.
Russell has momentary wrist control but Sakuraba slips an elbow through the middle.
Sakuraba distracts Russell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
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.
Sakuraba lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is working Russell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sakuraba scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sakuraba lands a couple of elbows.

Russell is rocked!
Sakuraba postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Russell covers up, he's hurt! Sakuraba keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Sakuraba and the ref steps in to end the fight! Sakuraba can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yoshimitzu Sakuraba!
In his post fight interview, Yoshimitzu Sakuraba started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.