PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoshimitzu Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba comes to the cage accompanied by Pride theme song blares through the speaker as fireworks erupt . Yoshimitzu Sakuraba has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Sakuraba
vs
Cooper

191 cm
27
272 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
255 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoshimitzu Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooper with a poor takedown

and Sakuraba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cooper's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sakuraba with a nice head shot there.
Sakuraba stopping the sweep attempt from Cooper.
Cooper lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cooper can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sakuraba's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sakuraba with a nice head shot there.
Sakuraba scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sakuraba trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sakuraba is trying to control. Cooper wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sakuraba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper is looking to control Sakuraba's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cooper avoid being mounted?
Sakuraba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sakuraba will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sakuraba lands a nice short elbow.
Cooper is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cooper trying to control from the bottom.
Sakuraba sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cooper defending well though.
Sakuraba drops an elbow to the side of Cooper's head.
Sakuraba trying to control from half guard but Cooper is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooper flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sakuraba is taking a breather. Cooper says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sakuraba drops an elbow to the side of Cooper's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cooper on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cooper lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Cooper striking from half guard on the bottom.
Cooper looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Sakuraba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sakuraba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakuraba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sakuraba scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sakuraba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sakuraba drops an elbow to the side of Cooper's head.
Cooper on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba winds up and cracks Cooper with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba controlling the pace.
Cooper tries to roll over but Sakuraba keeps him under control.
Cooper on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cooper gets full guard.
Cooper has control of Sakuraba's left arm, preventing Sakuraba from doing any damage.
Cooper looking to control.

Cooper escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuraba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Cooper is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakuraba scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.
Sakuraba lands a couple of digs.
Sakuraba postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cooper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sakuraba trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Cooper is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sakuraba working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cooper's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cooper escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuraba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cooper thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshimitzu Sakuraba dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sakuraba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cooper's waist but Cooper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sakuraba off to one side.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut. Cooper saw that one coming.
Cooper fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sakuraba avoids it really well and circles away.
Cooper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuraba swivels and escapes.
Cooper throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sakuraba's waist but Sakuraba gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cooper off to one side.
Yoshimitzu Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Cooper.
Cooper tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cooper keeps working.
Cooper trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba lands strikes from half guard.
Sakuraba landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cooper is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cooper has hold of Sakuraba's hands but Sakuraba slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cooper on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Cooper is rocked!
Sakuraba lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Cooper quite badly. Cooper pulls Sakuraba in close trying to recover. Sakuraba postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Cooper on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Cooper doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yoshimitzu Sakuraba!
Yoshimitzu Sakuraba bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.