PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yohan Carano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mino Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yohan Carano has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Carano
vs
Sakurai

195 cm
19
256 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
255 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yohan Carano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mino Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body kick there by Carano.
Sakurai fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sakurai moves into the clinch successfully.
Carano tries to score a body lock takedown but Sakurai shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Carano has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sakurai avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Carano is stalling here.
Sakurai lands a knee to the head.
Sakurai is pressed up against the cage. Carano has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sakurai down to the mat. Sakurai avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yohan Carano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakurai displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakurai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sakurai. That's going to slow Carano down.
Carano is breathing heavily.
Carano on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sakurai. Sakurai obviously looking to wear him down.

Sakurai takes the fight into the clinch.
Sakurai stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sakurai scores with a knee to the head.
Carano takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sakurai lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sakurai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sakurai with a knee to the head.

Sakurai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sakurai rushes Carano and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai connects with a knee to the head.
Sakurai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sakurai pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sakurai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Carano backwards.
Sakurai connects with a nasty looking knee right to Carano's face.
Carano is working for takedown but Sakurai is calmly controlling the position for now.
Carano takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sakurai connects with a knee to the head.
Sakurai lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sakurai misses with a knee to the head.
Sakurai scores with a knee to the head.
Carano misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sakurai.
Sakurai with a knee to the head.
Carano misses with the head strike.
Carano wants a takedown but no success here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sakurai.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sakurai avoiding damage.
Sakurai tries to land a knee to the head but Carano blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Sakurai.
Sakurai lands with a light punch inside.
Sakurai manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sakurai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Carano blocks it with crossed arms.
Sakurai tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sakurai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sakurai softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Carano is trying to break the clinch but Sakurai has him pressed against the cage.
Sakurai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Carano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sakurai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Carano blocks it with crossed arms.

Carano has hold of one of Sakurai's legs. Sakurai is fighting the takedown attempt but Carano gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Sakurai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sakurai lands a decent punch to the body there.
Carano with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai wants to sweep here but Carano controlling him for the moment.
Sakurai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Carano forces his way into half guard.
Sakurai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sakurai trying to control but Carano postures up.
Carano passes to side control.

Carano has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Sakurai instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Carano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sakurai has him pressed against the cage.
Sakurai looking to throw knees to the head but Carano is blocking nicely.
Sakurai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Sakurai.
Sakurai blocks an elbow strike from Carano.
Carano fails to pull guard.
Sakurai tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sakurai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Carano wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sakurai breaks from the clinch.
Carano throws a head kick but Sakurai moves out of range.
Sakurai dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A clash of legs there as Sakurai blocks the low kick.

Sakurai clinches.
A knee to the head by Sakurai.
Sakurai lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Carano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sakurai pushes Carano up against the cage in a clinch.
Carano tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sakurai smiles and moves away.
Sakurai misses with the combination.
Mino Sakurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sakurai rushes Carano and presses him up against the cage.
Sakurai scores with a shoulder strike.

Carano manages to pull guard.
Sakurai postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Carano is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sakurai wants to pass the guard but Carano is keeping the position.
Carano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sakurai wants to stand but Carano has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carano throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sakurai wants to get up but he can't break Carano's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakurai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakurai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Yohan Carano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carano slips a jab and a cross from Sakurai.
Some wild striking there from Carano.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakurai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sakurai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sakurai lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sakurai blocks a body shot from Carano.

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.
Sakurai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Carano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Carano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakurai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakurai tries to clinch but Carano is having none of it.
Some wild striking there from Sakurai.
Sakurai misses with the combination.

Carano fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sakurai, pushing him back against the cage.
Sakurai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Carano blocks it with crossed arms.
Sakurai connects with a nasty looking knee right to Carano's face.
Sakurai misses with a knee to the head.
Carano tries for a takedown. No joy.
Carano is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sakurai pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yohan Carano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakurai landing knees to the head.
Sakurai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Carano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Carano is trying to break the clinch but Sakurai has him pressed against the cage.
Carano tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sakurai just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai keeps control of Carano as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sakurai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sakurai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Carano takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sakurai tries a knee to the head but Carano blocks it.
Carano fails to pull guard.
Sakurai lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sakurai connects with a knee to the head.
Sakurai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sakurai connects with a nasty looking knee right to Carano's face.
Carano tries to throw a body punch but Sakurai avoids it by throwing Carano back against the cage.
Sakurai gets underhooks to prevent Carano's takedown attempt.
Sakurai gets through Carano's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sakurai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sakurai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sakurai lands a body shot in the clinch.
Carano is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sakurai is stalling here.
Carano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Carano is looking to break free of the clinch but Sakurai has double underhooks.

That's four 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.
Sakurai lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sakurai crunches a lovely knee into Carano's ribcage.

Carano breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakurai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakurai moves in looking to clinch but Carano pushes him off.

Sakurai takes the fight into the clinch.
Sakurai misses with a knee to the head.
Sakurai missing with knees to the body.
Carano has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sakurai avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Sakurai breaks the clinch.
Carano throws a lazy right hand but Sakurai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Carano throws and low kick but Sakurai moves out of range easily.
Sakurai wants to clinch up but Carano keeps it at a distance.
Sakurai wants to clinch but Carano slips to the side

and Carano counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sakurai won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yohan Carano will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sakurai closes the distance but Carano moves to the side

and Carano counters by clinching up.
Carano fails to pull guard.
Mino Sakurai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sakurai looking to throw knees to the head but Carano is blocking nicely.
Sakurai tries a knee to the head but Carano blocks it.

Carano jumps guard and drags Sakurai to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sakurai is looking to stand up but Carano won't let him.
Sakurai is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Sakurai postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Carano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakurai manages to get himself to full guard.
Carano is pushing down on Sakurai's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sakurai is fighting to maintain full guard but Carano has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakurai is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Carano pulls his head out easily.
Sakurai is trying to control but Carano manages to pass to mount!
Carano controlling the position easily from mount.
Sakurai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Carano scoring with strikes but Sakurai is staying in there.
Sakurai working to try and regain half guard.
Carano avoids the attempt from Sakurai to control.
Carano trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Carano is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sakurai is surviving well by controlling Carano's body position as best he can.
Sakurai is squirming around, avoiding Carano's attempts to control the action.
Carano unloads with some shots from mount but Sakurai bucks and avoids them well.
Sakurai tries to hold on but Carano pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai is looking to improve his position but Carano isn't that keen on the idea.
Sakurai is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Carano postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sakurai looks a forlorn figure.
Carano landing strikes from the mount.
Sakurai holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Carano tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Carano working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Sakurai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakurai tries to control the position but Carano now has his back.
Carano has the hooks in. Sakurai is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sakurai tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sakurai takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Carano landing shots from mount.
Sakurai is desperately trying to improve his position but Carano has a good base and remains in mount.
Carano punishing his opponent with strikes.
Carano scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sakurai?
Sakurai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakurai's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Sakurai can't escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sakurai wants to hold on but Carano pushes him away.
Carano working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sakurai is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yohan Carano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Carano has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Yohan Carano!