PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Chernekov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chernekov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Era - Enae Volare Mezzo. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chernekov
vs
Sakurai

175 cm
22
177 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

184 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aleksandr Chernekov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chernekov fails to land with a series of punches.
Chernekov throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakurai.
Chernekov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sakurai momentarily.
Chernekov just misses with a punch to the body.
Chernekov slips a jab and a cross from Sakurai.
Sakurai lands a nice hook to Chernekov's body. Chernekov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Chernekov misses with the combination.
Sakurai scores with a head kick.
Chernekov misses with an uppercut.
Sakurai connects with a single shot there.
Sakurai moves out of range of the leg kick from Chernekov.
Chernekov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakurai checks a leg kick nicely.
Chernekov throws a hook but Sakurai avoids it easily.
Chernekov takes a swing at Sakurai's ribcage but misses.
Sakurai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chernekov.

Sakurai closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Chernekov to the mat! Chernekov manages to get full guard.
Sakurai stands up over Chernekov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chernekov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Chernekov keeping moving, preventing Sakurai from controlling successfully.
Chernekov trying to strike off his back.
Chernekov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Sakurai has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakurai passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Chernekov is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sakurai bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai wants to control but Chernekov is keeping him busy.
Sakurai landing strikes.

Sakurai tries for a kimura but Chernekov is defending well.
Chernekov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Chernekov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakurai on the ground.
Sakurai manages to get to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakurai is on top in guard.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Chernekov is retaining full guard.
Chernekov keeping moving, preventing Sakurai from controlling successfully.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Chernekov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sakurai stacks Chernekov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sakurai!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai has hold of Chernekov's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Chernekov tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Sakurai cranks the arm and Chernekov screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Chernekov, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Akira Sakurai!
Akira Sakurai is the new welterweight champion!