PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshimo Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Corey Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Davis comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Can't Be Touched kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sakamoto
vs
Davis

168 cm
27
164 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

180 cm
28
161 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hellbent
Reaper Combatwear

King of Fists

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroshimo Sakamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Corey Davis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Sakamoto.
Davis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakamoto.
And Davis responds with a good body kick, but Sakamoto manages to step out the way in time.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sakamoto!
A slapping body kick lands there for Sakamoto.
Davis misses with a leg kick
and Sakamoto makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Davis really felt that one!
Sakamoto feints and then cracks Davis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Davis down.
Sakamoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Davis.
Sakamoto looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sakamoto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Davis.
Davis's corner calls for a 1-2. Davis obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've been hearing reports that Sakamoto has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Davis throws a leg kick

so Sakamoto counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sakamoto advances to half guard.
Sakamoto lands strikes from half guard.
Sakamoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sakamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakamoto 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.
Nice strikes from Sakamoto there.
Sakamoto throwing shots but Davis is blocking nicely.
Davis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sakamoto trying to control from half guard but Davis is working away.
Sakamoto sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Davis defending well though.
Davis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sakamoto is stalling here. Davis is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sakamoto seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Davis has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sakamoto tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto is trying to control Davis's posture but Davis avoids it.
Sakamoto tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Davis presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Davis prevents Sakamoto from getting the reversal.
Sakamoto manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakamoto is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Sakamoto tries to get to full guard but Davis has control of the leg.

Sakamoto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sakamoto tries to roll over but Davis keeps him under control.
Sakamoto is pressing down on Davis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Sakamoto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakamoto trying to control the position here.
Sakamoto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroshimo Sakamoto dominated that round.
That's time! Sakamoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sakamoto is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Davis.
Davis steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Sakamoto lands a nice looking kick to the body. Davis takes a step back to recover.
Davis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Davis checks a leg kick.
Sakamoto feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Davis's calf.
Davis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sakamoto checks a leg kick.
Davis throws a big shot that misses.
Davis slips a straight right by Sakamoto.
Davis walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sakamoto checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Davis scores with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakamoto connects with the punch.
Sakamoto takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice shot by Sakamoto.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakamoto throws a nice outside leg kick.
Davis misses with a body shot
and Sakamoto counters with a straight right hand.
Davis tries to work over Sakamoto's front leg with a kick but Sakamoto checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakamoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Davis regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sakamoto.
Sakamoto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Davis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Davis has his hands on Sakamoto's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis working a defensive guard but Sakamoto manages to pass into side control anyway.
Sakamoto is looking to take a break and control but Davis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Davis can't do much from the bottom here.
Sakamoto lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Davis keeps working.
Sakamoto working the strikes but Davis uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Sakamoto not doing much here.
Davis preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Davis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sakamoto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sakamoto is trying to control. Davis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sakamoto throwing shots but Davis is blocking nicely.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Davis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Davis keeping moving, preventing Sakamoto from controlling successfully.
Sakamoto controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Corey Davis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakamoto scores with a sloppy right hand. Davis should have avoided that one.
Corey Davis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Davis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sakamoto misses with a left hand
and Davis counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sakamoto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Davis can do to turn this around?
Sakamoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Davis moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroshimo Sakamoto dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sakamoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A little jabbing left from Davis on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Davis throws a front kick that sends Sakamoto stumbling back into the cage.
Sakamoto lands a jab.
Davis jabs Sakamoto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A low kick from Davis is predictable there

and Sakamoto counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Davis!
Davis is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sakamoto off and has taken his back!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sakamoto manages to reverse the position and now he's in Davis's guard. Nice work there by Sakamoto.
Davis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Davis keeping moving, preventing Sakamoto from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Davis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sakamoto haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakamoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sakamoto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Davis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sakamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Davis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Corey Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sakamoto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Davis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sakamoto distracts Davis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sakamoto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sakamoto distracts Davis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sakamoto controls from within his opponent's guard.
Davis keeping full guard, as Sakamoto tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto misses with a hook
and Davis counters with a nice body kick.
Davis misses the jab.
Sakamoto throws a series of punches but Davis avoids them all with ease.
Davis misses with a body shot.
Sakamoto throws a body kick that misses.
Sakamoto looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sakamoto throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sakamoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakamoto misses with a hook
and Davis counters with a straight right hand.
Sakamoto scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Davis doesn't seem bothered though.
Davis fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sakamoto checks it well.
A jab from Sakamoto does it's job there.
Sakamoto moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Davis gets cracked there but stands up to it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Davis moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Hiroshimo Sakamoto has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto avoids the body shot from Davis.
Sakamoto buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Davis throws a leg kick

and Sakamoto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Davis's guard.
Sakamoto postures up in Davis's guard and throws a big left but Davis blocks it.
Hiroshimo Sakamoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Davis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakamoto is fighting to break Davis's control of his arms but Davis is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sakamoto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Davis's head.
Sakamoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Davis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroshimo Sakamoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sakamoto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroshimo Sakamoto!
A victorious Hiroshimo Sakamoto thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.