PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kato Sakuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Cage told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sakuri
vs
Cage

181 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
186 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kato Sakuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel Cage!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuri throws a body punch but Cage moves out of range.
Cage is looking for the big counter here.
Sakuri throws an overhand right that lands on Cage's shoulder, as Cage tries to avoid the shot.
Cage misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick from Cage lands but Sakuri takes it in his stride.

It looks like Kato Sakuri has been cut.
Kato Sakuri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuri throws a hook to the side of Cage's head but Cage sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cage ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sakuri avoids the head kick by Cage.
Cage looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sakuri scores with a jab.
A jab from Sakuri misses.
Cage tries to clinch but Sakuri is having none of it.
Cage misses with a series of wild punches.
Cage throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage misses with a two punch combination.
Sakuri seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Cage uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakuri.
Cage is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cage lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cage misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Sakuri misses the target.
Cage pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cage ducks right into an uppercut from Sakuri.
Sakuri swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sakuri throws a poor cross that misses
and Cage counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sakuri cracks Cage with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuri looks to throw the jab but Cage is out of range.
Cage lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sakuri misses with a straight left.
Cage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakuri.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuri misses with an uppercut.
Cage throws a counter combo.
Cage delivers a nice body kick.
Sakuri connects with a looping right hand.
Sakuri misses with a double jab

and Cage counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cage.
Cage is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Sakuri breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sakuri looks to land a left hand but Cage moved out of range nicely.
Sakuri sets himself, and Cage steps forward looking for the clinch! Sakuri avoids it this time.
Cage throws a head kick that misses.
Cage goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sakuri misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakuri dodges the punch combination from Cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage tries to clinch up but Sakuri circles away and keeps his distance.
Cage staying out of range there.
Despite the aggression on Cage's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Cage blocks a jab.
Cage unleashes a big counter combination but Sakuri bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sakuri misses with an uppercut. Cage saw that one coming.
Cage throws a counter combo.
Cage moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sakuri connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cage throws a leg kick that misses.
Sakuri appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A slow jab from Sakuri misses its intended target.
Sakuri throws a shot from downtown. Cage moves away and avoids it.
Cage throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Sakuri misses its intended target.
Cage is looking for the big counter here.
Sakuri scores with a jab to the body.
Sakuri throws a hook but Cage blocks it.
Cage lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cage misses with a few strikes there.
Sakuri takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cage looks to land a combination but Sakuri avoids it well.
Cage uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakuri.
Cage ducks under a wild hook from Sakuri.
Cage ducks under a wild hook from Sakuri.
Sakuri misses with a hook.
Sakuri throws a shot from downtown. Cage moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniel Cage will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kato Sakuri's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cage avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
As Sakuri backs off Cage throws a huge counter combo but Sakuri manages to avoid it all.
Sakuri is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sakuri scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sakuri dodges the punch combination from Cage.
Sakuri swings widly with a right hand
and Cage counters with a three punch combo that has Sakuri backing up. Sakuri nods at Cage to acknowledge the strikes.
Daniel Cage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuri throws a shot from downtown. Cage moves away and avoids it.
Cage is looking for the big counter here.
Cage moves away from the strike by Sakuri.
Sakuri throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cage lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Cage throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuri throws a jab but it's blocked by Cage.
Sakuri waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cage.
Cage wants to counter with a clinch but Sakuri pushes him away.
Cage's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cage duly obliges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cage instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuri throws a punch but it's blocked by Cage.
Sakuri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cage blocks an uppercut.
Cage wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cage tries to circle away but Sakuri has him pinned against the cage.
A short right from Cage.
Sakuri misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cage.
Sakuri prevents Cage from breaking the clinch.

Sakuri escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cage lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cage.
Cage slips a straight right by Sakuri.
Sakuri jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cage moves in looking to clinch but Sakuri pushes him off.
Sakuri jabs at Cage's body.
Sakuri scores with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage defending well as Sakuri loads up on a big left hand.
A big right from Sakuri misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cage looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sakuri jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cage misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuri misses the target.
Sakuri has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cage.
Cage ducks under a wild hook from Sakuri.
Sakuri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cage manages to avoid it.
Cage moves out of range as Sakuri strikes.
Cage throws a counter combo.
Cage throws a series of punches but Sakuri moves out of range.
Sakuri blocks a head kick by Cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuri scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A big left from Sakuri misses.
Cage is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cage goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Cage tries to clinch but Sakuri is having none of it.
Sakuri throws a jab when Cage was well out of range.
Sakuri uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cage throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuri moves out of range easily.
Cage throws a series of punches but Sakuri avoids them all with ease.
Sakuri swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Sakuri checks the leg kick.
Cage moves out of range of the strikes.
Cage slips a straight right by Sakuri.
Sakuri tries to land a front kick but Cage steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sakuri throws out the jab.
Cage lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sakuri uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cage has time to react.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuri misses the target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cage lands a jab-cross combination.
Cage tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cage will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sakuri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cage misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cage throws a head kick that misses.
Cage is breathing heavily.
Cage doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuri circles away.
Sakuri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cage manages to avoid it.
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 Kato Sakuri will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kato Sakuri's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cage takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Danga de danga de dang - Cage scores with a four punch combination!
Sakuri throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sakuri misses the jab.
Daniel Cage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cage lands a jab-cross combination.
Sakuri throws a big shot that misses.
Cage uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakuri.
Cage unleashes a big counter combination but Sakuri bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sakuri misses the jab.
Cage steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Sakuri.
Sakuri takes a swing at Cage's ribcage but misses.
Cage looks to land a combination but Sakuri avoids it well.
A head kick misses from Cage.
A big left from Sakuri misses.
Cage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuri swings for the body but Cage moves out of range.
Cage throws a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage lands with a kick to the temple. Sakuri shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakuri. Cage does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sakuri rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cage counters with a left and a right that stings Sakuri.
Sakuri misses the jab.
Cage lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sakuri misses with a hook. Cage ducked under it nicely.
Sakuri throws a big shot that misses.
Cage lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sakuri pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cage takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sakuri throws a lazy uppercut
and Cage counters with a three punch combo that has Sakuri backing up. Sakuri nods at Cage to acknowledge the strikes.
Cage throws a sloppy head kick
and Sakuri counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuri blocks a head kick by Cage.
A little feinted left hand from Sakuri on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuri thows a left - swing and a miss!
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakuri. Cage does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sakuri throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cage lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Cage lands with a kick to the temple. Sakuri shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Cage ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cage plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sakuri misses with a hook.
Sakuri waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cage.
Sakuri throws a big shot that misses.
Sakuri scores with a jab.
Sakuri dodges the punch combination from Cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuri throws a shot from downtown. Cage moves away and avoids it.
Sakuri throws a jab when Cage was well out of range.
Sakuri dodges the punch combination from Cage.
Cage showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakuri.
Cage wants to counter the offense by Sakuri and move into the clinch position.
Sakuri swats away the attempt to clinch by Cage.
It looked like Sakuri wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cage tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circling - Sakuri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sakuri missing with a left hand there. Cage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cage steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Sakuri.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuri looks to land a left hand but Cage moved out of range nicely.
Sakuri misses with an uppercut.
Despite the aggression on Cage's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sakuri looks to score with a jab to the body but Cage is just out of range.
Cage is looking for the big counter here.
Cage is looking to score with low kicks.
Sakuri slips a jab and a cross from Cage.
Cage uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakuri.
Cage is looking for the big counter here.
Sakuri misses with a double jab.
Cage staying out of range there.
Sakuri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cage moves away.
Despite the aggression on Cage's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sakuri misses the shot to the body.
Cage misses with a head kick.
Cage misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kato Sakuri.
I think Sakuri 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Daniel Cage!