PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hideo Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Diamond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai comes to the cage accompanied by Freestyle - Don't Stop The Rock. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as King Diamond enters the cage!

Sakurai
vs
Diamond

173 cm
24
166 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

167 cm
28
165 lbs
9 - 9 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hideo Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, King Diamond!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diamond clinches with his opponent.

Diamond successfully pulls guard.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Diamond is retaining full guard.
Diamond looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Let's hope that Diamond has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai preventing the sweep.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diamond can't keep his opponent in guard - Sakurai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Diamond is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakurai pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakurai prevents Diamond from improving his position.
Sakurai wants to take a breather but Diamond is having none of it.
Diamond wants to get back to full guard.
Sakurai is pressing down on Diamond's thigh, looking to free his foot. Diamond is holding on for now.
Sakurai tries to stand but can't do so whilst Diamond controls his leg.
Diamond is refusing to be controlled, as Sakurai sits in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Diamond can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Diamond is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diamond is still trying to improve position.
Sakurai wants to stand but Diamond has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A punch lands to the side of Sakurai 's head but he takes it in his stride.
King Diamond seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diamond takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sakurai scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sakurai avoids the head kick by Diamond.

Diamond has Sakurai up against the cage in a clinch.
Diamond jumps guard but Sakurai stands there with Diamond around his waist. Diamond gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sakurai wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diamond has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diamond manages to pull guard.
Sakurai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Diamond keeps moving.
Diamond bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakurai's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Diamond won't allow Sakurai to get back to his feet.
Diamond keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sakurai's head.
Sakurai knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Diamond on the ground.
Diamond trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai controlling Diamond's posture.
Diamond slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Diamond wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sakurai, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Diamond content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Diamond's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Diamond sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sakurai defending well though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diamond trying to control the action but Sakurai is working from the bottom.
Diamond controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Diamond dominated that 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.

Sakurai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diamond.
Diamond comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Diamond connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sakurai. Sakurai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Diamond tries to clinch
and Sakurai counters with a stiff right hand.
Sakurai misses with a straight right.

Diamond has managed to clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Diamond.
Sakurai throws a punch but it's blocked by Diamond.
Sakurai stops a takedown attempt from Diamond.
Sakurai is trying to break the clinch but Diamond has him pressed against the cage.
Sakurai throws a head punch that misses.
Diamond misses with an elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diamond tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sakurai just stands there and leans against the cage.
Diamond stalls.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diamond creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakurai.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diamond pulls guard successfully.
Diamond is pulling down on Sakurai's head. It's preventing any offense from Sakurai, at least for the moment.
Diamond lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sakurai working a defensive guard here.
Diamond is looking to advance position but Sakurai has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Diamond is working to get back to half guard.
Sakurai wants to control the action but instead Diamond gets a body lock and reverses into Sakurai's guard! Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamond looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Diamond works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Diamond stalling.

Sakurai is defending against the submission attempts here by Diamond.
King Diamond has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diamond throwing shots but Sakurai is blocking nicely.
Diamond controlling the action here.
Diamond thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sakurai's head.
Diamond perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Diamond wants to free his trapped foot but Sakurai is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sakurai is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Diamond controlling the action here.
Diamond tries to pass to full mount but Sakurai defends it.

Diamond is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sakurai is just riding it out for now. Diamond eventually gives up the hold.
Diamond seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diamond drops an elbow to the side of Sakurai's head.
Diamond looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Diamond showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Diamond throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakurai.
A punch combination from Diamond misses.
A jab lands there for Diamond.
Diamond moves to clinch but Sakurai breaks away
and Sakurai counters with a nice uppercut.
Sakurai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Diamond has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diamond throws a right hand that misses
and Sakurai counters with a nice body shot.
Sakurai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diamond.
A quick step to the side and Sakurai tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakurai scores with the left hand. Diamond knows he should have avoided that one.
Sakurai goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Diamond avoids the body shot from Sakurai.
Diamond throws an overhand right that lands on Sakurai's shoulder, as Sakurai tries to avoid the shot.
Diamond fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakurai ducks under a wild hook from Diamond.
Sakurai throwing a counter right hand but Diamond manages to avoid it.
Diamond jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Diamond darts in and clinches Sakurai up against the cage.
Diamond jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sakurai walks away with a smile on his face. Diamond gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sakurai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diamond looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Diamond tries to clinch up but Sakurai circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diamond throws the left hand but Sakurai avoids the punch easily.
Sakurai misses with a straight left.
Diamond moves in looking to clinch but Sakurai pushes him off.
Jab, jab by Diamond - just one landing.
Diamond takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Diamond walks into a straight right hand from Sakurai.
Diamond looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diamond might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Diamond throws a body punch but Sakurai moves out of range.
Sakurai scores with a jab to the body.
Diamond throws a hook but Sakurai avoids it easily.
Diamond fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diamond throws a shot from downtown. Sakurai moves away and avoids it.
An attempted straight right counter from Sakurai misses the target.
Diamond is looking to clinch.
Sakurai defending well as Diamond loads up on a big left hand.
Sakurai looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sakurai staying out of range there.
Diamond uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Diamond tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakurai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sakurai avoids the body shot from Diamond.

Diamond has closed the distance and engaged Sakurai in a clinch.
King Diamond is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Diamond takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sakurai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Diamond is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sakurai to keep the fight standing.

Sakurai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diamond wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A lazy left from Sakurai finds it's target.
Diamond takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Diamond missing with a left hand there. Sakurai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakurai digs a good hook to Diamond's body.
Sakurai lands with a cross.
Sakurai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diamond.
Diamond keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diamond tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sakurai counters with a nice uppercut.
Sakurai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Diamond looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Diamond connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai lands a nice hook to Diamond's body. Diamond takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sakurai looks to score with a jab to the body but Diamond is just out of range.
Sakurai throws a body shot but no joy.
Diamond throws a hook to the side of Sakurai's head but Sakurai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakurai with a jab.
A lazy left from Sakurai finds it's target.
Sakurai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diamond missing with a left hand there. Sakurai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakurai avoids the body shot from Diamond.
Diamond throws a looping overhand right but Sakurai ducks down to avoid it.
Diamond scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Diamond misses with a wild body shot.
Sakurai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sakurai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Diamond moves in looking to clinch but Sakurai pushes him off.
Diamond misses with the combination.
Hideo Sakurai is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
Diamond missing with a left hand there. Sakurai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakurai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diamond.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diamond moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Diamond closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Sakurai counter with a right hand.
Hideo Sakurai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakurai ducks under a wild hook from Diamond.
A jab lands there for Sakurai.
Sakurai sizes up Diamond with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Diamond throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diamond takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Diamond lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sakurai at a distance.
Diamond is looking to clinch.

Diamond moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diamond is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sakurai to keep the fight standing.
Hideo Sakurai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of King Diamond.
Diamond prevents a body shot from Sakurai.

Sakurai manages to break the clinch.
Diamond clobbers Sakurai with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hideo Sakurai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Diamond has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... King Diamond!
A very excited looking King Diamond made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.