PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alvaro Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Burton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sakuraba
vs
Burton

190 cm
25
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alvaro Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Burton!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burton tries to keep at a distance but Sakuraba has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sakuraba breaks the clinch.
Sakuraba misses with a double jab.
A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Burton doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sakuraba counters with a nice uppercut.
Sakuraba tries to bum rush Burton with a series of wild strikes but Burton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sakuraba ducks under a wild hook from Burton.
Burton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sakuraba blocks a jab.
Sakuraba is looking to clinch.
Burton is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sakuraba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burton.
Sakuraba wants to clinch.
Sakuraba throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Burton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Burton goes for a double leg but Sakuraba avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sakuraba continues to drive forward.
Alvaro Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Burton.
Sakuraba looks to throw the jab but Burton is out of range.
Sakuraba throws a head kick but Burton moves out of range.
Sakuraba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burton slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.
And Burton tries to counter it with a takedown but Sakuraba pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Burton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sakuraba pinned against the cage. Sakuraba gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sakuraba went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Burton keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakuraba fails in his attempt to clinch.
And Burton tries to counter it with a takedown but Sakuraba pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Burton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Burton is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Sakuraba looks calm but he's in trouble here. Burton gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Sakuraba is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Burton lets go of the hold and Sakuraba can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Michael Burton!