PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hideo Sakurai (ranked 2109 p4p, 110 weight class) and Sebastian Shot (ranked 2247 p4p, 115 weight class). Sakurai's entrance music is Freestyle - Don't Stop The Rock. A fine choice. Hideo Sakurai could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sebastian Shot's chin.

Sakurai
vs
Shot

173 cm
29
143 lbs
19 - 14 - 1

162 cm
35
145 lbs
20 - 16 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Hideo Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sebastian Shot!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai looks to land a right hand but Shot moved out of range.
Sakurai has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Arvins Bootcamp in the buildup to the fight.
Shot misses with an uppercut. Sakurai saw that one coming.
Sakurai moves forwards but Shot connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Shot throws a big shot that misses.
Sakurai just misses with a punch to the body.
Shot thows a left - swing and a miss!

Sakurai gets caught napping as Shot dives in and scores a takedown. Sakurai manages to retain guard.
Sakurai is wriggling around but Shot manages to pass to half guard.

Still in half guard, Shot seems content to control.

Shot looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sakurai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shot takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shot thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sakurai's head.
Sakurai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shot.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shot seems to be working for a kimura but Sakurai defends the submission attempt.
Shot takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shot is nestled in close to Sakurai, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Shot is keen to just control but Sakurai is a slippery customer.
Shot lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai is looking to improve his position.
Shot performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Shot is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Shot throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakurai won't allow Shot to pass to mount.
Sakurai holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Shot has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Shot is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sakurai doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shot.
Shot seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakurai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai tries to kick Shot off but Shot keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shot thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shot throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shot throws a strike but Sakurai avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shot trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sakurai manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Shot looking to control.

Shot escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakurai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shot bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakurai's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Shot from controlling successfully.
Shot might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sakurai haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Shot engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shot trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shot postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sakurai is trying to control the position but Shot postures up.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Shot from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian Shot dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shot darts in and clinches Sakurai up against the cage.
Shot prevents Sakurai from breaking the clinch.
Sakurai scores with a nice hook to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shot.
Shot misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shot is working for takedown but Sakurai is calmly controlling the position for now.

Sakurai manages to break the clinch.
Sakurai throws a body shot but no joy.
A countering left hand to the body from Shot misses.
Shot has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Sakurai tries to move into range but Shot moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Sakurai as he checks the leg kick.
Sakurai rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Shot counter with a right hand.
Shot connects with a single shot there.
A big right from Sakurai misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a hook to the side of Shot's head but Shot sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shot has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sakurai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakurai throws a jab but it's blocked by Shot.
Shot lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sakurai rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Shot to counter with a crisp jab.
Shot darts in trying to clinch
and Shot takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice defenses there by Sakurai.
It looked like Sakurai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shot fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shot lunges at Sakurai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sakurai's hand.
Shot misses with the combination.

Sakurai drops Shot with a beautiful combination! Shot stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Sakurai is looking for the KO!

Shot is rocked!

It looks like Sebastian Shot has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A low kick from Shot misses
and Sakurai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Shot misses with a double jab.
Sakurai misses with an uppercut. Shot saw that one coming.
Nice defenses there by Shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shot bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sakurai's head.
Sakurai darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hideo Sakurai is winning the standup battle so far.
The fighters circling - Sakurai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sakurai moves away from the strike by Shot.
Sakurai scores with a nice strike.
Sakurai walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sakurai checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sakurai is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Shot rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sakurai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sebastian Shot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakurai ducks under a wild hook from Shot.
Sakurai takes one to the chin there.
Sakurai connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shot misses with a double jab.
Shot tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sakurai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shot somewhat.
Hideo Sakurai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastian Shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakurai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shot.
Shot is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakurai.
Sakurai is looking to counter punch.
Shot throws a shot from downtown. Sakurai moves away and avoids it.
Shot connects with a jab.
Sakurai takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A shot to the liver by Shot. Beautiful body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sebastian Shot will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sebastian Shot's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Shot keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sakurai.
A little jabbing left from Shot on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Shot misses with a hook.
Shot uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakurai.
A big left from Shot misses.
Shot dives in and grabs Sakurai's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakurai pushes down on Shot's head and hops out.
A big left from Shot misses.
Sakurai throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shot rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sakurai counters with a one-two to the body.
Shot throws a series of punches but Sakurai moves out of range.
Sakurai lands a nice looking body shot.
Shot wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shot scoring well with a low kick there.

Shot gets a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sakurai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Sakurai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shot throws a nice looking combination but Sakurai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sakurai listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Shot tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sakurai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shot throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Sakurai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shot misses the body punch
and Sakurai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A quick step to the side and Sakurai tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shot chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Shot with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakurai counters with a stiff right hand.
Sakurai ducks under a wild hook from Shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Shot misses the target.
A combination from Shot does no damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shot misses with a low kick as Sakurai jumps back.
Shot ducks under a wild hook from Sakurai.
Sakurai scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shot in his tracks.
Shot slips a jab from Sakurai.
Shot throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shot throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Shot tries to clinch up

and Sakurai counters with a nice right hand that sends Shot toppling to the canvas! Shot scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Sakurai finish him?!
Shot is still on wobbly legs! Can Sakurai finish him?
Hideo Sakurai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shot misses with a straight left.
Sakurai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Shot doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakurai circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Sakurai on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sakurai lands a body shot.
Shot thuds a left hand into Sakurai's body.
Shot seems to have recovered his senses.
Sakurai lands a jab to the nose.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shot misses with a wild combination.
Sakurai throwing a counter right hand but Shot manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shot misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakurai.
Sakurai slips a jab from Shot.
Shot fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shot uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sakurai has time to react.
Shot looks to land a body kick but Sakurai moved away.
Sebastian Shot is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shot tries to clinch there but Sakurai circles away.
Hideo Sakurai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shot darts in trying to clinch
and Sakurai counters with a right hand to the body.
Shot throws a hook but Sakurai avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hideo Sakurai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shot 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sebastian Shot!
Sebastian Shot decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Hideo Sakurai was interviewed post fight and said '......'.