PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Tutov (ranked 2578 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hideo Sakurai (ranked 3304 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Freestyle - Don't Stop The Rock kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be fireworks!

Tutov
vs
Sakurai

169 cm
41
144 lbs
35 - 26 - 3

173 cm
28
143 lbs
18 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 35 - 26 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrey Tutov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hideo Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sakurai.
Sakurai throws the left hand but Tutov avoids the punch easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tutov or perhaps it was just good defense by Sakurai, which made it look bad.
Sakurai appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Sakurai checks a leg kick nicely.
Sakurai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sakurai misses with a shot to the body
and Tutov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sakurai swings widly with a right hand
and Tutov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tutov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai ducks under a wild hook from Tutov.
Tutov scoring well with a low kick there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakurai. Tutov does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Sakurai misses.
Tutov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sakurai misses with a right hand
and Tutov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tutov misses with an uppercut
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sakurai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sakurai just misses with a punch to the body.
Tutov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sakurai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tutov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakurai swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Tutov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tutov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sakurai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tutov manages to avoid it.
Sakurai throws an overhand right that lands on Tutov's shoulder, as Tutov tries to avoid the shot.
Tutov throws a body punch but Sakurai moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakurai just misses with a punch to the body.
Sakurai is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sakurai throws a shot from downtown. Tutov moves away and avoids it.
Sakurai throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tutov counters with a stiff right hand.
Tutov misses the shot to the body.
Sakurai appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tutov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tutov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Tutov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakurai misses with a wild body shot.
Tutov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sakurai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tutov somewhat.
Sakurai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tutov defending well as Sakurai loads up on a big left hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tutov is defended easily by Sakurai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tutov lands a jab to the nose.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sakurai doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tutov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tutov slips a jab and a cross from Sakurai.
Sakurai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tutov shoots in but no luck this time.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sakurai! But no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hideo Sakurai will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tutov shoots in looking for a takedown but Sakurai manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tutov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tutov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakurai.
Tutov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tutov throws a low kick but Sakurai avoids it.

Tutov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sakurai manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sakurai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tutov is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tutov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sakurai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tutov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sakurai wants to stand but Tutov is controlling the position.
Sakurai looking to control.
Sakurai looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakurai, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sakurai throws a jab but it's blocked by Tutov.
Tutov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tutov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Sakurai counter with a right hand.
Tutov shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakurai sprawls well. He's pushed Tutov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Tutov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tutov gets the takedown into side control.
Sakurai is trying to control Tutov's posture but Tutov avoids it.
Tutov 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.
Tutov wants to control but Sakurai is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from Tutov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sakurai can't do much from the bottom here.
Sakurai is not content to let Tutov control the position.
Tutov tries to advance to mount but Sakurai denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tutov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Tutov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sakurai has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ground and pound from Tutov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Tutov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sakurai is not content to let Tutov control the position.
Sakurai is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The strikes coming from Tutov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sakurai defending against the ground and pound.
Sakurai is not content to let Tutov control the position.

Tutov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sakurai, who protects the arm well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tutov moves into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Tutov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sakurai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tutov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Tutov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sakurai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sakurai misses the shot to the body.
Tutov moves away from the strike by Sakurai.
Sakurai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tutov counters with a series of strikes. Sakurai will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tutov manages to avoid it.
Tutov tries to counter with a takedown but Sakurai is quick to defend against it.
Tutov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tutov misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a jab when Tutov was well out of range.
Tutov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tutov moves out of range of the strikes.
Tutov attempts a counter takedown but Sakurai avoids it well and moves away.
Sakurai catches Tutov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sakurai ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tutov closes the distance and clinches up with Sakurai, looking for a takedown. Tutov pushes Sakurai against the cage but Sakurai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tutov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tutov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sakurai to score with a decent uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Sakurai as he checks the leg kick.
Tutov shoots and misses
and Sakurai counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Tutov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tutov fails with a takedown attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Tutov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakurai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tutov.
A little feinted left hand from Tutov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tutov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sakurai as he jumps to the side.
Hideo Sakurai seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a sloppy body shot
and Tutov counters with a two punch combo.
Sakurai looks to land a right hand but Tutov moved out of range.
Hideo Sakurai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tutov blocks a jab.
Sakurai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tutov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakurai.
Tutov tried to counter with a leg kick but Sakurai avoided it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tutov. Sakurai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sakurai with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tutov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Sakurai misses its intended target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakurai. Tutov does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Tutov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tutov throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sakurai counters with a nice uppercut.

Tutov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sakurai manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sakurai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tutov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tutov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tutov won't allow Sakurai to get back to his feet.
Tutov trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tutov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hideo Sakurai.
I think Sakurai 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Hideo Sakurai!
Hideo Sakurai thanked the fans post fight for their support.