PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hayate Sakurai (ranked 2593 p4p, 246 weight class) and Onaga Sotaro (ranked 2961 p4p, 280 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sakurai
vs
Sotaro

166 cm
26
151 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

161 cm
25
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hayate Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Onaga Sotaro!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sotaro closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sakurai's guard.
Sotaro seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sakurai has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Sakurai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sotaro defends well.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Sotaro from controlling successfully.
Sotaro looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Sakurai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sotaro trying to control but Sakurai is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sotaro forces his way into half guard.
Sakurai is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakurai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Sotaro is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sakurai defends it well.

Sotaro is trying to work for a kimura but Sakurai is defending well.
Sotaro is keen to just control but Sakurai is a slippery customer.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sakurai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Sakurai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sotaro defends well.

That's two 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.
Sakurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sakurai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Sakurai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sotaro slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Sakurai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sotaro defends it easily.
Sotaro tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakurai is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Sakurai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sotaro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Sotaro from controlling successfully.

Sakurai is looking for a triangle but Sotaro pushes his legs off easily.
Sotaro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sotaro wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Sakurai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sakurai has his foot on Sotaro's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sotaro works his way back into a safe position though.
Sakurai can't keep his opponent in guard - Sotaro advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sotaro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakurai keeps working.

Sotaro seems to be working for a kimura but Sakurai defends the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sakurai slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sakurai keeping full guard, as Sotaro tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A slow jab from Sotaro misses its intended target.
Sakurai throws the left hand but Sotaro avoids the punch easily.
Sakurai scores with a jab to the body.
Sotaro throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakurai.
Sotaro throws a hook to the side of Sakurai's head but Sakurai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakurai half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sakurai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sotaro fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakurai just misses with a punch to the body.
Sotaro tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sotaro scores with a takedown into Sakurai's guard.

Sakurai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sotaro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sakurai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotaro wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.

Sotaro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sotaro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sotaro wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.

Sakurai is looking for a triangle but Sotaro pushes his legs off easily.
Sotaro passes into half guard.

Sotaro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sotaro moves nicely into side control.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai is trying to improve his position.
Onaga Sotaro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakurai is not content to let Sotaro control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sotaro advances nicely into full mount.
Sakurai is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sotaro working for a submission but Sakurai is keeping him at bay.
Sotaro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Sotaro goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Sakurai turns into him and now he's in Sotaro's guard.

Sotaro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sakurai is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sotaro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Onaga Sotaro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sakurai gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sotaro to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sotaro trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sotaro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sakurai works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai prevents Sotaro from improving his position.

Sakurai seems to be looking for submissions.

Sakurai 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.
Sotaro wants to get back to full guard but Sakurai has mounted him!
Sotaro sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sotaro defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotaro makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sotaro.

Sotaro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakurai is aware though and is defending well.

Sotaro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakurai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakurai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sotaro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sotaro can't keep his opponent in guard - Sakurai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Sakurai seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotaro tries to get to full guard but Sakurai has control of the leg.
Sotaro is trying to control but can't.

Sotaro is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakurai pulls his head out easily.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura here.
Hayate Sakurai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Onaga Sotaro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Sakurai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sotaro manages to get to full 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.

Sotaro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Sotaro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakurai defends well.
Sakurai postures up in Sotaro's guard and throws a big left but Sotaro blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sotaro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sotaro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Onaga Sotaro.
I've got Sotaro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Onaga Sotaro!