PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hayate Sakurai (ranked 1267 p4p, 142 weight class) and Shawn Arteezy (ranked 1327 p4p, 151 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Sakurai
vs
Arteezy

166 cm
26
151 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

166 cm
26
152 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

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 6 - 4 - 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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shawn Arteezy!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Sakurai misses.
Sakurai has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sakurai throws a body shot but no joy.
Sakurai misses with a wild body shot.
Sakurai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Arteezy was well out of range. Poor timing from Sakurai.
Arteezy takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nice straight punches there by Sakurai. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sakurai.
Arteezy throws a big shot that misses.
Sakurai has a takedown stuffed.
Arteezy misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arteezy. Sakurai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sakurai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Arteezy looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Arteezy shoots in for a takedown but Sakurai shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sakurai swings for the body but Arteezy moves out of range.
Sakurai throws a jab when Arteezy was well out of range.
Sakurai is looking to wear down Arteezy with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakurai shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Arteezy napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Arteezy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sakurai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Sakurai is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Arteezy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Arteezy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sakurai tries for a kimura but Arteezy is defending well.
Arteezy struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arteezy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Arteezy can't do much from the bottom here.

Sakurai is trying to get an arm triangle but Arteezy is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Arteezy is looking for a sweep.
Arteezy gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sakurai wants to pass to mount but Arteezy is defending the position.

Arteezy is defending against the submission attempts here by Sakurai.

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

Sakurai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Arteezy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakurai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Arteezy trying to control but Sakurai postures up.
Sakurai is looking to advance position but Arteezy won't allow it.

Sakurai seems to be working for a kimura but Arteezy defends the submission attempt.
Arteezy is looking to improve his position.

Arteezy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Arteezy trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sakurai is working for a kimura but Arteezy is defending it quite comfortably.

Sakurai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Sakurai is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Arteezy is just riding it out for now. Sakurai eventually gives up the hold.

Arteezy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakurai pulls his head out easily.
Arteezy tries to get to full guard but Sakurai has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arteezy has hold of Sakurai's hands but Sakurai slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Arteezy actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayate Sakurai dominated that round.
That's time! Sakurai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Arteezy swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Sakurai changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Arteezy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Arteezy tries to improve position but can't.
Hayate Sakurai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sakurai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sakurai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Sakurai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Sakurai is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Arteezy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arteezy tries to improve position but can't.
Arteezy is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sakurai off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arteezy tightening his grip on Sakurai, looking for the choke.
Sakurai is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Sakurai is working hard here to advance position.

Arteezy is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Arteezy controlling the position well here. Sakurai rolled but Arteezy kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Sakurai tries to escape but Arteezy has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Sakurai defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Arteezy is looking for a rear naked choke here but Sakurai reverses the position brilliantly into Arteezy's guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arteezy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sakurai passes into half guard.
Arteezy wants to get back to full guard.
Arteezy wants to control but Sakurai is keeping busy.

Sakurai is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Arteezy sees it coming and defends easily.

Sakurai is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Arteezy is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai is working for a submission of some sort.
Arteezy wants to get back to full guard.
Arteezy trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Sakurai manages to pass to mount!
Arteezy wants to control but Sakurai is having none of it.
Arteezy is in all sorts of trouble here.

Sakurai looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Sakurai working for a guillotine from mount but Arteezy is in no mood to give up.
Arteezy is desperately trying to improve his position but Sakurai has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai is working for a guillotine from mount but Arteezy frees his head quite easily.
Arteezy tries to lock up and control but Sakurai gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Arteezy tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Sakurai looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Sakurai is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Arteezy can do to turn this around?
Arteezy bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Arteezy controlling from the top position.
Arteezy has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Yaw-Yan Ardigma. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Sakurai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hayate Sakurai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Arteezy staying out of range there.
Arteezy looks for a takedown but Sakurai sprawls well.
Arteezy throws a hook to the side of Sakurai's head but Sakurai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakurai jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Sakurai gets caught napping as Arteezy dives in and scores a takedown. Sakurai manages to retain guard.
Sakurai tries to strike from the bottom.

Arteezy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Arteezy from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arteezy sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arteezy wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.
Arteezy wants to pass the guard but Sakurai is keeping the position.
Arteezy 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 his foot on Arteezy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Arteezy works his way back into a safe position though.
Arteezy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Arteezy tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakurai is retaining full guard.
Arteezy trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Sakurai has his foot on Arteezy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Arteezy works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arteezy trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Arteezy looking to sit in guard and control but Sakurai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sakurai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Arteezy is on top in guard.

Arteezy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Arteezy defends well.
Arteezy looking to sit in guard and control but Sakurai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Arteezy pulls Sakurai in close to prevent any damage.

Arteezy 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.
Shawn Arteezy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Arteezy's guard.
Arteezy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Arteezy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura here.
Hayate Sakurai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Arteezy trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sakurai is looking for a kimura but Arteezy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sakurai to get the leverage.
Arteezy wants to control but Sakurai is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shawn Arteezy.
Well Sakurai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hayate Sakurai!
Our winner, Hayate Sakurai, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.