PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hayato Sakuraba (ranked 2679 p4p, 159 weight class) and White Blood Cell (ranked 2777 p4p, 162 weight class). Blood Cell is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: For Heavy Metal we will die!. Hayato Sakuraba has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sakuraba
vs
Blood Cell

165 cm
23
142 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
24
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hayato Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, White Blood Cell!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Blood Cell scores with a nice strike.
Blood Cell has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sakuraba is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Sakuraba tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sakuraba loads up on a big right hand but Blood Cell slips the punch.
White Blood Cell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blood Cell lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Blood Cell jabs Sakuraba right on the nose. Sakuraba blinks but takes it well.
A low kick from Blood Cell misses
and Sakuraba counters with a nice uppercut.

Blood Cell gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sakuraba misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sakuraba misses with some punches.
Sakuraba misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Blood Cell gets through Sakuraba's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuraba is trying to pull guard but Blood Cell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Sakuraba pulls Blood Cell into guard.

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

Blood Cell drops back looking for a leg! Sakuraba is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sakuraba manages to kick Blood Cell off! Blood Cell jumps back into Sakuraba's guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blood Cell trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Blood Cell defends easily.

Sakuraba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Blood Cell defends it easily.

Sakuraba throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Blood Cell escapes and throws Sakuraba's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sakuraba gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blood Cell content to control rather than advance.
Blood Cell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blood Cell is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Sakuraba!
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Blood Cell pushes him away.
Sakuraba is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Blood Cell is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sakuraba to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sakuraba shrugs it off.
Blood Cell looking to control but Sakuraba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sakuraba is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is working hard here to advance position.
Sakuraba wants to hold on but Blood Cell pushes him away.
Sakuraba is trying to escape the mount.
Sakuraba wants to control but Blood Cell is having none of it.
Sakuraba can't escape the position.
Sakuraba wants to hold on but Blood Cell pushes him away.
Blood Cell looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sakuraba can't escape the position.
Blood Cell trying to control but Sakuraba is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blood Cell thowing shots but they're missing.
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Blood Cell postures up.
Sakuraba working to try and regain half guard.
Sakuraba tries to lock up and control but Blood Cell gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Blood Cell wants to finish this one by submission but Sakuraba is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Blood Cell.
Blood Cell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakuraba is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blood Cell is trying to control here but Sakuraba has managed to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

White Blood Cell dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sakuraba on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sakuraba avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blood Cell throws out a counter right but Sakuraba avoids it with no problem.
Sakuraba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blood Cell with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Blood Cell bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sakuraba's head backwards.
A jab from Blood Cell does it's job there.
Blood Cell takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Blood Cell throws a low kick, looking for Sakuraba's leg but Sakuraba calmly moves out of range.
Blood Cell connects with a high kick.
Blood Cell misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sakuraba is looking to counter the offense by Blood Cell and move into the clinch.
Blood Cell lands a hook that stumbles Sakuraba back into the cage. Blood Cell follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Sakuraba to the canvas! Blood Cell pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Sakuraba has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). White Blood Cell!
In his post fight interview, White Blood Cell started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.