PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cathair McKay (ranked 263 p4p, 1004 weight class) and Hayato Sakuraba (ranked 39 p4p, 152 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McKay
vs
Sakuraba

182 cm
26
185
9 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
190
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Beachside Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cathair McKay!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hayato Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKay's corner calls for a 1-2. McKay obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sakuraba ducks right into an uppercut from McKay.
McKay wants to clinch

so Sakuraba counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sakuraba with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakuraba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sakuraba pushing down on McKay's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McKay avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throwing shots but McKay is blocking nicely.
McKay on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McKay tries to get out of the position.
Sakuraba tries to pass to full mount but McKay defends it.
Sakuraba thows a huge punch but McKay dodges it nicely.
Sakuraba looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Sakuraba seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McKay does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKay wants to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba is keen to just control but McKay is a slippery customer.
Sakuraba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sakuraba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sakuraba passes to full mount!
Sakuraba throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for McKay because Sakuraba loaded up on that one.
Sakuraba cracks McKay with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sakuraba landing punches.
Sakuraba working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sakuraba cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Sakuraba is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Sakuraba!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Hayato Sakuraba!
Hayato Sakuraba is the new middleweight champion!