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CWC 257 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the featherweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 38 wins and 22 losses; Rodney Holzken! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 20 wins and 19 losses; Ishiihara Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Holzken darts in and clinches Sakuraba up against the cage.
Holzken stops a takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba wants to take the fight to the mat but Holzken manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Holzken jumps into guard, dragging Sakuraba to the mat.
Sakuraba trying to control but Holzken is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Clark's Champion's. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Holzken has his hands on Sakuraba's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holzken escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuraba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakuraba's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holzken is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Holzken is looking for a triangle here but Sakuraba uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Holzken (0) vs (3) Sakuraba
That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Holzken's face as Sakuraba controls the position.
Sakuraba tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Sakuraba takes a little break here. Holzken wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Holzken is looking to reverse the position.
Sakuraba tries to move to mount but Holzken blocks the move with his legs.
Holzken is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sakuraba's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Holzken tries to get to full guard but Sakuraba has control of the leg.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is trying to control. Holzken wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Holzken is trying to maintain the position but Sakuraba is very close to passing his half guard.
Sakuraba keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Holzken looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Holzken's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are battling for position here. Holzken manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sakuraba slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Holzken is looking for a triangle here but Sakuraba uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Holzken (0) vs (6) Sakuraba
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holzken is letting Sakuraba control him for a moment.
Sakuraba tries to move into full mount but can't pass Holzken's legs.
Holzken struggling a bit here.
Sakuraba wants to control but Holzken is keeping him busy.
Sakuraba controls the position from side control.
Holzken is looking for a sweep.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Sakuraba stalls from top position.
Sakuraba tries to move into full mount but can't pass Holzken's legs.
Sakuraba trying to control the position but Holzken is working away.
Holzken is looking for a sweep.
Holzken is trying to work for a sweep but Sakuraba has mounted him! Score +2 for reaching mount: Holzken (0) vs (8) Sakuraba
Holzken tries to lock up and control but Sakuraba gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sakuraba sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sakuraba seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Holzken is holding on tight.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sakuraba tries to control but Holzken wriggling away.
Holzken is working to get back to half guard.
Holzken is trying to reverse the position but instead Sakuraba has taken his back - oops! Score +3 for taking back: Holzken (0) vs (11) Sakuraba
I would not like to be Holzken right now.
Holzken turns into Sakuraba and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Holzken (2) vs (11) Sakuraba
Sakuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Holzken postures up.
Holzken wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sakuraba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sakuraba lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Holzken (2) vs (13) Sakuraba
Holzken bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakuraba's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Holzken (4) vs (13) Sakuraba
Holzken is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holzken's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Holzken stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuraba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Holzken being controlled here momentarily.
Holzken tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuraba is retaining full guard.
Holzken looking to sit in guard and control but Sakuraba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Holzken (4) vs (15) Sakuraba
Holzken is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Holzken trying to control the position.
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba controls from within his opponent's guard.
Holzken has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sakuraba is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Holzken. Score +3 for passing guard: Holzken (4) vs (18) Sakuraba
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Holzken is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Holzken tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sakuraba wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Holzken, who protects the arm well.
Sakuraba wants to control but Holzken is keeping him busy.
Holzken is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Holzken looking for a sweep but Sakuraba has passed into full mount! Oh no! Score +2 for reaching mount: Holzken (4) vs (20) Sakuraba
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to control but Holzken wriggling away.
Sakuraba is looking to work his way around to Holzken's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Sakuraba mounts Holzken! Really nice guard pass there!
Holzken is desperately trying to improve his position but Sakuraba has a good base and remains in mount.
Holzken tries to lock up and control but Sakuraba gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Holzken is trying desperately to improve position.
Sakuraba sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Holzken is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba tries to control but Holzken wriggling away.
Holzken is working to get back to half guard.
Holzken is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Sakuraba has taken his back.
Score +3 for taking back: Holzken (4) vs (23) Sakuraba
Sakuraba tries to keep control of the position but Holzken is staying busy.
Holzken tries to escape but Sakuraba has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Holzken preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sakuraba.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Sakuraba is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Holzken looking very determined here, making life difficult for Sakuraba.
Sakuraba working for the choke.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control.
Holzken tries to break free.
Well,Holzken is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Sakuraba has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Holzken's body.
Sakuraba keeps control of the position as Holzken tries to break free.
Holzken is working hard here to advance position.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba has good solid back control here.
Holzken showing good submission defense here.
Holzken is trying to break free.
Sakuraba is riding his opponent, not letting Holzken buck him off.
Sakuraba is not going to allow Holzken to sit and survive in this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sakuraba controls the action.
Sakuraba is hanging on to Holzken's back as he tries to escape.
And that's the end of the fight!
Sakuraba wins on points by 23 to 4.
A less than humble Ishiihara Sakuraba misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities. |
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