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CWC 263 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 Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 21 wins and 19 losses; Ishiihara Sakuraba! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 12 wins and 14 losses; Darian Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Sakuraba dives in for a single leg takedown but Cruz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sakuraba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Sakuraba is trying to drag Cruz to the mat but Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sakuraba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cruz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ishiihara Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sakuraba gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cruz has Sakuraba pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sakuraba manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sakuraba gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Sakuraba (2) vs (0) Cruz
Cruz working a defensive guard but Sakuraba manages to pass into side control anyway.
Score +3 for passing guard: Sakuraba (5) vs (0) Cruz
Cruz 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 one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.
Sakuraba tries to move to mount but Cruz blocks the move with his legs.
Sakuraba has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba takes a little break here. Cruz wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sakuraba's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba controlling the action here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sakuraba'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.
Cruz holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
Cruz looking for submissions off his back.
Sakuraba is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba is taking a breather. Cruz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sakuraba has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Sakuraba sits in half guard.
Sakuraba takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz trying to hold on to Sakuraba's head to control him but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba is controlling the pace.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Sakuraba is controlling well.
Cruz wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is controlling the pace.
Cruz trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Sakuraba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sakuraba perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to hold on to Sakuraba's head to control him but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba stalling.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Cruz regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cruz trying to control the position.
Sakuraba sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sakuraba slips nicely into half guard.
Cruz wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cruz defends it well.
Sakuraba is figuring out what he wants to do next.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is trying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Sakuraba sits in half guard.
Sakuraba is really struggling to control Cruz but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sakuraba preventing the sweep.
Sakuraba content to stall in guard here.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Sakuraba defends easily.
Sakuraba is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz working for a triangle but Sakuraba defends it easily.
Sakuraba forces his way into half guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control but can't.
Sakuraba wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
Sakuraba seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cruz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sakuraba is stalling in the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cruz is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Sakuraba (5) vs (2) Cruz
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cruz controls the pace.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.
Cruz has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Shao Kahns Training Facility. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Sakuraba can't keep his opponent in guard - Cruz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sakuraba trying to control from the bottom.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position.
Sakuraba trying to control here.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Cruz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cruz is keen to just control but Sakuraba is a slippery customer.
Sakuraba keeping control of the position.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.
Cruz trying to control the action but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sakuraba trying to control from the bottom.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cruz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sakuraba keeping control of the position.
Cruz is looking for a kimura here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sakuraba trying to control but Cruz postures up.
And that's the end of the fight!
Sakuraba takes the fight on points by 5 to 2.
Ishiihara Sakuraba bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it. |
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