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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hayato Sakuraba (ranked 497 p4p, 1116 weight class) and Ottaa Koppia (ranked 63 p4p, 168 weight class). Hayato Sakuraba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 180 cm
27
190
7 - 3 - 0 |
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183 cm
27
189
7 - 4 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hayato Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ottaa Koppia!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, David Hoff and Bart Greer.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koppia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sakuraba throws out a loose jab but Koppia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koppia doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ottaa Koppia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Koppia finds it's way round the side to connect with Sakuraba's head.
Koppia takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Koppia pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Koppia looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Koppia lands an overhand right.
A decent looking cross lands there for Koppia.
Koppia throws a looping overhand right but Sakuraba ducks down to avoid it.
Sakuraba looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The fighters circling - Koppia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sakuraba half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Koppia ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Koppia connects with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koppia misses with a left hand
and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown. Koppia fights it but they end up in guard.
Sakuraba scoring with some ground and pound.
Sakuraba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Koppia keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sakuraba landing with the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Koppia can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Koppia blocks nicely.
Koppia wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sakuraba trying to control but Koppia is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sakuraba with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Koppia controls Sakuraba momentarily but Sakuraba frees himself.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Koppia is keeping the position for now.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Koppia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakuraba throws a big right hand that misses.
Koppia trying to control the position.
Sakuraba thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakuraba working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sakuraba working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sakuraba trying to control but Koppia is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba postures up in Koppia's guard and throws a big left but Koppia blocks it.
Sakuraba postures up in Koppia's guard and throws a big left but Koppia blocks it.
Sakuraba lands a couple of elbows.
Koppia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakuraba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sakuraba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koppia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Koppia pulls Sakuraba in to control the position.
Sakuraba throws a strike but Koppia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Koppia wanted to stand there but Sakuraba had control of the position.
Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Koppia pushes his legs off easily.
Koppia's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sakuraba has his foot on Koppia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koppia works his way back into a safe position though.
Sakuraba lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Sakuraba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Koppia stands and steps away. Sakuraba gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Koppia gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control but Koppia is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakuraba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sakuraba works over Koppia with some ground and pound from guard.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Koppia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuraba throwing strikes but missing.
Sakuraba throwing strikes but missing.
Sakuraba throws a big elbow that misses.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Hayato Sakuraba dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Good shot there by Koppia.
Koppia is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Koppia blocks it.
Koppia tries to move into range but Sakuraba moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Koppia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakuraba doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Koppia cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ottaa Koppia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Koppia throws a looping overhand right but Sakuraba ducks down to avoid it.
Sakuraba slips a jab from Koppia.
Sakuraba sizes up Koppia with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Koppia. No joy for Sakuraba on that attempt.
Koppia throws a counter combo.
Koppia moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Koppia as Sakuraba shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hayato Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koppia lands a big uppercut and Sakuraba crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Sakuraba looks OK. Koppia waves Sakuraba back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koppia feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Sakuraba sprawling to the canvas! Sakuraba rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Koppia finish him?!
Sakuraba is rocked!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Oh Sakuraba is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Koppia takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Hayato Sakuraba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakuraba swings around for an armbar but Koppia sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sakuraba's guard.
Sakuraba seems to have got his legs back now.
Koppia looking to pass the guard.
Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Koppia looking to pass the guard.
Sakuraba is trying to control the position but Koppia postures up.
Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Koppia pushes his legs off easily.
Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Koppia defends easily.
Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koppia slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Koppia wants to stand and escape but instead Sakuraba has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Koppia blocks nicely.
Sakuraba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Koppia blocks nicely.
Koppia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sakuraba passes Koppia's left leg - he's now in half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Koppia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Koppia blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sakuraba not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Koppia tries to roll over but Sakuraba keeps him under control.
Sakuraba throwing shots but Koppia is blocking nicely.
Sakuraba drops an elbow to the side of Koppia's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Sakuraba.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koppia blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sakuraba.
Koppia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Koppia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sakuraba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakuraba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Koppia tries to get to full guard but Sakuraba has control of the leg.
Koppia blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Koppia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba is looking to stall here but Koppia recovers full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ottaa Koppia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Sakuraba scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Koppia looks to land a left hand but Sakuraba moved out of range nicely.
Sakuraba looks to land a right hand but Koppia moved out of range.
Koppia takes a swing at Sakuraba's ribcage but misses.
Sakuraba throws a jab but it's blocked by Koppia.
Koppia throws a looping overhand right but Sakuraba ducks down to avoid it.
Sakuraba shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Koppia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Koppia sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Koppia looks to throw the jab but Sakuraba is out of range.
A big left from Sakuraba misses.
Koppia throws a body punch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Koppia misses with a looping right.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba moves out of range as Koppia strikes.
Koppia throws a hook but Sakuraba avoids it easily.
Sakuraba throws a combination that misses
and Koppia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sakuraba slips under a jab from Koppia.
Sakuraba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Koppia pinned against the cage. Koppia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hayato Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba slips a jab from Koppia.
Koppia throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sakuraba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sakuraba drops down looking for a counter takedown but Koppia sprawls and moves away.
Koppia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koppia throws a body shot but no joy.
Sakuraba is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Koppia takes a swing at Sakuraba's ribcage but misses.
Koppia connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sakuraba. Sakuraba circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba misses with a wild combination.
Sakuraba dives in and grabs Koppia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Koppia pushes down on Sakuraba's head and hops out.
Sakuraba drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Koppia connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A slow jab from Koppia misses its intended target.
Koppia throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakuraba tries to move into range but Koppia moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Koppia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Koppia ducked under it nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Koppia manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Koppia is keeping the position for now.
Koppia looking to control.
Sakuraba lands a couple of elbows.
Sakuraba looking to sit in guard and control but Koppia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Koppia pushes his legs off easily.
Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Koppia defends easily.
Koppia preventing the sweep.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koppia wants to get up but he can't break Sakuraba's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sakuraba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Koppia defends well.
Sakuraba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Koppia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakuraba is working an open guard so Koppia takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakuraba lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koppia throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sakuraba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Koppia throws out the jab.
Sakuraba tries to counter with a takedown but Koppia is quick to defend against it.
Koppia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sakuraba moves away.
Ottaa Koppia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koppia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakuraba was well out of range. Poor timing from Koppia.
Sakuraba tries to counter with a takedown but Koppia is quick to defend against it.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ottaa Koppia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Koppia has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight for Ottaa Koppia!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Ottaa Koppia!
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight for Ottaa Koppia!
Ottaa Koppia wins by unanimous decision!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
55% |
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