PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Gonzales (ranked 3751 p4p, 24234 weight class) and Yushi Sakura (ranked 360 p4p, 482 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Gonzales
vs
Sakura

188 cm
25
154
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
152
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Gonzales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yushi Sakura!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Paul Tew and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzales jabs at Sakura's body.
Gonzales misses with a right hand
and Gonzales takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sakura checks a leg kick.
Gonzales misses with a body kick.
Sakura feints the counter takedown.
Sakura tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gonzales manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Gonzales.

Gonzales instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Sakura fails to land.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gonzales obliges.
Gonzales lands a knee to the head.
Gonzales scores with a shot to the side of Sakura's head.
Gonzales really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sakura has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gonzales.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gonzales working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gonzales throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sakuras head.
A frustrated look appears on Sakura's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gonzales.
Gonzales is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Gonzales turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Gonzales decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Gonzales clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Gonzales.
Gonzales putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakura in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gonzales misses with a knee strike.
Gonzales putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sakura in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gonzales utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sakura looks winded!
Gonzales unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sakura lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sakura takes a shot to the head.
Gonzales digs a right hand into Sakura's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sakura's gas tank.
Gonzales lands a knee to the body.
Sakura tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Gonzales has Sakura pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gonzales pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sakura tumbling to the mat - Gonzales dives into Sakura's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Gonzales gets to his feet - Sakura follows without any prompting.
A slapping body kick lands there for Gonzales.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Gonzales.
Gonzales pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gonzales misses with a low kick.
Sakura stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gonzales.

Gonzales instigates a clinch.
Gonzales pushes Sakura back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Gonzales.
Gonzales lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Gonzales has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sakura is trying to keep an underhook but Gonzales manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Gonzales decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Gonzales lands a nice hook to Sakura's body. Sakura takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gonzales misses with a body shot.
Gonzales misses with a body shot.
Sakura is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Gonzales throws a poor cross that misses
and Gonzales takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
James Gonzales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A clash of legs there as Sakura blocks the low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gonzales forces Sakura back against the cage and clinches.
Gonzales lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gonzales using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Gonzales.
A head punch on the inside from Sakura fails to land.
A short left from Gonzales.
Gonzales crunches a lovely knee into Sakura's ribcage.
Sakura takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gonzales lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gonzales lands a good knee to the midsection. Sakura won't want to take too many of those.
Gonzales lands a body shot in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gonzales lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gonzales lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sakura backwards.
Gonzales makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gonzales landing knees to the body.
Gonzales lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sakura backwards.
Gonzales working Sakura over with knees to the body.
Gonzales lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales digs a right hand underneath Sakura's ribcage. Sakura let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gonzales lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gonzales scores with a knee to the head.
Sakura wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gonzales lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sakura or not.
Gonzales lands a right hand.
Gonzales is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gonzales.
Gonzales works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gonzales lands a shot to the body.
Gonzales working Sakura over with knees to the body.
Gonzales scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gonzales utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzales lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gonzales scores with a knee to the head.
Sakura on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gonzales pushes Sakura back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Gonzales dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sakura gets tackled into the cage by Gonzales. Gonzales maintains the clinch.
Sakura has a couple of punches blocked by Gonzales.
Gonzales using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sakura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gonzales blocking some punches.
Gonzales is working Sakura over against the cage.
Sakura misses with the head strike.
Gonzales lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sakura backwards.
Sakura wants to break free but Gonzales has control.
Sakura throws a head punch that misses.
Gonzales utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gonzales lands with a right to the head.
Gonzales is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sakura can do to turn this around?
Gonzales looking to throw knees to the head but Sakura is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakura tries to break the clinch but Gonzales is controlling the position.
Sakura wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gonzales has him pressed against the cage.
Gonzales blocking some punches.
Gonzales scores with a knee to the head.

Sakura is rocked!
Gonzales with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sakura is still on wobbly legs! Can Gonzales finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gonzales pushes Sakura against the cage. Gonzales is working some dirty boxing. Gonzales pushes off with a quick right hook! Sakura goes down! Sakura tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Gonzales moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Gonzales!
After winning the bout, James Gonzales thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.