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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Riccuto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph Sakuraba could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Billy Riccuto's chin.
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| 191 cm
22
230 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
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198 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
KO power |
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BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joseph Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Billy Riccuto!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Riccuto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sakuraba somewhat.
Riccuto is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sakuraba.
It looks like Billy Riccuto has been cut.
Riccuto shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but Riccuto moves out of range.
Riccuto closes the distance and clinches.
A short uppercut from Sakuraba.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch on the inside from Riccuto fails to land.
Riccuto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sakuraba wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sakuraba is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Riccuto pushes Sakuraba back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Riccuto tries to score a body lock takedown but Sakuraba shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Joseph Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Riccuto.
Riccuto lands with a short shot to the head.
Riccuto tries to pull guard but Sakuraba holds him up against the cage and eventually Riccuto drops back down to his feet.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Riccuto is trying to trip Sakuraba. He has hold of a leg but Sakuraba is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Riccuto persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Sakuraba can't keep his opponent in guard - Riccuto advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Riccuto is looking to advance position but Sakuraba won't allow it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sakuraba regains full guard. Nicely done.
Riccuto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Riccuto passes Sakuraba's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba is looking for a sweep. Riccuto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba taking some punishment here, with Riccuto in his half guard.
Riccuto is keen to just control but Sakuraba is a slippery customer.
Riccuto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Riccuto slows the pace down in half guard.
Sakuraba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Riccuto.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Riccuto lands a nice short elbow.
Riccuto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sakuraba taking some punishment here, with Riccuto in his half guard.
Riccuto passes the guard and advances to mount!
Riccuto landing strikes from the mount and Sakuraba is in trouble!
Sakuraba is bucking up trying to escape but Riccuto cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Riccuto controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Riccuto dominating with strikes here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riccuto landing strikes from the mount.
Sakuraba is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
Riccuto scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sakuraba?
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Riccuto pushes him away.
Sakuraba is bucking up trying to escape but Riccuto cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sakuraba is in a horrible position here. Riccuto smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Riccuto lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Riccuto landing shots from mount.
Riccuto lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Riccuto landing strikes, looking to finish!
Riccuto looking to finish Sakuraba with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sakuraba!
Riccuto lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riccuto prevents Sakuraba from getting the reversal.
Riccuto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Riccuto landing strikes from the mount.
Riccuto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sakuraba can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
BOOM! Riccuto connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Riccuto lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sakuraba hang on?
Riccuto controlling the pace for now.
Riccuto avoids the attempt from Sakuraba to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riccuto landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Billy Riccuto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Billy Riccuto's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Riccuto shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sakuraba's guard.
Sakuraba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sakuraba wants to control but Riccuto passes easily into half guard.
Riccuto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakuraba keeps working.
Riccuto is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Riccuto lands a nice shot to the head.
Riccuto fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Riccuto lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Riccuto controlling his opponent.
Riccuto landing strikes from the mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Riccuto.
Riccuto lands a big shot there that rocks Sakuraba but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sakuraba wants to hold on but Riccuto pushes him away.
Riccuto with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Riccuto cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Riccuto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sakuraba can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Riccuto is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Riccuto looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
A nice elbow there by Riccuto.
Sakuraba in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Riccuto scoring with strikes but Sakuraba is staying in there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riccuto working Sakuraba over with strikes here.
Riccuto breaks from Sakuraba's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riccuto postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sakuraba looks a forlorn figure.
Riccuto has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sakuraba's face.
Riccuto controlling from the full mount.
Riccuto putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Riccuto is landing with some decent strikes but Sakuraba is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Riccuto is landing with some decent strikes but Sakuraba is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Riccuto with good strikes from the mount here!
Riccuto scores with a couple of good head shots there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riccuto lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Riccuto scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Riccuto landing strikes, looking to finish!
Riccuto has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sakuraba's face.
Riccuto lands a big shot there that rocks Sakuraba but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Billy Riccuto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riccuto lands a big shot there that rocks Sakuraba but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Riccuto connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Riccuto postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sakuraba looks a forlorn figure.
Riccuto controlling from the full mount.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position but Riccuto isn't that keen on the idea.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riccuto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sakuraba can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sakuraba in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Riccuto putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Riccuto with good strikes from the mount here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakuraba wants to control but Riccuto is having none of it.
Sakuraba takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The referee warns Sakuraba that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Riccuto content just to control the position here.
Riccuto with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Billy Riccuto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Billy Riccuto's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Riccuto takes the fight into the clinch.
Riccuto lands a takedown into guard.
Sakuraba throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Riccuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riccuto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sakuraba working a defensive guard here.
Riccuto with a nice head shot there.
Sakuraba lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Riccuto!
Riccuto is desperately trying to improve his position but Sakuraba has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Riccuto is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sakuraba swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Riccuto is now in Sakuraba's guard. A big mistake from Sakuraba there, giving up the dominant position!
Sakuraba has momentary wrist control but Riccuto slips an elbow through the middle.
Riccuto working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Riccuto chips away with some ground and pound.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riccuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riccuto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Riccuto postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Riccuto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Riccuto chips away with some ground and pound.
Riccuto trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Riccuto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Riccuto postures up and lands a big shot to Sakuraba's brow.
Riccuto with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Riccuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riccuto landing with the ground and pound.
Sakuraba has momentary wrist control but Riccuto slips an elbow through the middle.
Riccuto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Riccuto's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Riccuto is working Sakuraba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Riccuto stops Sakuraba from standing up.
Riccuto connects with a couple of short punches.
Riccuto sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Riccuto postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riccuto is working Sakuraba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sakuraba working a defensive guard here.
Riccuto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Riccuto distracts Sakuraba with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Riccuto works over Sakuraba with some ground and pound from guard.
Riccuto postures up and lands a big shot to Sakuraba's brow.
Riccuto works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Riccuto is thwarting Sakuraba's attempts to control the position.
Riccuto moves nicely into side control.
Joseph Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Billy Riccuto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Riccuto controls the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Riccuto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Riccuto winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 26:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Riccuto!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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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
100% |
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