PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dae Hyun Kwon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Dae Hyun Kwon has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hyun Kwon
vs
Sakuraba

183 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
183 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good takedowns
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dae Hyun Kwon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joshua Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Sakuraba looking to secure an arm triangle but Kwon defends it well.
Kwon is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Kwon is trying desperately to improve position.
Kwon is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kwon wants to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
Kwon is in all sorts of trouble here.

Sakuraba working for a guillotine from mount but Kwon is in no mood to give up.
Sakuraba controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwon is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kwon looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Kwon is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kwon is trying to get back to his feet but Sakuraba has full control of the position and if anything, Kwon has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Sakuraba tries to get the hooks in deep but Kwon pushed the leg off.

Kwon showing good submission defense here.
Sakuraba missing with punches from the back.

Sakuraba is persistently looking for the submission but Kwon is defending it well.
Kwon rolls, trying to escape but Sakuraba keeps control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to get the hooks in deep but Kwon pushed the leg off.
Kwon has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
You can see the frustration on Kwon's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Kwon holding both Sakuraba 's hands and preventing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kwon is in bad spot here.
Kwon wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakuraba biding his time, looking for the opening.

Sakuraba is looking for the choke from the back position but Kwon is controlling his hands well.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
Kwon tries to roll but Sakuraba sticks to his back.
Kwon looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Sakuraba dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kwon is looking to clinch.
Kwon moves in looking to clinch but Sakuraba pushes him off.
Kwon doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuraba circles away.

Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kwon is squirming around, avoiding Sakuraba's attempts to control the action.

Sakuraba is working for a guillotine from mount but Kwon frees his head quite easily.
Kwon tries to hold on but Sakuraba postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba dominating with strikes here.
Kwon is working to get back to half guard.
Kwon is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba content just to control the position here.
Sakuraba can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kwon is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sakuraba controlling the position easily from mount.
Kwon working to try and regain half guard.
Sakuraba controlling his opponent.

Sakuraba working for a submission but Kwon is keeping him at bay.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kwon tries to hold on but Sakuraba pushes him away.
Kwon working to try and regain half guard.
Kwon slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kwon wants to improve his position but Sakuraba is controlling well.
Kwon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakuraba on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kwon punching from the bottom.
Sakuraba prevents Kwon from improving his position.
Kwon works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kwon wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sakuraba gets to his feet. Kwon looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kwon tries to clinch up.

Sakuraba drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kwon controls Sakuraba momentarily but Sakuraba frees himself.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Kwon keeps moving.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Kwon is keeping the position.
Kwon trying to keep a closed guard but Sakuraba is proving a slippery customer.
Kwon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakuraba's guard.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kwon trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.

Sakuraba working for a triangle but Kwon defends it easily.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Kwon from controlling successfully.
Kwon looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kwon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sakuraba's guard.
Kwon trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba working a defensive guard but Kwon passes into half guard.
It looks like Kwon is going to stand back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kwon tries for a takedown but Sakuraba circles away easily

and Sakuraba counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kwon keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kwon gets full guard.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Kwon keeps moving.
Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kwon is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sakuraba trying to control but Kwon is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba won't allow Kwon to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kwon has his takedown stuffed

and Sakuraba counters with a takedown into side control.
Kwon is looking to regain half guard here but Sakuraba keeps moving and retains side control.
Kwon manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sakuraba has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Sakuraba!