PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maximillian Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor Sakuraba told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hernandez
vs
Sakuraba

184 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maximillian Hernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taylor Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hernandez trying to keep a closed guard but Sakuraba is proving a slippery customer.
Sakuraba really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hernandez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hernandez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakuraba defends well.
Hernandez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakuraba manages to get himself to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakuraba can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hernandez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
Hernandez stands and throws Sakuraba's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Hernandez decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sakuraba to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hernandez to the mat! Hernandez manages to get full guard.

Hernandez has his feet on Sakuraba's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Hernandez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown. Hernandez fights it but they end up in guard.
Hernandez is breathing heavily.
Hernandez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hernandez working for a triangle but Sakuraba defends it easily.
Sakuraba trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Hernandez keeps moving.
Sakuraba postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Hernandez keeps moving.
Hernandez keeping full guard, as Sakuraba tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Hernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hernandez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakuraba stands up over Hernandez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sakuraba is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sakuraba trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Hernandez is trying to keep Sakuraba in close.
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.
Sakuraba is looking to work some ground and pound but Hernandez has wrist control.
Sakuraba trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A right-left combo lands from Hernandez.

Sakuraba looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hernandez!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sakuraba drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hernandez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hernandez wants to sweep here but Sakuraba controlling him for the moment.
Taylor Sakuraba has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakuraba throws a strike but Hernandez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sakuraba trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Sakuraba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hernandez is working Sakuraba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Sakuraba wants to control the position but Hernandez says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Hernandez stands up from half guard.
Hernandez has his takedown stuffed

so Sakuraba counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hernandez keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.

Sakuraba drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hernandez dives on top into guard.
Hernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez preventing the sweep.

Hernandez stands and steps away. Sakuraba gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Maximillian Hernandez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hernandez misses with a takedown

and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown. Hernandez fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hernandez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakuraba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakuraba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sakuraba stopping the sweep attempt from Hernandez.
Sakuraba lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hernandez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sakuraba controls the pace.

Hernandez working for a triangle but Sakuraba defends it easily.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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 avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Sakuraba closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hernandez is trying to control Sakuraba's posture but Sakuraba avoids it.
Hernandez trying to remain calm as Sakuraba controls from the top position.
Sakuraba working the ground and pound from side control.
Hernandez can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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 clinches.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but Hernandez won't allow it.
Sakuraba prevents the takedown attempt.

Hernandez manages to pull guard.
Sakuraba landing with the ground and pound.
Hernandez is trying to keep Sakuraba in close.
Hernandez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakuraba's guard.
Hernandez stops Sakuraba from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sakuraba trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sakuraba wants to sweep here but Hernandez controlling him for the moment.
Sakuraba is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Sakuraba kicks Hernandez off and gets to his feet.
Hernandez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sakuraba counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hernandez won't be happy with that.
Hernandez is looking to get back to his feet here but Sakuraba is keeping cool and he's managed to take Hernandez's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Sakuraba's guard. Nice work there by Hernandez.
Hernandez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hernandez throwing strikes from guard but Sakuraba blocks nicely.
Hernandez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
Hernandez wanted to stand there but Sakuraba had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hernandez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sakuraba managing to control the position.
Hernandez won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hernandez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sakuraba counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hernandez's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maximillian Hernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hernandez is trying to keep Sakuraba in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hernandez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sakuraba with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hernandez working a defensive guard here.
Maximillian Hernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.
Hernandez wants to sweep here but Sakuraba controlling him for the moment.
Taylor Sakuraba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hernandez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taylor Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sakuraba 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

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