PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Coby Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiro Sakurai has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Castro
vs
Sakurai

190 cm
24
190 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
203 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Buzzkill
Buzzkill

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Coby Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hiro Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Castro manages to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakurai misses the target.
Sakurai throws a hook but Castro avoids it easily.
Sakurai throws a hook to the side of Castro's head but Castro sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakurai throws a jab when Castro was well out of range.
Castro slips a straight right by Sakurai.
Castro misses with a head kick.
Sakurai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai avoids the head kick by Castro.
Castro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakurai.
Sakurai scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Castro doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakurai cracks Castro with a right hand to the side of the head.
Castro defending well as Sakurai loads up on a big left hand.
Castro moves in looking to clinch but Sakurai pushes him off.
Castro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakurai was well out of range. Poor timing from Castro.
Sakurai leaves Castro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Castro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two 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.
Sakurai swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Castro counters with a two punch combo.

Castro shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sakurai manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Castro drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sakurai dives on top into guard.
Sakurai would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Sakurai gets to his feet - Castro follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai dips to his left and cracks Castro with an uppercut!
Castro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sakurai.
A jab from Sakurai misses.
Castro moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hiro Sakurai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Castro wants to clinch.
Castro swings away with a body shot that misses
and Sakurai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A solid leg kick lands there for Castro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro swings away with a body shot that misses
and Sakurai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sakurai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sakurai lands with a right hand.
Sakurai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakurai lands a jab to Castro's midsection.
Castro throws a head kick that misses.
Sakurai slips a jab and a cross from Castro.
Castro walks into a left hand.
Castro misses with the body kick
and Sakurai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Sakurai dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sakurai keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakurai misses with a wild body shot.
Castro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakurai.
Sakurai connects with a crisp jab.
Castro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakurai throws a shot from downtown. Castro moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sakurai lands a jab to the head.
Sakurai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro throws a solid leg kick but Sakurai takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Castro.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sakurai darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Castro has closed the distance and engaged Sakurai in a clinch.

Castro pulls guard successfully.
Sakurai is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Sakurai gets to his feet - Castro follows without any prompting.
Sakurai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakurai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sakurai misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Castro looks to land a right hand but Sakurai moved out of range.
Castro throws a right hand that Sakurai ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakurai also avoids with ease.
Castro takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Castro misses with a body shot
and Sakurai counters with a left to the body.
A head kick misses from Sakurai.
Sakurai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakurai moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Coby Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sakurai counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Castro throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakurai.
Sakurai fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Castro is out of range.
Sakurai throws out a powerful jab.
Castro moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Castro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Castro misses with a hook. Sakurai ducked under it nicely.
Sakurai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Castro moves away.
Castro wants to clinch up but Sakurai keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai throws a hook but Castro avoids it easily.
Sakurai staying out of range there.
Sakurai throws out a powerful jab.
Sakurai tries a head kick but it misses.
Sakurai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakurai.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castro moves out of range of the strikes.
Coby Castro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakurai throws a lazy right hand but Castro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Castro tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Sakurai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Castro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Castro misses with a wild body shot.
Castro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice straight punches there by Sakurai. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sakurai.
Castro lands with a hook. Sakurai tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Castro throws a wild body kick that Sakurai sees coming a mile off.
Sakurai misses with a jab to the body

and Castro counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sakurai's guard now.
Sakurai tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Castro has gone for a leg lock! Sakurai slips out almost immediately though and dives into Castro's guard.

Sakurai gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Castro doesn't seem bothered though.
Sakurai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Castro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sakurai swings for the body but Castro moves out of range.
Castro misses with a shot to the body
and Sakurai counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Castro thinking.
Sakurai misses with a looping left.
No joy there for Castro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two 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.
Sakurai scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Castro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Castro ducks under a wild hook from Sakurai.
Sakurai lands a jab.
Castro looks for a takedown but Sakurai sprawls well.
Sakurai throws a looping overhand right but Castro ducks down to avoid it.
Coby Castro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro throws a lazy body kick
letting Sakurai counter with a right hand.
Sakurai throws out a powerful jab.
Castro misses with a double jab
letting Sakurai counter with a right hand.
Hiro Sakurai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakurai lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Castro doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Castro.
Sakurai lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sakurai cracks Castro with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai tries a head kick but it misses.
Castro doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakurai circles away.
Castro misses with a takedown
and Sakurai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Castro closes the distance and clinches up with Sakurai, looking for a takedown. Castro pushes Sakurai against the ropes but Sakurai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Coby Castro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice defenses there by Sakurai.
Castro has his takedown stuffed
and Sakurai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Sakurai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sakurai 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Sakurai!