PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and josh thomson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sakuraba
vs
thomson

187 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, josh thomson!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
thomson shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well. He's pushed thomson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
thomson blocks a head kick by Sakuraba.

Sakuraba darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
thomson is trying to control but can't.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but thomson defending well.
Sakuraba not doing much here.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.
thomson tries to roll over but Sakuraba keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
thomson is not content to let Sakuraba control the position.
thomson trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
thomson misses with a body kick.

Sakuraba drives through and clinches with thomson against the ropes.

Sakuraba breaks the clinch.
thomson tries for a takedown but Sakuraba circles away easily

and Sakuraba counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
thomson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakuraba won't allow thomson to sweep him here.
Sakuraba has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
thomson managing to control the position.
thomson wants to improve his position but instead Sakuraba has moved into half guard.
thomson is looking to improve his position.
Sakuraba is keen to just control but thomson is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
thomson wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
thomson tries to clinch
and Sakuraba counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick misses from thomson.
thomson misses with a hook.

Sakuraba gets a clinch.
thomson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sakuraba smiles and moves away.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of josh thomson.
Sakuraba tries to bum rush thomson with a series of wild strikes but thomson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
thomson tries to clinch up

and Sakuraba counters by moving into the clinch.
thomson looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
thomson tries to stall but Sakuraba uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
thomson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
thomson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sakuraba is keeping busy.
thomson seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but thomson manages to get underhooks.
thomson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
thomson fails to pull guard.
thomson wants to break free but Sakuraba has control.
Knees to the body from Sakuraba.
thomson misses with some punches.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
thomson misses with an elbow strike.

Sakuraba pulls guard effortlessly.
thomson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sakuraba wants to control the position but thomson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Still in half guard, thomson seems content to control.

thomson maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Sakuraba could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but thomson has cracked it and Sakuraba is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by thomson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). josh thomson!