PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francesco Totti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Sakuraba could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Francesco Totti's chin.

Sakuraba
vs
Totti

187 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

185 cm
19
175 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Francesco Totti!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakuraba decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Totti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Totti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Totti keeps working.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.
Totti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Totti actively working from the bottom here.

Totti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Totti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Totti looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Totti misses with a takedown

and Sakuraba counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sakuraba.

Sakuraba works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Totti escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuraba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakuraba forces his way into half guard.

Totti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sakuraba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Totti is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Totti has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Sakuraba escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Sakuraba!
Sakuraba trying to control the action but Totti is working from the bottom.
Totti manages to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba is trying to control. Totti wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Totti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Totti is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Totti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sakuraba is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Totti moves out of range of the body kick.
Totti misses with a takedown
and Sakuraba counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Totti shoots in looking for a takedown. Sakuraba tries to sprawl out of it but Totti keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Sakuraba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francesco Totti.
Sakuraba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

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.

Sakuraba closes the distance and clinches.
Sakuraba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Totti gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Totti has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sakuraba uses from the top position.

Totti is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakuraba defends well.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Totti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that round.
That's time! Sakuraba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Totti shoots in looking for a takedown. Sakuraba tries to sprawl out of it but Totti keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Sakuraba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Totti fails with a takedown attempt.
Totti shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sakuraba counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Totti!
Kazushi Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francesco Totti.
Totti sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.

Totti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakuraba is keen to just control but Totti is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to stand up but Totti is controlling the position.

Totti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sakuraba lands a nice short elbow.
Totti avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sakuraba.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Totti fails with the takedown
and Sakuraba counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Totti thinking.
Totti gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sakuraba makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sakuraba is looking to clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sakuraba wants to clinch.
Totti has his takedown stuffed

and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown. Totti fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Totti throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Totti looking for a guillotine here but Sakuraba defends easily.
Sakuraba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Totti is keeping the position for now.

Totti is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakuraba defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakuraba jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sakuraba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
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.

Totti is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakuraba defends well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sakuraba misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Totti shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sakuraba sprawls well. Sakuraba wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Totti gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakuraba lands a nice shot that snaps Totti's head back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Totti fails with the takedown

and Sakuraba moves into the clinch.
Sakuraba stalls.
Totti jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sakuraba walks away with a smile on his face. Totti gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sakuraba tried to score with a low kick but Totti checks it.
Totti misses with a takedown attempt

and Sakuraba counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sakuraba is leaning against Totti and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Sakuraba works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Sakuraba has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Totti is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sakuraba tries to clinch up but Totti circles away and keeps his distance.
Totti fails with a takedown attempt.
Totti has his takedown stuffed

and Sakuraba counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba cracks Totti with a solid left hand.

Totti throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Totti 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Totti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakuraba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba throwing strikes from guard but Totti blocks nicely.

Sakuraba got a little sloppy there for a moment and Totti has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sakuraba has managed to get both his arms back between Totti's legs - danger averted.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Totti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakuraba. Totti does a little dance to reset his feet.
Totti doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sakuraba counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francesco Totti.

Sakuraba gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sakuraba wants to take a breather but Totti is having none of it.
Sakuraba wants to pass to mount but Totti is defending the position.
Sakuraba trying to control from half guard but Totti is working away.
Francesco Totti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Totti actively working from the bottom here.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Totti keeps working.

Totti looking for submissions off his back.

Sakuraba is trying to work for a kimura but Totti is defending well.

Totti actively working from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Totti misses with a takedown attempt - Sakuraba sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a big shot that misses.
Totti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakuraba.
Totti tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuraba swivels and escapes.
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Totti avoids them all with ease.
Totti misses with a takedown attempt
and Sakuraba counters with a stiff right hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sakuraba.
Totti misses with a takedown attempt

and Sakuraba counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Sakuraba drags the fight down to the ground.

Totti is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Totti stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.

Totti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Totti preventing the sweep.

Totti thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Totti is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Totti is working Sakuraba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Totti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Totti misses with a takedown
and Sakuraba counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Totti thinking.
Kazushi Sakuraba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Totti throws a shot from downtown. Sakuraba moves away and avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Sakuraba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sakuraba has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!

Kazushi Sakuraba wins by unanimous decision!