PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hellson Ballswick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pride FC Theme. Akira Sakurai is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Ballswick
vs
Sakurai

175 cm
23
180 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

184 cm
26
185 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hellson Ballswick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballswick circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ballswick blocks a jab.
Sakurai misses with a hook.
Ballswick throws a big shot that misses.
Ballswick waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sakurai.
Ballswick looks to score with a jab to the body but Sakurai is just out of range.
Sakurai tries to clinch but Ballswick moves out of range.
Sakurai closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sakurai misses with an uppercut.
Sakurai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ballswick.
Ballswick throws a hook to the side of Sakurai's head but Sakurai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ballswick throws out a loose jab but Sakurai uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sakurai throws a series of punches but Ballswick avoids them all with ease.
Sakurai looks for a takedown but Ballswick sprawls well.
Sakurai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ballswick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ballswick connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ballswick swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ballswick misses with a looping right.
Sakurai blocks a jab.
Akira Sakurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sakurai shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sakurai was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sakurai looking to finish with strikes here!
Sakurai throws some wild stikes that Ballswick manages to avoid easily.
Sakurai looks gassed!
Ballswick is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ballswick manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ballswick regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ballswick working for a triangle but Sakurai defends it easily.

Ballswick is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Sakurai is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ballswick is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ballswick has escaped and now he's on top!
Ballswick wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ballswick's guard.
Sakurai slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Ballswick escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakurai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakurai scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ballswick has momentary wrist control but Sakurai slips an elbow through the middle.
Sakurai postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sakurai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ballswick works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sakurai is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sakurai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ballswick swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai thows a big elbow that misses.
Sakurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ballswick is keeping the position for now.
Sakurai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Ballswick working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakurai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Ballswick is tightening it up a little... Sakurai has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Sakurai reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Sakurai taps out! nice BJJ there by Ballswick!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Hellson Ballswick!