PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benny Faroni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Faroni
vs
Sakurai

180 cm
24
181 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

184 cm
20
180 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Benny Faroni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kazushi Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faroni throws a series of punches but Sakurai moves out of range.
Faroni misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Faroni misses.
Faroni throws a series of punches but Sakurai avoids them all with ease.
Sakurai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A combination from Faroni does no damage.
A head kick misses from Faroni.
Faroni swinging wildly here.
Faroni swinging wildly here.
Faroni looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faroni misses with a few strikes there.
Sakurai shoots in for a double leg but Faroni sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Faroni swinging wildly here.
Faroni scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faroni scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Benny Faroni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Faroni swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakurai takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sakurai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Faroni tries a head kick but it misses.
Faroni throws a head kick but Sakurai moves out of range.
Faroni lands a really nice looking cross but Sakurai seems unphased.
Faroni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakurai.
Faroni misses with a jab, cross combination.
Faroni misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Faroni defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sakurai.
Benny Faroni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakurai.
Faroni ducks under a wild hook from Sakurai.
Faroni throws a nice looking combination but Sakurai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Faroni misses.
Faroni misses with a wild combination.
Faroni throws a one two combo.

Sakurai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sakurai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Faroni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai wants to pass the guard but Faroni is keeping the position.
Sakurai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Faroni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai prevents Faroni from getting back to his feet.
Sakurai with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakurai tries to free his leg and advance position but Faroni is retaining full guard.
Sakurai advances to half guard.
Sakurai uses his free foot to push down on Faroni's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Faroni.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

Sakurai get's back to his feet.
Sakurai throws a hook to the side of Faroni's head but Faroni sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Faroni looks to land a right hand but Sakurai moved out of range.
Faroni throws a lazy right hand but Sakurai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Faroni misses with a two punch combination.
Faroni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakurai.
Sakurai takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A punch combination from Faroni misses.
Faroni scores with a nice right hand.
Faroni throws a right and a left that both miss.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Faroni, as that shot connected.
Sakurai slips a straight right by Faroni.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Faroni throws a sloppy head kick and Sakurai moves out of range easily.
Faroni sizes up Sakurai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sakurai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Faroni.
Faroni misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benny Faroni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faroni fails to land with a series of punches.

Sakurai scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Sakurai stands up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakurai. Faroni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some wild striking there from Faroni.
Faroni misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Faroni misses its intended target.
Faroni fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sakurai misses with a looping left.
Danga de danga de dang - Faroni scores with a four punch combination!
Faroni throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sakurai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Faroni throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakurai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Faroni misses with a head kick.

Sakurai throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Faroni tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sakurai is in Faroni's guard.

Sakurai drops back looking for a leg! Faroni is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Faroni manages to kick Sakurai off! Sakurai jumps back into Faroni's guard.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Faroni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai pushing down on Faroni's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sakurai tries to pass to full mount but Faroni defends it.

Sakurai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Faroni doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakurai.

Sakurai is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai tries to pass the half guard into mount. Faroni knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Faroni keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Faroni is working from the bottom.
Sakurai wants to pass to mount but Faroni is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura here.

Sakurai postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Faroni to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakurai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sakurai throws a shot from downtown. Faroni moves away and avoids it.
Faroni throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakurai slips a jab and a cross from Faroni.
Sakurai missing with a left hand there. Faroni was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakurai throws out a loose jab but Faroni uses good head movement to avoid it.
Faroni scores with a nice right hand.
Faroni scores with a hook.
Faroni scores with the left hand. Sakurai knows he should have avoided that one.
Faroni throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The fighters circling - Faroni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Faroni lands a high kick!
Faroni throws a series of punches but Sakurai moves out of range.
Sakurai dodges the punch combination from Faroni.
Faroni lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Faroni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faroni throws a sloppy head kick and Sakurai moves out of range easily.
Sakurai takes one to the chin there.
Sakurai closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Faroni will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sakurai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Faroni.
Faroni will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Faroni throws a hook but Sakurai avoids it easily.
Faroni tries a head kick but it misses.
Sakurai scores with a jab.
Faroni misses with a head kick.
Faroni waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sakurai.
Sakurai misses with an uppercut. Faroni saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sakurai looks to land a left hand but Faroni moved out of range nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sakurai.
Sakurai throws a strike aimed at the side of Faroni's head but Faroni avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakurai prevents Faroni from escaping the position.
Sakurai moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Sakurai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sakurai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Sakurai looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sakurai trying to control the position but Faroni is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Sakurai is trying to get an arm triangle but Faroni is defending well.
Sakurai creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Faroni sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sakurai takes a little break here. Faroni wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kazushi Sakurai.
I think Sakurai has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

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