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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Takanori Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Rotoras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai comes to the cage accompanied by number girl syndrome. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rotoras's choice of entrance music: Remember the Name!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 176 cm
24
149 lbs
8 - 9 - 0 |
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172 cm
23
155 lbs
10 - 4 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong |
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Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Sakurai !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Rotoras!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rotoras takes a swing at Sakurai 's ribcage but misses.
Rotoras stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sakurai .
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 sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakurai prevents Rotoras from getting the reversal.
Poor strikes thrown by Sakurai there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sakurai wants to control the pace but Rotoras is squirming around nicely.
Sakurai breaks from Rotoras's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rotoras gets back to half guard.
Rotoras wants to get back to full guard.
Sakurai is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rotoras is just riding it out for now. Sakurai eventually gives up the hold.
Rotoras gets full guard.
Sakurai missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai stands and throws Rotoras's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sakurai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sakurai is looking to take a break and control but Rotoras is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakurai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rotoras, who protects the arm well.
Sakurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rotoras keeps working.
Rotoras is looking for a sweep.
Sakurai with the ground and pound but Rotoras regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Sakurai is trying to control the action in half guard but Rotoras is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai thows a huge punch but Rotoras dodges it nicely.
Rotoras wants to get back to full guard.
Rotoras gets back to full guard.
Sakurai stopping the sweep attempt from Rotoras.
Rotoras looking for a guillotine here but Sakurai defends easily.
Rotoras throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rotoras trying to keep a closed guard but Sakurai is proving a slippery customer.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Rotoras is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakurai trying to control but Rotoras is working from the bottom.
Rotoras avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.
Rotoras looking to control.
Sakurai drops back looking for a leg! Rotoras is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rotoras manages to kick Sakurai off! Sakurai jumps back into Rotoras's guard.
Sakurai has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rotoras lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sakurai !
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rotoras is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sakurai has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sakurai !
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Rotoras keeps moving.
Rotoras 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. Sakurai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rotoras manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sakurai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The referee warns Sakurai that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rotoras cracks Sakurai with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Takanori Sakurai will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Rotoras throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Takanori Sakurai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakurai slips under a jab.
Sakurai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rotoras swivels and escapes.
Rotoras throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rotoras fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sakurai avoids it really well and circles away.
Sakurai drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Rotoras is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rotoras trying to control the position.
Rotoras is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sakurai is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rotoras jumps into side control!
Sakurai is trying to improve his position.
Sakurai gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sakurai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rotoras.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai is staying active underneath Rotoras, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rotoras takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sakurai trying to get back to full guard but Rotoras takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Rotoras with shots to the head and body - Sakurai looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sakurai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ricardo Rotoras has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rotoras looking to finish Sakurai with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sakurai !
Rotoras looking to finish Sakurai with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sakurai !
Sakurai is looking to get to half guard.
Rotoras has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sakurai 's face.
Sakurai is trying to escape the mount.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rotoras cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rotoras scoring with strikes but Sakurai is staying in there.
Sakurai is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rotoras has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sakurai 's face.
Oh Sakurai is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sakurai is trying to escape the mount.
Sakurai seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakurai is working hard here to advance position.
Rotoras putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rotoras working Sakurai over with strikes here.
Rotoras is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sakurai is surviving well by controlling Rotoras's body position as best he can.
Sakurai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rotoras raining down shots from the mount!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rotoras is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sakurai can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The referee warns Sakurai that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rotoras working the ground and pound effectively.
Rotoras looking to control but Sakurai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rotoras is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sakurai to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sakurai shrugs it off.
Rotoras has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sakurai 's face.
Sakurai can't escape the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rotoras wants to finish this one by submission but Sakurai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rotoras.
Rotoras lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sakurai hang on?
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotoras scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sakurai ?
Sakurai is in a horrible position here. Rotoras smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sakurai regains half guard.
Rotoras is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakurai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sakurai is pressing down on Rotoras's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sakurai has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rotoras is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sakurai .
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakurai is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rotoras's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakurai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sakurai makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sakurai .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ricardo Rotoras showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Rotoras throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sakurai was covering up waiting for the punch and Rotoras finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rotoras controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rotoras won't allow Sakurai to sweep him here.
Sakurai keeping moving, preventing Rotoras from controlling successfully.
Sakurai looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rotoras passes into half guard.
Rotoras is trying to work for a kimura but Sakurai is defending well.
Sakurai wants to improve his position but Rotoras is controlling well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai gets back to full guard.
Rotoras avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rotoras connects with a couple of short punches.
Sakurai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rotoras defends well.
Rotoras pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakurai is keeping the position for now.
Rotoras trying to control but Sakurai is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rotoras gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakurai is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rotoras passes Sakurai 's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sakurai tries to get to full guard but Rotoras has control of the leg.
Rotoras is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sakurai is just riding it out for now. Rotoras eventually gives up the hold.
Rotoras lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rotoras trying to control the action but Sakurai is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotoras thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rotoras looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sakurai is not content to let Rotoras control the position.
Sakurai gets full guard.
Rotoras wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.
Rotoras won't allow Sakurai to sweep him here.
Sakurai is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakurai working for a triangle but Rotoras defends it easily.
Rotoras wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.
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.
Sakurai manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rotoras regains half guard.
Rotoras wants to get back to full guard but Sakurai has mounted him!
Rotoras sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Sakurai wants to free his trapped foot but Rotoras is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sakurai is looking to take a break and control but Rotoras is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakurai prevents Rotoras from improving his position.
Rotoras manages to get to full guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Rotoras comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rotoras 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Rotoras!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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