PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuraba has chosen speed TK Remix as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Smith
vs
Sakuraba

172 cm
26
172 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sakuraba throws a leg kick that misses.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Sakuraba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakuraba on the ground.
Sakuraba is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.
Sakuraba is trying to control but can't.
Sakuraba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Sakuraba working for submissions but it's allowed Smith to get to half guard.

Sakuraba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sakuraba wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sakuraba manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle here but Smith uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Sakuraba is looking for a sweep.
Sakuraba regains half guard.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sakuraba taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.
Smith lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith prevents Sakuraba from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back.
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sakuraba with a poor takedown

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.
Sakuraba wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.

Smith works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sakuraba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Sakuraba working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Smith has passed into half guard!
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.
Sakuraba is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sakuraba avoid being mounted?
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.
Sakuraba manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sakuraba manages to get to full guard.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.

Sakuraba is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mike Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sakuraba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Sakuraba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sakuraba working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Sakuraba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kazushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sakuraba plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sakuraba - that will leave a mark!
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.

Sakuraba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Sakuraba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakuraba is on top in guard.
Sakuraba thows a big elbow that misses.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakuraba throws a strike but Smith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sakuraba looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.

Sakuraba has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sakuraba takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Sakuraba throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Sakuraba is looking to control Smith but Smith is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba controlling well, preventing Smith from escaping the position.

Sakuraba working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Smith is doing well to defend. Sakuraba seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Smith is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kazushi Sakuraba!