PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brian Thousand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thousand
vs
Sakurai

179 cm
26
179 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

184 cm
21
180 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

FULL METAL GEAR
FULL METAL GEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brian Thousand!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kazushi Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thousand scores with the left hand. Sakurai knows he should have avoided that one.
Sakurai misses with a takedown
and Thousand counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sakurai misses with a leg kick
and Thousand counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheers as Thousand lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sakurai doesn't seem phased though.
Thousand works the jab nicely.
Sakurai rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thousand counters with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakurai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thousand throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Sakurai counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thousand wants to get back to full guard.
Thousand trying to control but Sakurai postures up.
Thousand knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakurai on the ground.

Sakurai is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thousand sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thousand is looking for a sweep. Sakurai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thousand is controlling Sakurai's trapped leg to prevent Sakurai from advancing to side control.
Thousand is staying active underneath Sakurai, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sakurai sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thousand defending well though.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thousand is looking for a sweep. Sakurai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sakurai is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thousand is just riding it out for now. Sakurai eventually gives up the hold.

Sakurai looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sakurai looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Thousand desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Thousand wants to get back to his feet.
Thousand has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakurai is working away from the top position though.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura here.
Thousand trying to control but Sakurai postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sakurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thousand keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai seems to be looking for submissions.
Sakurai sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thousand defending well though.
Thousand is controlling Sakurai's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Sakurai slows the pace down in half guard.
Thousand has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakurai is working away from the top position though.
Thousand on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thousand tries to get out of the position.
Thousand controlling the position well.
Thousand is trying to maintain the position but Sakurai is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Brian Thousand just wasn't active enough.
Thousand tests Sakurai's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Sakurai misses
and Thousand counters with a slapping leg kick.
Thousand tests Sakurai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thousand buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thousand throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch combination from Thousand misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Thousand dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sakurai swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Thousand counters with a stiff right hand.
Sakurai takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sakurai takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thousand.
Thousand lands a really nice looking cross but Sakurai seems unphased.
Thousand connects with a right hand. Sakurai shakes it off.
Sakurai misses with an uppercut
and Thousand counters with a flying knee that drops Sakurai! Thousand dives in and finishes the fight with a flurry of strikes from the mount!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Brian Thousand!
Brian Thousand retains his welterweight title!