PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazuushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and German Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sakuraba might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Wax Tailor feat. The Others "Walk The Line". Shepherd has chosen Bahay Kubo as his entrance music. Kazuushi Sakuraba is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Sakuraba
vs
Shepherd

175 cm
22
180 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

178 cm
25
180 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, German Shepherd!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Shepherd.
Sakuraba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shepherd moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sakuraba throws a low kick but Shepherd avoids it.
Sakuraba displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shepherd.
A leg kick checked by Shepherd.
Sakuraba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakuraba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakuraba throws a leg kick which misses Shepherd's front leg but catches the back leg as Shepherd tries to avoid it.
Shepherd checks a leg kick nicely.
Sakuraba moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Shepherd blocks a head kick by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sakuraba drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sakuraba stands and throws Shepherd's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shepherd is looking for a sweep.
Shepherd regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Shepherd wants to sweep but no luck.

Shepherd is looking for a triangle but Sakuraba pushes his legs off easily.
Shepherd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepherd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shepherd manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Shepherd cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Shepherd.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Sakuraba trying to hold on to Shepherd's head to control him but Shepherd postures up.
Shepherd is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba is trying to stand up here but Shepherd is controlling him well.

Sakuraba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shepherd pulls his head out easily.
Shepherd slips a nice elbow through Sakuraba's hands, connecting with Sakuraba's forehead.

Shepherd is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakuraba sees it coming and defends easily.
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nice strikes from Shepherd there.
Shepherd scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepherd looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Shepherd working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepherd working the head and body with strikes.
Nice strikes from Shepherd there.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
Shepherd works over Sakuraba with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shepherd has gone for a leg lock! Sakuraba slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shepherd's guard.
Shepherd is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sakuraba wants to get back to full guard.
Shepherd lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sakuraba won't allow Shepherd to pass to mount.

Shepherd seems to be working for a kimura but Sakuraba defends the submission attempt.
Sakuraba wants to get back to full guard.
Shepherd working the head and body with strikes.
Shepherd lands with a punch from half guard.
Shepherd is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sakuraba keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd raining down shots from the mount!
Sakuraba really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shepherd punishing his opponent with strikes.
Shepherd cracks Sakuraba with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Shepherd lands a big shot there that rocks Sakuraba but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Shepherd looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakuraba is one step ahead there.
Sakuraba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shepherd swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Shepherd throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sakuraba uses it to pass to side control.
Shepherd sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Shepherd looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sakuraba trying to control the action but Shepherd is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba prevents Shepherd from improving his position.

Shepherd looking for submissions off his back.
Shepherd tries to get to full guard but Sakuraba has control of the leg.
Sakuraba slips a nice elbow through Shepherd's hands, connecting with Shepherd's forehead.

That's six 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.
Shepherd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shepherd wants to sweep but Sakuraba has passed to side control!
Sakuraba is working Shepherd over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sakuraba wants to control but Shepherd is keeping him busy.
Shepherd tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sakuraba wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Sakuraba tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sakuraba has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Shepherd manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sakuraba's best efforts.
Shepherd is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sakuraba jumps into side control!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd gets back to half guard.
Shepherd is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakuraba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakuraba's back!
Shepherd is not going to allow Sakuraba to sit and survive in this position.
Shepherd has the hooks in. Sakuraba is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Shepherd throwing damaging strikes from the back! Sakuraba could be in trouble here!
Can Sakuraba hold on?! Shepherd is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Sakuraba trying to control but not successfully.
Shepherd is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Sakuraba up.

Shepherd looking to break Sakuraba's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Sakuraba remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Shepherd will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Shepherd keeps control of the position as Sakuraba tries to break free.
Shepherd scores with punches from the back.
Shepherd scores with punches to the body.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Shepherd has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Sakuraba! Can he survive? No! He's out! Shepherd gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). German Shepherd!