PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kolliver Reign (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Kolliver Reign has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Reign
vs
Sakuraba

195 cm
24
188 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
186 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kolliver Reign!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reign darts in and clinches Sakuraba up against the ropes.
Reign avoids a wild elbow strike from Sakuraba.
Reign can't get the takedown.
Reign drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sakuraba gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sakuraba looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Reign goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sakuraba prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kolliver Reign. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba pushes off an throws an elbow but Reign leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Reign tries for a takedown but Sakuraba manages to get underhooks.
Sakuraba gets underhooks to prevent Reign's takedown attempt.
Reign looking for a takedown.
Reign is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Sakuraba just misses with a elbow thrown towards Reign's brow.
Reign tries for a takedown but Sakuraba manages to get underhooks.
Reign is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sakuraba pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Sakuraba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakuraba throws a nice looking combination but Reign bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Reign manages to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Reign. Those never looked like landing.
Sakuraba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakuraba connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Reign's hands.
Sakuraba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba leaves Reign with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Reign is breathing heavily.
Reign fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Sakuraba misses with the combination.
Sakuraba throws a left and a right that both miss
and Reign counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A right-left combo lands from Reign.
Sakuraba misses with a kick to the body.
Kolliver Reign seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but Reign moves out of range.
Reign tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuraba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reign was well out of range. Poor timing from Sakuraba.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reign takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Reign looks for a takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well.
Sakuraba throws a body kick that misses.
Reign fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakuraba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Reign takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Sakuraba darts in and clinches Reign up against the ropes.
Sakuraba throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Reign can't get the takedown.
Sakuraba stalling.

Sakuraba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reign circles away quickly and effectively.
Reign fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Reign looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakuraba misses the body punch
and Reign counters with a right hand to the body.

Reign clinches with his opponent.
Sakuraba looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Sakuraba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reign looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakuraba is fending him off so far but Reign persists. Nope, Sakuraba circles away and we're back to standing.
Reign throws a body punch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Reign tries to clinch but Sakuraba is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Reign.
Sakuraba misses with a looping left.
Reign takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A combination from Reign does no damage.
Reign slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.
Reign looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Sakuraba forces Reign back against the ropes and clinches.
Sakuraba pushes off an throws an elbow but Reign leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Sakuraba creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Sakuraba manages to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakuraba tries a low kick but Reign avoids it.
Sakuraba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba lands a nice looking kick to the body. Reign takes a step back to recover.
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Reign avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Sakuraba misses with a jab to the body
and Reign counters with a straight right hand.
Reign fails with the takedown.
Reign fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Reign scores with a punch to the head.
Kazushi Sakuraba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Reign scores with the left hand. Sakuraba knows he should have avoided that one.
Sakuraba is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Reign rather than just go for the knockout.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuraba misses the target.
Reign is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Reign throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Reign fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reign shoots for a takedown but Sakuraba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kolliver Reign. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba lands a head shot.

Sakuraba closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Sakuraba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reign connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reign tries for a takedown but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sakuraba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Reign throws a head kick but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Reign shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sakuraba as he avoids it easily.
Reign is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sakuraba throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Reign shoots in looking for a takedown but Sakuraba manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Reign's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sakuraba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sakuraba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A big left from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reign avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reign fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Reign throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakuraba.
Kolliver Reign is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reign is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with the combination.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A bone on bone clash there as Reign blocks the leg kick.
Sakuraba throws a body kick that misses.
Reign dives in and grabs Sakuraba's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakuraba pushes down on Reign's head and hops out.
Sakuraba throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sakuraba misses with a double jab.
Reign slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
Sakuraba defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Reign.
Sakuraba lands with a kick to the temple. Reign shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reign checks a leg kick.
Sakuraba misses with a two punch combination.
Reign fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sakuraba avoids it really well and circles away.
Sakuraba swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Reign walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sakuraba checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Reign slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reign shoots in but no luck this time.

Sakuraba has managed to clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Reign.
Reign blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sakuraba displaying some good clinch control by pressing Reign up against the ropes.
Sakuraba looking to slow down the pace here.
Reign is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sakuraba pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sakuraba lands an elbow just above Reign 's eye.

Sakuraba breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Sakuraba swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Good work by Sakuraba as he checks the leg kick.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sakuraba misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that Reign avoids nicely.
Reign shoots in for a double leg but Sakuraba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sakuraba tries to clinch there but Reign circles away.

Sakuraba rushes Reign and presses him up against the ropes.
Sakuraba misses with an elbow strike.
Reign tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sakuraba smiles and moves away.

Sakuraba fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Reign, pushing him back against the ropes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reign wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kolliver Reign. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reign tries for a takedown but Sakuraba manages to get underhooks.
Sakuraba pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Kazushi Sakuraba seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sakuraba is pressed up against the ropes. Reign has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sakuraba down to the mat. Sakuraba avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Reign ducked under it nicely.
Reign slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.
Reign misses with a low kick.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Reign. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Sakuraba tries to clinch up but Reign circles away and keeps his distance.
Reign fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sakuraba looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
An inside leg kick lands from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba leaves Reign with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sakuraba missing with a left hand there. Reign was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a right hand that Reign ducks under and follows up with a left that Reign also avoids with ease.
Reign throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reign blocks the body kick.
Sakuraba misses with a wild combination.
Sakuraba slips a jab from Reign.
Reign fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sakuraba lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reign tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Reign.
Sakuraba throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Reign avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba darts in and clinches Reign up against the ropes.
Reign dodges an elbow strike from Sakuraba.
Reign goes for a takedown attempt but Sakuraba pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sakuraba scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Reign lands a two punch combo.
Sakuraba lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba tests Reign's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Reign avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuraba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Reign.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sakuraba needs to keep his hands up - Reign had a free shot at his head there.
Sakuraba finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Reign misses with a low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reign jabs Sakuraba to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kolliver Reign has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reign misses with a head kick.
Reign shoots for a takedown but Sakuraba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kazushi Sakuraba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba connects with a good right hand that stumbles Reign. Reign circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Reign takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Reign closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuraba, looking for a takedown. Reign pushes Sakuraba against the ropes but Sakuraba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sakuraba has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

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