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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kazushi Sakuraba was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
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| 192 cm
23
197 lbs
11 - 1 - 1 |
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183 cm
21
190 lbs
7 - 1 - 0 |
Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong |
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Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
11 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Cage!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba is looking to clinch but Cage is avoiding it.
Sakuraba shoots in looking for a takedown. Cage tries to sprawl out of it but Sakuraba keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cage manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cage darts in and clinches Sakuraba up against the cage.
Sakuraba wants a takedown but no success here.
Cage pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cage tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sakuraba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cage misses with a head kick.
Sakuraba takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nick Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with a body shot.
Sakuraba doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cage counters with a flying knee that drops Sakuraba!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cage's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cage defends well.
Cage trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Cage sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cage can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking to control.
Sakuraba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cage trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Cage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
Cage looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cage stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuraba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakuraba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cage can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cage sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cage's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Sakuraba is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cage slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Cage is working Sakuraba over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sakuraba is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cage off and has taken his back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cage looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Cage trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Sakuraba working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Sakuraba doesn't have the hooks in and Cage manages to turn into his guard.
Cage distracts Sakuraba with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cage is stalling in the full guard.
Sakuraba throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cage uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nick Cage dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Cage shoots in for a takedown but Sakuraba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cage throws a series of punches but Sakuraba avoids them all with ease.
Cage throws a lazy head kick
and Sakuraba counters with a shoot takedown. Cage fights it but they end up in guard.
Cage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cage keeping full guard, as Sakuraba tries to pass.
Cage wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cage manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Cage landing some decent shots from guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to sweep here but Cage controlling him for the moment.
Sakuraba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cage in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cage trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Cage works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sakuraba actively working from the bottom here.
Sakuraba is refusing to be controlled, as Cage sits in half guard.
Cage missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cage trying to control from half guard but Sakuraba is working away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba taking some punishment here, with Cage in his half guard.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position.
Sakuraba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sakuraba looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cage puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sakuraba moves into full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakuraba is on top in guard.
Sakuraba prevents Cage from getting back to his feet.
Sakuraba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cage looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakuraba looking to sit in guard and control but Cage gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is stalling in the full guard.
Cage with a nice head shot there.
Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakuraba keeping full guard, as Cage tries to pass.
Cage avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cage won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.
Sakuraba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cage defends it easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cage throwing strikes from guard but Sakuraba blocks nicely.
Sakuraba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cage is in close to Sakuraba's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cage scoring with some ground and pound.
Sakuraba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cage doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cage manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cage distracts Sakuraba with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cage trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Cage is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sakuraba is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Cage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Nick Cage will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Sakuraba tries to clinch but Cage is having none of it.
Nice body punch from Cage.
Nick Cage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cage scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sakuraba doesn't seem bothered though.
A punch combination from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cage pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakuraba leaves Cage with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage throws a shot to the body.
Sakuraba leaves Cage with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cage throws a right hand that Sakuraba ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakuraba also avoids with ease.
Cage digs a good hook to Sakuraba's body.
Cage connects with a high kick.
Sakuraba tries to clinch up but Cage circles away and keeps his distance.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a nice looking combination but Cage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cage scores with a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cage changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sakuraba tries to avoid it but Cage manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sakuraba to the ground. Sakuraba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Cage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cage shoots for a double leg takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well. He's pushed Cage's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nick Cage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuraba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cage not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakuraba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sakuraba prevents Cage from getting back to his feet.
Sakuraba passes Cage's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cage trying to hold on to Sakuraba's head to control him but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cage is trying to stand back up but Sakuraba is controlling him
Sakuraba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looks to land a strike but Cage avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cage keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba passes Cage's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cage pushes Sakuraba off looking to stand but Sakuraba dives back in and keeps control.
Nick Cage overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakuraba is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cage tries to roll over but Sakuraba keeps him under control.
Cage wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba working the head and body with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuraba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nick Cage clearly takes that round.
That's time! Cage's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Cage throws a head kick that half lands.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cage.
A nice combination there by Cage.
Sakuraba misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sakuraba napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sakuraba is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Sakuraba takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sakuraba taking a bit of punishment here - Cage scoring with strikes.
Sakuraba is looking to reverse the position.
Cage lands a nice forearm strike.
Sakuraba is rocked!
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakuraba is still in real trouble! Can Cage finish him?
Cage lands a nice forearm strike.
Cage is working Sakuraba over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sakuraba looks to move to half guard but instead Cage has passed into mount! Damn!
A big strike lands for Cage! That's really hurt Sakuraba and he's turned his back - Cage keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Cage jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nick Cage!
Nick Cage retains his middleweight title!
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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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