PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otaku Senzuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Senzuri has chosen Tori Amos-Code Red as his entrance music. Otaku Senzuri struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.9lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Otaku Senzuri will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sakuraba
vs
Senzuri

183 cm
22
190 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
27
203 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Otaku Senzuri!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Senzuri misses with a wild body shot.
Sakuraba closes the distance and clinches up with Senzuri, looking for a takedown. Sakuraba pushes Senzuri against the cage but Senzuri circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Senzuri swinging wildly here.

Sakuraba throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Senzuri was covering up waiting for the punch and Sakuraba finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Senzuri working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuraba.

Senzuri is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuraba is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Senzuri has his foot on Sakuraba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakuraba works his way back into a safe position though.
Senzuri keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sakuraba throwing strikes but missing.
Sakuraba postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuraba works over Senzuri with some ground and pound from guard.
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.

Senzuri is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakuraba defends well.
Sakuraba controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Senzuri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Senzuri looks gassed!
Sakuraba is in close to Senzuri's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sakuraba working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Senzuri's head.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakuraba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sakuraba postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakuraba slips nicely into half guard.
Sakuraba moves into full mount! Senzuri won't be happy about that!
Sakuraba lands a big shot there that rocks Senzuri but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sakuraba lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Senzuri is rocked!
Sakuraba lands a big shot to the head and Senzuri winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Kazushi Sakuraba!