PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zeus Mesus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Mesus
vs
Sakuraba

184 cm
26
180 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
20
183 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zeus Mesus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba moves out of range of the leg kick from Mesus.
Sakuraba connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mesus. Mesus circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sakuraba fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Mesus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakuraba dips to his left and cracks Mesus with an uppercut!
Sakuraba throws a shot to the body.
Sakuraba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mesus's waist but Mesus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sakuraba off to one side.
Mesus throws a leg kick but Sakuraba sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Mesus slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba stalks Mesus and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mesus's face. Mesus staggers backwards, shaken.
Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.
Mesus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Mesus avoids it well.
Mesus throws a solid leg kick but Sakuraba takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mesus.
Mesus stuffs the takedown.
Zeus Mesus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
A leg kick checked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba shoots for a takedown but Mesus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Mesus avoids it easily.
Mesus circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mesus tries to keep at a distance but Sakuraba has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mesus is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mesus fights it off and pushes away nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mesus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesus avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mesus moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Mesus tries to land a leg kick but Sakuraba saw it coming and moves away.
A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
Mesus takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sakuraba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesus tries to move into range but Sakuraba moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sakuraba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakuraba fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sakuraba feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mesus has his feet on Sakuraba's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mesus sprawls well. Mesus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mesus pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sakuraba is out of range and Mesus settles back down.
Sakuraba avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sakuraba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mesus.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mesus attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mesus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mesus throws a leg kick but Sakuraba sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mesus tries to score with a low kick but Sakuraba moves his leg out of the way.

Sakuraba bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mesus regains half guard.

Sakuraba decides to stand and escape the position.
Mesus walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kazushi Sakuraba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A jab from Sakuraba finds it's way through Mesus's defenses.
Sakuraba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mesus counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zeus Mesus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.
Sakuraba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mesus wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Mesus wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.
Sakuraba controls Mesus momentarily but Mesus frees himself.

Mesus drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mesus jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sakuraba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mesus is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is looking for a triangle but Mesus pushes his legs off easily.

Mesus decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mesus digs a good hook to Sakuraba's body.
Mesus tried to score with a low kick but Sakuraba checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesus is looking to land body kicks.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mesus motions for Sakuraba to come forward. Mesus throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Sakuraba closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Sakuraba tries for a kimura but Mesus is defending well.
Mesus is pushing Sakuraba's head away, looking to escape. Sakuraba manages to hold on to the position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mesus can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mesus manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sakuraba's best efforts.
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 Zeus Mesus will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sakuraba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mesus circles away.
Sakuraba closes the distance and clinches up with Mesus, looking for a takedown. Sakuraba pushes Mesus against the cage but Mesus circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mesus throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mesus misses with a low kick.
Sakuraba throws a right hand that Mesus ducks under and follows up with a left that Mesus also avoids with ease.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mesus tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakuraba was well out of range. Poor timing from Mesus.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Mesus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zeus Mesus 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 moves out of range of the leg kick from Mesus.
Mesus thows a body shot but no joy.
Mesus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mesus misses with a body punch

and Sakuraba moves into the clinch.
Sakuraba drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sakuraba has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mesus after a bit of a struggle.
Sakuraba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mesus fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mesus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mesus tries to land a front kick but Sakuraba steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mesus swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mesus stuffs the takedown attempt from Sakuraba. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
Mesus tries to work over Sakuraba's front leg with a kick but Sakuraba checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba throws a looping overhand right but Mesus ducks down to avoid it.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
Mesus motions for Sakuraba to come forward. Mesus throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mesus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mesus avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mesus is looking to wear down Sakuraba with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sakuraba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mesus moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sakuraba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mesus circles away quickly and effectively.
Mesus throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sakuraba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mesus tries a low kick but Sakuraba avoids it.
Mesus fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sakuraba checks it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zeus Mesus.
I think Mesus has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kazushi Sakuraba!
An out of breath Kazushi Sakuraba thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.