PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atraeu Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson has chosen Sail by AWOL Nation as his entrance music. Kazushi Sakuraba had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sakuraba
vs
Nelson

182 cm
22
183 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

175 cm
27
170 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown 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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Atraeu Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nelson misses with a left hand
and Sakuraba counters with a series of strikes. Nelson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nelson defending well as Sakuraba loads up on a big left hand.
Nelson misses with a takedown attempt

and Sakuraba counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nelson won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
You can see the frustration on Nelson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sakuraba trying to control the position but Nelson is working away.
Nelson sneaks back into half guard.
Sakuraba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sakuraba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nelson is just riding it out for now. Sakuraba eventually gives up the hold.
Sakuraba wants to pass to mount but Nelson is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson tries to get to full guard but Sakuraba has control of the leg.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Nelson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba is stalling here. Nelson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sakuraba seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nelson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Nelson is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sakuraba defends it well.
Nelson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nice strikes from Nelson there.
Sakuraba tries to roll over but Nelson keeps him under control.

Nelson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sakuraba is staying active underneath Nelson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sakuraba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nelson is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakuraba is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba is trying to control but can't.
Sakuraba wants to improve his position but Nelson is controlling well.

Nelson seems to be looking for submissions.

Nelson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Sakuraba kicks off Nelson and gets to his feet.

Nelson gets a takedown into half guard.
Sakuraba wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba gets full guard.

Sakuraba has his foot on Nelson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nelson works his way back into a safe position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sakuraba working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nelson has passed into half guard!
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sakuraba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nelson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nelson's back!
Nelson turns into Sakuraba and is now in his guard.
Nelson trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Nelson looking to sit in guard and control but Sakuraba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sakuraba swats away the attempt to clinch by Nelson.
Nelson wants to clinch
and Sakuraba counters with a stiff right hand.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sakuraba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nelson.
Nelson thows a body shot but no joy.
Sakuraba lands with a nice body punch.
Nelson shoots in but Sakuraba avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sakuraba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a big shot that misses.
Sakuraba misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sakuraba shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nelson counters with a three punch combo that has Sakuraba backing up. Sakuraba nods at Nelson to acknowledge the strikes.
Nelson with a poor takedown
and Sakuraba counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atraeu Nelson.
Nice takedown defense from Sakuraba. No joy for Nelson on that attempt.
Nelson shoots in for a takedown but Sakuraba shows good takedown defense.
Nelson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuraba swivels and escapes.
Sakuraba throws a looping overhand right but Nelson ducks down to avoid it.
Kazushi Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sakuraba will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Sakuraba circles away easily
and Sakuraba counters with a two punch combo.
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 throws a left and a right that both miss

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nelson tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuraba is retaining full guard.
Nelson landing some decent shots from guard.
Nelson is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakuraba has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throwing strikes but missing.
Sakuraba wants to sweep here but Nelson controlling him for the moment.
Sakuraba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nelson's guard.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson working a defensive guard here.

Nelson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuraba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakuraba looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nelson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sakuraba has passed into half guard!
Sakuraba 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.
Sakuraba seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nelson keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
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 Kazushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nelson misses with a takedown attempt
and Sakuraba counters with a nice uppercut.
Nelson looks for a takedown but Sakuraba sprawls well.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown

and Nelson counters by moving into the clinch.
Sakuraba stops a takedown attempt from Nelson.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atraeu Nelson.
Sakuraba is pressed up against the cage. Nelson 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.
Kazushi Sakuraba is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch lands to the side of Nelson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sakuraba shoots in and drives through. Nelson sprawls well.
Sakuraba cracks Nelson with a right hand to the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuraba misses the target.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut. Nelson saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson fails to land the takedown.
Nelson slips under a jab.
Sloppy strikes from Sakuraba. Those never looked like landing.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nelson as he avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakuraba. Nelson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nelson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nelson closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuraba, looking for a takedown. Nelson pushes Sakuraba against the cage but Sakuraba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Nelson.
Nelson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuraba swivels and escapes.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown but Nelson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Nelson clinches up against the cage.
Nelson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sakuraba is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sakuraba tries to circle away but Nelson has him pinned against the cage.

Nelson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nelson fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is looking to clinch but Sakuraba is avoiding it.
Nelson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakuraba is fending him off so far but Nelson persists. Nope, Sakuraba circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakuraba dives in and grabs Nelson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nelson pushes down on Sakuraba's head and hops out.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuraba lands with an uppercut that bounces Nelson off the cage and back into range.
Sakuraba lands a jab to Nelson's midsection.
Sakuraba slaps away a takedown attempt from Nelson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nelson slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson dips to his left and cracks Sakuraba with an uppercut!
Sakuraba scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sakuraba throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Nelson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba gets back to full guard.
Sakuraba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nelson.
Kazushi Sakuraba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakuraba is trying to control the position but Nelson postures up.
Nelson stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Atraeu Nelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nelson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Sakuraba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sakuraba, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazushi Sakuraba!
A victorious Kazushi Sakuraba thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.