PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gancho Santos (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 Gancho Santos was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Sakuragi
vs
Santos

200 cm
24
170 lbs
4 - 14 - 0

184 cm
30
186 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 4 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gancho Santos!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sakuragi circles away.
Sakuragi tries a low kick but Santos avoids it.
Sakuragi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santos.
A lazy body kick from Sakuragi
and Santos counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sakuragi throws a sloppy head kick and Santos moves out of range easily.
Santos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santos avoids the head kick by Sakuragi.
Sakuragi misses with a wild combination.
Santos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakuragi.
Santos is looking to clinch.
Santos lands a nice hook to Sakuragi's body. Sakuragi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Santos shoots in but Sakuragi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hanamichi Sakuragi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gancho Santos.
Sakuragi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Santos moves in looking to clinch but Sakuragi pushes him off.
Sakuragi looks to score with a jab to the body but Santos is just out of range.
Sakuragi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuragi is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Sakuragi.
Santos moves in looking to clinch but Sakuragi pushes him off.
A slow jab from Sakuragi misses its intended target.
Sakuragi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Santos.
Santos is looking to clinch but Sakuragi is avoiding it.
Santos staying out of range there.
A jab from Sakuragi misses.
Sakuragi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Santos blocks a jab.
Sakuragi tries to bum rush Santos with a series of wild strikes but Santos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sakuragi looks to land a left hand but Santos moved out of range nicely.
Sakuragi keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakuragi throws a hook but Santos blocks it.
Santos shoots in looking for a takedown but Sakuragi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hanamichi Sakuragi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuragi leaves Santos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sakuragi throws a leg kick that is checked

and Santos counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sakuragi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santos.
Santos tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
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.
Sakuragi is trying is best to control the position here.

Sakuragi is defending against the submission attempts here by Santos.
Sakuragi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Santos not doing much here.
Santos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sakuragi's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Santos is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sakuragi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Santos.
Santos content to control rather than advance.
Sakuragi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santos is working away from the top position though.
Sakuragi is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakuragi throws the kick towards the body but Santos avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuragi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sakuragi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sakuragi swats away the attempt to clinch by Santos.
Sakuragi misses with a double jab
and Santos counters with a series of strikes. Sakuragi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sakuragi misses with a wild combination.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
Santos is looking to clinch but Sakuragi is avoiding it.
Santos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos slips a jab and a cross from Sakuragi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuragi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sakuragi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sakuragi slaps away a takedown attempt from Santos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gancho Santos will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sakuragi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sakuragi swinging wildly here.
Sakuragi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakuragi defends it nicely.
Santos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sakuragi pinned against the cage. Sakuragi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Santos lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Santos.
Santos bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sakuragi swinging wildly here.
Santos tries to clinch there but Sakuragi circles away.

Santos gets a double leg takedown into Sakuragi's guard.
Santos stands up over Sakuragi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sakuragi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi wants to sweep here but Santos controlling him for the moment.
Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuragi is keeping the position for now.
Santos wants to stand but Sakuragi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sakuragi looking to control.
Sakuragi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sakuragi tries to get out of the position.
Santos working some strikes from top position.
Sakuragi is trying to control the position but Santos postures up.
Sakuragi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santos on the ground.
Sakuragi keeping full guard, as Santos tries to pass.
Gancho Santos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakuragi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sakuragi trying to control from half guard but Santos is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Santos has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakuragi is working away from the top position though.
Sakuragi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sakuragi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sakuragi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Santos gets full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuragi distracts Santos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sakuragi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakuragi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Santos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sakuragi throws a big right hand that misses.

Santos uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Sakuragi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santos was well out of range. Poor timing from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi is looking to land body kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakuragi throws a right and a left that Santos avoids nicely.
Sakuragi throws a leg kick
and Santos counters with a low kick, right behind Sakuragi 's knee.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but Sakuragi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hanamichi Sakuragi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gancho Santos.

Santos closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sakuragi's guard.
Santos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi is trying to keep Santos in close.
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!
Sakuragi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Santos gets to his feet - Sakuragi follows without any prompting.
Sakuragi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Santos.
Santos shoots in and drives through. Sakuragi sprawls well.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Sakuragi keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakuragi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santos tries to clinch up but Sakuragi circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santos scores with a takedown into Sakuragi's guard.
Sakuragi wants to sweep but no luck.
Santos throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gancho Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sakuragi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sakuragi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakuragi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Santos checks the leg kick nicely there.

Santos has managed to clinch.
Sakuragi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sakuragi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santos prevents it.

Sakuragi breaks the clinch.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuragi moves out of range easily.
Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Santos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sakuragi to the mat! Sakuragi manages to get full guard.
Santos wants to get up but he can't break Sakuragi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sakuragi seems keen to control Santos's posture.
Santos won't allow Sakuragi to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sakuragi leaves Santos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sakuragi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hanamichi Sakuragi is winning the standup battle so far.
Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sakuragi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santos somewhat.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sakuragi throws a nice looking combination but Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sakuragi looks to land a body kick but Santos moved away.
Sakuragi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sakuragi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sakuragi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sakuragi tries to avoid it but Santos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sakuragi to the ground. Sakuragi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hanamichi Sakuragi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gancho Santos.
Santos closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuragi, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes Sakuragi against the cage but Sakuragi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos looks for a takedown but Sakuragi sprawls well.
Santos avoids the head kick by Sakuragi.
Sakuragi throws a nice looking combination but Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hanamichi Sakuragi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuragi misses with a double jab.

Santos closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santos lands some shots froms side control.
Santos looks up at the clock and then as Sakuragi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Santos smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
A lull in the action here as Santos stalls from top position.
Santos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Let's hope that Santos has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Santos is looking to take a break and control but Sakuragi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Santos wants to control but Sakuragi is keeping him busy.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gancho Santos was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Santos connects with a high kick.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but Sakuragi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Santos avoids the body shot from Sakuragi.
Nice sprawl there from Sakuragi as Santos shoots in.
Sloppy strikes from Sakuragi. Those never looked like landing.
Santos avoids the body shot from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi throws a push kick but Santos slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi throws a head kick that misses.

Santos drives through with a takedown into Sakuragi's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sakuragi wants to control but Santos passes easily into half guard.
Santos working the head and body with strikes.

Santos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuragi tries to get to full guard but Santos has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos is pressing down on Sakuragi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sakuragi is holding on for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gancho Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santos winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gancho Santos!