PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Shinsato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinsato is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Yoshi Story. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Akira Shinsato enters the cage!

Sakuragi
vs
Shinsato

190 cm
31
194 lbs
11 - 16 - 0

175 cm
33
187 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 11 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Shinsato!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuragi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shinsato circles away quickly and effectively.
Shinsato avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sakuragi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Akira Shinsato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shinsato changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sakuragi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Shinsato stands up.
Shinsato scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sakuragi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shinsato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shinsato closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sakuragi circles away.
Shinsato misses with a few strikes there.
Sakuragi throws a right and a left that Shinsato avoids nicely.
Sakuragi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sakuragi wants it to stay on the feet.

Sakuragi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakuragi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sakuragi misses with a head shot. Shinsato uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sakuragi throwing strikes from guard but Shinsato blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi prevents Shinsato from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakuragi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Shinsato pushes Sakuragi off and scrambles back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shinsato is defended easily by Sakuragi.
Hanamichi Sakuragi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Shinsato.
Shinsato buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Shinsato shoots in but Sakuragi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shinsato walks into a jab.
Sakuragi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shinsato is fending him off so far but Sakuragi persists. Nope, Shinsato circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sakuragi.

Shinsato looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sakuragi!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shinsato looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sakuragi tries to buck Shinsato off but he can't manage it.

Shinsato gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Sakuragi misses the jab.
Shinsato fails with a takedown attempt.
Shinsato dives in and grabs Sakuragi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakuragi pushes down on Shinsato's head and hops out.
Sakuragi throws a nice looking combination but Shinsato bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shinsato shoots in for a takedown but Sakuragi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi works Shinsato's body with a nice hook.

Sakuragi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shinsato is trying to stand.
Shinsato takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sakuragi lands a big shot there that rocks Shinsato but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sakuragi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Shinsato looks a forlorn figure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuragi fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shinsato suckers Sakuragi into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Shinsato is now in Sakuragi's guard!

Shinsato stands up from Sakuragi's guard - Shinsato perhaps looking for a knockout.
Shinsato shoots in for a double leg but Sakuragi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinsato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shinsato shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sakuragi sprawls well. Sakuragi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shinsato gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakuragi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shinsato.
Sakuragi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sakuragi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shinsato fails with a takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Sakuragi.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuragi thows a body shot but no joy.

Shinsato gets caught napping as Sakuragi dives in and scores a takedown. Shinsato manages to retain guard.
Sakuragi throws an elbow that misses. Shinsato uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sakuragi's guard. Nice move by Shinsato!

Sakuragi is working an open guard so Shinsato takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanamichi Sakuragi dominated that round.
That's time! Sakuragi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shinsato staying out of range there.
Shinsato fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shinsato looks to land a combination. Sakuragi sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Shinsato looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sakuragi!
Sakuragi is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Shinsato stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Shinsato shoots in for a takedown but Sakuragi shows good takedown defense.
Sakuragi fails to land the takedown.
Shinsato shoots and misses

and Sakuragi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shinsato won't be happy with that.
Hanamichi Sakuragi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Shinsato.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakuragi in side control, throwing shots but Shinsato defends.
Sakuragi throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sakuragi lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinsato dodges the ground and pound from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi cracks Shinsato with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The strikes coming from Sakuragi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Shinsato pushes Sakuragi away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sakuragi gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sakuragi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sakuragi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sakuragi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Sakuragi.
Shinsato regains half guard, as Sakuragi was trying to land strikes.
Sakuragi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shinsato defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi throws a strike but Shinsato avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sakuragi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sakuragi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shinsato is keeping the position for now.
Shinsato wants to stand up but Sakuragi is controlling him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuragi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Shinsato has his feet on Sakuragi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Shinsato stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shinsato wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Sakuragi. No joy for Shinsato on that attempt.

Sakuragi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shinsato is trying to defend but Sakuragi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sakuragi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shinsato defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinsato blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Shinsato to regain full guard.
Hanamichi Sakuragi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakuragi throwing strikes but missing.
Shinsato is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakuragi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sakuragi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakuragi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shinsato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sakuragi throwing strikes from guard but Shinsato blocks nicely.
Sakuragi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sakuragi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shinsato wants to stand but Sakuragi is controlling the position.
Sakuragi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanamichi Sakuragi dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Shinsato with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakuragi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shinsato moves out of range as Sakuragi strikes.
Sakuragi 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.

Sakuragi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shinsato to the mat! Shinsato manages to get full guard.
Shinsato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shinsato works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sakuragi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shinsato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sakuragi.
Shinsato is looking to stand up but Sakuragi isn't so interested in that idea.
Sakuragi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shinsato wants to stand and escape but Sakuragi is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sakuragi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sakuragi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sakuragi works over Shinsato with some ground and pound from guard.
Shinsato keeping full guard, as Sakuragi tries to pass.
Sakuragi postures up in Shinsato's guard and throws a big left but Shinsato blocks it.
Sakuragi with a flurry of punches that miss.

Shinsato wriggles free and stands up.
Sakuragi scores with a shot to the body.
Sakuragi lands with a straight right. Shinsato didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi lands a right hook to the body.
Shinsato takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shinsato fails with the takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuragi cracks Shinsato with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hanamichi Sakuragi is winning the standup battle so far.
Shinsato misses the jab.
Sakuragi fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sakuragi is defended easily by Shinsato.

Sakuragi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shinsato to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Shinsato stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Sakuragi. Those never looked like landing.
Sakuragi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shinsato defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hanamichi Sakuragi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sakuragi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Shinsato blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi misses with a head shot. Shinsato uses the momentum to regain guard.
Shinsato wants to stand and escape but Sakuragi is having none of it.
Sakuragi working some strikes from top position.
Sakuragi prevents Shinsato from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sakuragi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sakuragi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shinsato wants to stand but Sakuragi is controlling the position.

Shinsato wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shinsato shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuragi is trying to stand up.
Shinsato tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Akira Shinsato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shinsato lands a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hanamichi Sakuragi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sakuragi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hanamichi Sakuragi!