PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Hoffer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Sakuraba has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Hoffer
vs
Sakuraba

190 cm
26
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

185 cm
28
185 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jimmy Hoffer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A jab from Hoffer misses.
Sakuraba listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Hoffer.
Sakuraba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakuraba defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hoffer.
Sakuraba throws a good cross that connects.
Sakuraba lands with an overhand left.
Hoffer fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sakuraba on the side of the head.
Hoffer misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba lands an overhand right.
Hoffer cracks Sakuraba with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hoffer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakuraba.
Hoffer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A slow jab from Sakuraba misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a looping overhand right but Hoffer ducks down to avoid it.
Nice shot lands for Hoffer.
Sakuraba blocks a jab.
Hoffer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hoffer misses with a combination
and Sakuraba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hoffer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hoffer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sakuraba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hoffer lands a slapping body shot.
Hoffer fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba misses with a straight left.
Hoffer fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that Hoffer avoids nicely.
Hoffer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hoffer throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Hoffer avoids it easily.
Sakuraba defending well as Hoffer loads up on a big left hand.
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hoffer shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hoffer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakuraba.
Hoffer scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sakuraba in his tracks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sakuraba.
Hoffer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sakuraba.
Hoffer ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.
Hoffer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakuraba.
Hoffer lands a really nice looking cross but Sakuraba seems unphased.
Sakuraba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hoffer throws out the jab.

Hoffer closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sakuraba quickly recovers to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakuraba can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Hoffer there.
Hoffer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sakuraba really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hoffer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hoffer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sakuraba defending well though.
Hoffer thows a huge punch but Sakuraba dodges it nicely.
Hoffer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hoffer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hoffer throwing shots but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Hoffer is nestled in close to Sakuraba, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sakuraba is looking to get back to is feet but Hoffer passes into side control.
Hoffer throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoffer creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sakuraba sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hoffer advances to mount.
BOOM! Hoffer connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoffer thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hoffer is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sakuraba can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sakuraba wants to try and get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hoffer scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sakuraba?
Hoffer with shots to the head and body - Sakuraba looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hoffer sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Hoffer dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hoffer lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sakuraba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hoffer moves away from the strike by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoffer manages to avoid it.
Hoffer misses with an uppercut. Sakuraba saw that one coming.
A punch combination from Hoffer misses.
Sakuraba might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hoffer.
Sakuraba moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hoffer moves away from the strike by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hoffer to score with a decent uppercut.
Hoffer connects with a jab.
Sakuraba walks into a left hand.
Hoffer throws a series of punches but Sakuraba avoids them all with ease.
Sakuraba misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a lazy right hand but Hoffer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hoffer connects with a right hand. Sakuraba shakes it off.

Hoffer gets a takedown into half guard.
Hoffer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sakuraba's head.
Jimmy Hoffer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hoffer working Sakuraba over with strikes.
Hoffer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hoffer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hoffer seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakuraba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hoffer is really struggling to control Sakuraba but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hoffer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sakuraba doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hoffer.
Hoffer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sakuraba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hoffer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hoffer landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hoffer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hoffer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sakuraba's head.
Hoffer throwing shots but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Hoffer 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.
Hoffer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hoffer is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hoffer throwing shots but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Hoffer is taking a breather. Sakuraba says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoffer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hoffer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hoffer working over Sakuraba with some ground and pound. Sakuraba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hoffer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hoffer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sakuraba with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoffer throwing shots but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.
Hoffer throwing shots but Sakuraba is blocking nicely.

Hoffer is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Hoffer dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sakuraba gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hoffer is pushing down on Sakuraba's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sakuraba is fighting to maintain full guard but Hoffer has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hoffer winds up and cracks Sakuraba with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hoffer is keen to just control but Sakuraba is a slippery customer.
Hoffer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hoffer wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping him busy.
Hoffer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sakuraba defending well though.

Hoffer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hoffer tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sakuraba knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffer winds up and cracks Sakuraba with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sakuraba is refusing to be controlled, as Hoffer sits in half guard.
Hoffer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hoffer scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hoffer 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.
Hoffer has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffer looking to finish with strikes here!
Hoffer with the ground and pound from mount.
Hoffer working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hoffer controlling the pace for now.
Hoffer in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakuraba is looking to escape.
Hoffer with shots to the head and body - Sakuraba looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sakuraba taking shots to the head.
Hoffer with good strikes from the mount here!
BOOM! Hoffer connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hoffer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sakuraba can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hoffer with a couple of short strikes.

Sakuraba is rocked!
Hoffer looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Sakuraba covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jimmy Hoffer!
A victorious Jimmy Hoffer thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.