PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Jensen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Jensen
vs
Sakuraba

184 cm
28
185 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

183 cm
32
186 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Just Fight

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyler Jensen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jensen throws an overhand right that lands on Sakuraba's shoulder, as Sakuraba tries to avoid the shot.
Sakuraba misses with a few strikes there.
Sakuraba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jensen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakuraba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sakuraba gets caught flat footed, as Jensen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Jensen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Jensen from controlling successfully.
Jensen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sakuraba gets full guard.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Jensen from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba controls Jensen momentarily but Jensen frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Jensen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kazushi Sakuraba wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jensen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sakuraba but Sakuraba pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jensen throws a wild body kick that Sakuraba sees coming a mile off.

Jensen drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba controlling Jensen's posture.
Jensen wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Jensen lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Jensen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Jensen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Jensen throwing strikes but missing.
Jensen preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jensen pushes down on Sakuraba's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Jensen 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.
Jensen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sakuraba wants to improve his position but Jensen is controlling well.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jensen is trying to work for a kimura but Sakuraba is defending well.
Sakuraba tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Jensen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Sakuraba is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sakuraba stalks Jensen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jensen's face. Jensen staggers backwards, shaken.
A slow jab from Sakuraba misses its intended target.
Tyler Jensen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sakuraba wants it to stay on the feet.
Jensen stuns Sakuraba with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jensen looks for the body kick but Sakuraba saw that one coming.
Sakuraba tries to land a leg kick but Jensen saw it coming and moves away.
Jensen staying out of range there.
Sakuraba misses with a series of wild punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jensen.
Jensen cracks Sakuraba with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sakuraba stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sakuraba wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Jensen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jensen throws an overhand right that lands on Sakuraba's shoulder, as Sakuraba tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jensen scores with a jab to the head.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Jensen blocks it.

Jensen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Jensen wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba working a defensive guard but Jensen manages to pass into side control anyway.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jensen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sakuraba's legs.
Jensen working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jensen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sakuraba is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tyler Jensen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jensen throws a strike aimed at the side of Sakuraba's head but Sakuraba avoids it well.

Jensen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakuraba tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jensen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sakuraba is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Jensen off and has taken his back!

Jensen fending off the submission attempt from Sakuraba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jensen is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Sakuraba is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Sakuraba working for a choke but Jensen is defending well.

Sakuraba has got his arm under Jensen's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Jensen has spun round into Sakuraba's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jensen stands and throws Sakuraba's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sakuraba tries to improve position but can't.
Jensen cracks Sakuraba with a big elbow.

Jensen tries for a kimura but Sakuraba is defending well.
Jensen working the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jensen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Jensen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jensen fails with a takedown attempt.

Jensen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jensen working the head and body with strikes.
Jensen is keen to just control but Sakuraba is a slippery customer.

Jensen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sakuraba defends it well.
Sakuraba is trying to control but can't.

Jensen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakuraba sees it coming and defends easily.
Jensen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jensen wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping him busy.
Sakuraba won't allow Jensen to pass to mount.
Jensen prevents Sakuraba from improving his position.
Jensen wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping him busy.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sakuraba is looking for a sweep. Jensen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba is not content to let Jensen control the position.

Jensen is looking for a kimura but Sakuraba is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jensen to get the leverage.
Jensen 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jensen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sakuraba is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tyler Jensen just wasn't active enough.
Jensen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sakuraba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jensen.
Sakuraba scores with a three punch combo!
Jensen misses the shot to the body.
Jensen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sakuraba's waist but Sakuraba gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jensen off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Jensen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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 misses with a two punch combination.
Sakuraba swinging wildly here.
Jensen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sakuraba as he avoids it easily.
Jensen misses with a takedown attempt - Sakuraba sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakuraba lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jensen slips a jab and a cross from Sakuraba.
Jensen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sakuraba sprawls well. Sakuraba wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jensen gets slowly back to his feet.
Jensen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakuraba swivels and escapes.
Sakuraba throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jensen misses with a looping right.
Jensen fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba avoids the body shot from Jensen.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sakuraba - that will leave a mark!
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jensen shoots in looking for a takedown but Sakuraba manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jensen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sakuraba lunges at Jensen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jensen's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jensen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakuraba is fending him off so far but Jensen persists. Nope, Sakuraba circles away and we're back to standing.
A jab from Sakuraba finds it's way through Jensen's defenses.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jensen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jensen drops his hands momentarily and Sakuraba takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sakuraba.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sakuraba leaves Jensen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sakuraba turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tyler Jensen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakuraba thows a left - swing and a miss!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jensen 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Jensen!