PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yurei Sakaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakaki kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is monster skillet. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sakaki
vs
Barnett

190 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
240 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yurei Sakaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Barnett!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakaki throws a nice looking combination but Barnett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Barnett drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Barnett controlling from the top position.

Barnett drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barnett jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Barnett working some strikes from top position.
Barnett sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sakaki's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Still in half guard, Barnett seems content to control.
Barnett working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett drops an elbow to the side of Sakaki's head.
Barnett perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sakaki is breathing heavily.

Barnett decides to stand and escape the position.
Sakaki misses with a wild combination.

Barnett rushes Sakaki and presses him up against the cage.

Barnett manages to break the clinch.
Barnett misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakaki throws a head kick but Barnett moves out of range.

Barnett moves into range and clinches up with Sakaki.
Barnett avoiding damage.

Barnett has hold of one of Sakaki's legs. Sakaki is fighting the takedown attempt but Barnett gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Barnett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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!

Barnett gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barnett closes the distance and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Barnett drags the fight down to the ground.
Barnett seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Barnett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sakaki's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnett is in close to Sakaki's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Barnett scoring with some ground and pound.
Barnett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Barnett forces his way into half guard.
Barnett drops an elbow to the side of Sakaki's head.

Sakaki is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnett lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Oh Sakaki is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Barnett maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Sakaki could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Barnett has cracked it and Sakaki is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Barnett!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Matt Barnett!
In his post fight interview, Matt Barnett started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.