PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Butch Cassidy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sakuraba
vs
Cassidy

190 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
240 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kazushi Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Butch Cassidy!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cassidy gets the takedown into side control.
Sakuraba can't do much from the bottom here.
Sakuraba tries to improve position but can't.

Cassidy decides to stand back up. Cassidy steps back and let's Sakuraba get back to his feet.
Sakuraba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cassidy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Butch Cassidy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cassidy feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakuraba is on top in guard.
Sakuraba scoring with punches to the head and body.

Sakuraba stands and steps away. Cassidy gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A left lands for Cassidy.
A combination from Cassidy does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cassidy looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cassidy won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.

Sakuraba has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cassidy off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Sakuraba has his takedown stuffed
and Cassidy counters with a series of strikes. Sakuraba will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cassidy shoots for a takedown but Sakuraba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown

and Cassidy counters with a takedown into side control.
Cassidy looks gassed!
Sakuraba is looking to reverse the position.
Sakuraba is trying to control Cassidy's posture but Cassidy avoids it.
Sakuraba isn't going anywhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cassidy's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cassidy passes into side control, despite Sakuraba's attempt to control the position.
Sakuraba is looking to regain half guard here but Cassidy keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cassidy working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying his best to control but Cassidy has mounted him.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Sakuraba trying to control from the bottom.
Sakuraba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cassidy's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cassidy's back!

Sakuraba is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Sakuraba has the hooks in. Cassidy is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Cassidy manages to reverse the position and now he's in Sakuraba's guard. Nice work there by Cassidy.
Sakuraba wants to improve his position but instead Cassidy has moved into half guard.

Cassidy seems to be working for a kimura but Sakuraba defends the submission attempt.
Sakuraba is holding on to half guard well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cassidy stands up from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Cassidy dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cassidy looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cassidy prevents Sakuraba from improving his position.
Sakuraba trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Cassidy pushes him away.
Cassidy should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Sakuraba working to try and regain half guard.
Sakuraba bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Sakuraba stands up and waves to Cassidy to follow him.
Cassidy misses with a double jab.
Cassidy throws a right and a left that Sakuraba avoids nicely.
Cassidy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cassidy throws a right hand that Sakuraba ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakuraba also avoids with ease.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt

and Cassidy counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakuraba moves into full guard.
Butch Cassidy has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sakuraba working for a triangle but Cassidy defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba trying to control the position.

Sakuraba working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cassidy has passed into half guard!
Cassidy works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba tries to roll over but Cassidy keeps him under control.
Sakuraba tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Sakuraba trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Cassidy seems to be working for a kimura but Sakuraba defends the submission attempt.
Sakuraba trying to control but Cassidy postures up.
Sakuraba is trying to control but Cassidy passes into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Cassidy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sakuraba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cassidy pinned against the cage. Cassidy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cassidy closes the distance and clinches up with Sakuraba, looking for a takedown. Cassidy pushes Sakuraba against the cage but Sakuraba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A punch combination from Cassidy misses.

Cassidy rushes Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cassidy goes for a takedown attempt but Sakuraba pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sakuraba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Cassidy circles away easily

so Cassidy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazushi Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba wants to sweep but no luck.
Cassidy scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Sakuraba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassidy passes Sakuraba's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sakuraba trying to control from the bottom.
Sakuraba tries to roll over but Cassidy keeps him under control.
Sakuraba is looking to get back to is feet but Cassidy passes into side control.
Sakuraba prevents Cassidy from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sakuraba sneaks back into half guard.
Sakuraba is looking for a sweep. Cassidy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakuraba makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sakuraba.

Sakuraba looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Cassidy has picked Sakuraba up and slammed him! Sakuraba can't keep hold of the triangle and Cassidy manages to pass to side control!
Sakuraba is looking to regain half guard here but Cassidy keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Sakuraba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cassidy's best efforts.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cassidy is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Sakuraba manages to get to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakuraba is on top in guard.
Sakuraba pushing down on Cassidy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cassidy keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba passes the guard and advances to mount!

Sakuraba swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Cassidy is now in Sakuraba's guard. A big mistake from Sakuraba there, giving up the dominant position!
Sakuraba wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Cassidy is now in half guard.

Sakuraba looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Butch Cassidy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cassidy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Butch Cassidy!