PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Twofoura Bud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakurai has chosen Sandstorm by Darude as his entrance music. Twofoura Bud has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bud
vs
Sakurai

175 cm
20
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Twofoura Bud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bud throws a head kick but Sakurai moves out of range.

Bud gets a takedown into half guard.
Sakurai is looking for a sweep. Bud is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bud is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakurai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bud prevents Sakurai from standing back up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sakurai gets full guard.
We've been hearing that Bud has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Sakurai wants to get back to his feet but Bud is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bud is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakurai has wrist control.
Sakurai wants to sweep but no luck.
Sakurai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bud tries to get to full guard but Sakurai has control of the leg.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai is thwarting Bud's attempts to control the position.

Bud looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sakurai is looking to advance position but Bud won't allow it.
Bud trying to control but Sakurai postures up.
Bud keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sakurai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bud keeps working.
Bud is trying to maintain the position but Sakurai is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sakurai tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bud knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bud trying to control here.
Sakurai is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sakurai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sakurai seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bud does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sakurai not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai is pressing down on Bud's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bud is holding on for now.
Bud could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sakurai is taking a breather. Bud 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sakurai tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bud defends well and Sakurai ends up having to push Bud into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Bud gets control of Sakurai's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bud will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sakurai throws a big right hand that misses.

Bud looking for subs off his back but Sakurai has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sakurai trying to control the pace.
Bud is not content to let Sakurai control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai controlling the action here.
Sakurai thows a huge punch but Bud dodges it nicely.
Bud is concentrating on defense, preventing Sakurai from advancing position.
Sakurai looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hiro Sakurai hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A head kick misses from Bud.

Sakurai closes the distance and pushes Bud back into the ropes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakurai is trying to pull guard but Bud has him pressed against the ropes.
Sakurai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai breaks the clinch.
Sakurai shoots in but no luck this time.
Twofoura Bud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Sakurai.
Sakurai blocks a head kick by Bud.
A right-left combo lands from Sakurai.

Sakurai clinches up against the ropes.

Bud has hold of one of Sakurai's legs. Sakurai is fighting the takedown attempt but Bud gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Sakurai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bud doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bud manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bud wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.
We've been informed that Sakurai has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Sakurai is trying to control the position but Bud postures up.

Bud got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sakurai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bud has managed to get both his arms back between Sakurai's legs - danger averted.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bud stands and throws Sakurai's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sakurai can't do much from the bottom here.

Bud looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bud is working Sakurai over with some ground and pound from side control.

Bud tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sakurai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai is not content to let Bud control the position.
Sakurai wants to get back to his feet but Bud drags him back down.

Bud stands up and beckons Sakurai to his feet.

Sakurai dives in and scores a takedown into Bud's guard.
Sakurai trying to control but Bud is working from the bottom.

Bud has his foot on Sakurai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakurai works his way back into a safe position though.
Bud is breathing heavily.
Bud keeping moving, preventing Sakurai from controlling successfully.

Sakurai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sakurai is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bud might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sakurai trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bud manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Bud wants to control from the top but Sakurai keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakurai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sakurai is thwarting Bud's attempts to control the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sakurai in particular looking to stall.
Sakurai is stalling here. Bud is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sakurai seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bud has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sakurai is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bud off and has taken his back!
Will Sakurai go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Sakurai controlling from the back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sakurai working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Sakurai dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bud scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hiro Sakurai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakurai is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bud's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Bud is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakurai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sakurai works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bud trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakurai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bud makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sakurai manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bud wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bud is working to get back to half guard.
Bud's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bud really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakurai controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sakurai working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sakurai connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sakurai landing strikes from the mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakurai landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai looking to control but Bud is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bud tries to reverse the position but Sakurai maintains control.

Bud defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sakurai.
Sakurai lands a heavy elbow.
Sakurai looking to control but Bud is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sakurai controlling the pace for now.
Bud tries to hold on but Sakurai postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sakurai lands a big elbow.
Sakurai is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Bud is squirming around, avoiding Sakurai's attempts to control the action.
Sakurai prevents Bud from getting the reversal.
Sakurai lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Bud tries to lock up and control but Sakurai gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sakurai tries to control but Bud wriggling away.
Bud throwing hammer fists to the chest of Sakurai. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai wants to control the pace but Bud is squirming around nicely.
Bud is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Sakurai working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakurai takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bud tries to reverse the position but Sakurai maintains control.
Sakurai lands a big elbow.
Bud taking shots to the head.
Sakurai trying to control but Bud is having none of it.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bud tries to hold on but Sakurai postures up.
Sakurai looking to finish Bud with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bud!

Bud defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sakurai.

Bud defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sakurai.
Bud is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sakurai content just to control the position here.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Bud takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sakurai looking to control and managing it successfully.

Sakurai working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakurai looking to control but Bud is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bud is desperately trying to improve his position but Sakurai has a good base and remains in mount.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Bud tries to hold on but Sakurai pushes him away.
Bud wants to try and get back to his feet.
Sakurai looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sakurai fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sakurai has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bud's face.
Sakurai wants to control the pace but Bud is squirming around nicely.
Sakurai connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai breaks from Bud's wrist control and lands an elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bud taking shots to the head.

Bud is rocked!
Sakurai looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Bud 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 8:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hiro Sakurai!
Hiro Sakurai seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.