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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gary Day (ranked 3408 p4p, 345 weight class) and Hideo Sakurai (ranked 2880 p4p, 286 weight class). Day comes to the cage accompanied by Last minute - Great day to choke you out. Sakurai has chosen Freestyle - Don't Stop The Rock as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 178 cm
24
160 lbs
9 - 7 - 2 |
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173 cm
26
166 lbs
16 - 12 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine |
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Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
9 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Gary Day!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hideo Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai checks a leg kick.
Sakurai listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
It looks like Gary Day has been cut.
Day dives in and grabs Sakurai's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakurai pushes down on Day's head and hops out.
Day moves into the clinch successfully.
A nice left hand lands by Day.
Day misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sakurai wants to get back to striking at distance but Day won't allow it.
Day tries to pull guard but Sakurai won't allow it.
Day leaning against his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai tries to circle away but Day has him pinned against the cage.
Day working aggressively here.
Day lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sakurai backwards.
Day breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Day throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sakurai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sakurai has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Day does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sakurai misses with a double jab.
Sakurai throws a body punch but Day moves out of range.
Day tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakurai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Day.
Day keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Day dives in and grabs Sakurai's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sakurai pushes down on Day's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Day. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakurai swinging wildly here.
Day is looking to counter the offense by Sakurai and move into the clinch.
Day displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sakurai throws out the jab.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Day throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sakurai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Day works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sakurai lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakurai looks to land a right hand but Day moved out of range.
Sakurai throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Day throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sakurai counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Day throws a combination. Sakurai tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Day darts in and clinches Sakurai up against the cage.
Day drags the fight down to the ground.
Day 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.
Day working for a triangle but Sakurai defends it easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai stays in close to Day's body and controls the position.
Sakurai is continuing to stall.
Day is looking for a triangle but Sakurai pushes his legs off easily.
Sakurai content to stall in guard here.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Day is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sakurai trying to stand up but can't free himself from Day's guard.
Day throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Day seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Sakurai wants to stand but Day is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sakurai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Day. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Day is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sakurai controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sakurai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sakurai wants to stand but Day has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Gary Day will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gary Day's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Day throws out a loose jab but Sakurai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakurai connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Day throws a leg kick
and Sakurai counters with a straight right hand.
Sakurai throws a good cross that connects.
Sakurai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Day throws out the jab.
Sakurai lands a jab.
Day fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sakurai checks it well.
A little jabbing left from Sakurai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sakurai misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai digs a good body shot into Day's ribs.
Nice defenses there by Day.
Sakurai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Day slips under a jab.
Day swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sakurai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Day manages to avoid it.
Day throws a low kick but Sakurai moves out of range easily.
Day throws a low kick, looking for Sakurai's leg but Sakurai calmly moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Sakurai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A counter left hand to the body from Day misses its target.
Day dodges the punch combination from Sakurai.
Day appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Day moves away from the strike by Sakurai.
Day pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sakurai back to the cage. Day follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Day scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai lands a body shot.
Day slips a jab and a cross from Sakurai.
Sakurai has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Day.
Sakurai scores with a jab. Day acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Day lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sakurai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hideo Sakurai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Day throws a front kick aimed at Sakurai's knee but Sakurai avoids it well.
Hideo Sakurai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sakurai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sakurai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Day.
Sakurai is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Day with a body shot.
Day bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sakurai is out of range.
Sakurai throws out a counter right but Day avoids it with no problem.
Day throws a low kick but Sakurai moves out of range easily.
Sakurai throws out a counter right but Day avoids it with no problem.
Day misses with a two punch combination.
Sakurai falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakurai. Day does a little dance to reset his feet.
Day fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sakurai just manages to avoid it.
Day stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Day misses with a low kick.
Sakurai moves out of range of the leg kick from Day.
Sakurai misses with a hook.
Day misses with a right hand
and Sakurai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gary Day seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Day misses with a kick to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Sakurai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sakurai throws a predictable looking body shot
and Day counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Day closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sakurai did well to prevent Day getting side control.
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!
Day throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sakurai is trying to stand.
Day throwing shots but Sakurai is blocking nicely.
Day missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Day throwing shots but Sakurai is blocking nicely.
Day throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Hideo Sakurai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gary Day's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!
A head kick misses from Day.
Sakurai takes a swing at Day's ribcage but misses.
Day misses with a body kick.
Sakurai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sakurai changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sakurai missing with a left hand there. Day was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakurai throws the left hand but Day avoids the punch easily.
Sakurai works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakurai throws a hook but Day avoids it easily.
Sakurai throws a big shot that misses.
Day walks into a straight right hand from Sakurai.
Day connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai looks to land a left hand but Day moved out of range nicely.
Day attempts a counter takedown but Sakurai avoids it well and moves away.
Day gets a clinch.
Sakurai is trying to break the clinch but Day is controlling him.
Sakurai wants to get back to striking at distance but Day won't allow it.
Day jumps guard but Sakurai stands there with Day around his waist. Day gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sakurai is trying to break the clinch but Day has him pressed against the cage.
Sakurai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sakurai is trying to break the clinch but Day has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Day.
Sakurai is trying to push Day away but Day has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakurai is looking to break free of the clinch but Day has double underhooks.
Sakurai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Day stalling in the clinch but Sakurai improves position.
Day misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sakurai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Day throws a leg kick
letting Sakurai counter with a right hand.
Day slips a jab from Sakurai.
Sakurai looks to land a combination. Day sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakurai. Day does a little dance to reset his feet.
Day rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Day moves away from the strike by Sakurai.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Day throws an overhand right that lands on Sakurai's shoulder, as Sakurai tries to avoid the shot.
Sakurai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Day.
Day throws a lazy body kick
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Day misses with a low kick.
Sakurai fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Day looks to score with a jab to the body but Sakurai is just out of range.
Day bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Day tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Day is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sakurai is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakurai can do anything to dispel that myth.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai gets back to half guard.
Sakurai trying to control but Day postures up.
Day looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that's the end of the fight!
Hideo Sakurai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sakurai has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hideo Sakurai!
Hideo Sakurai seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
47% |
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