PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gary Day (ranked 1665 p4p, 195 weight class) and Hideo Sakurai (ranked 2823 p4p, 321 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, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Day
vs
Sakurai

178 cm
26
160 lbs
11 - 11 - 2

173 cm
28
154 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Red Light Coffeeshop

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 11 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Gary Day!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hideo Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Day throws an off balance right hand
and Sakurai counters with a right hand to the body.
Sakurai walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Day fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Day fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sakurai connects with a jab.
Day throws a body punch but Sakurai moves out of range.
Day lands an overhand right.
Sakurai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Day misses with a jab, cross combination.
It seemed like Sakurai was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sakurai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Day swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sakurai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Day avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A swing and a miss from Sakurai.
Day definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sakurai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Day.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day slips a straight right by Sakurai.
Day lands a slapping body shot.
Sakurai takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Day throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Day throws a body shot but no joy.
A nice leg kick lands there from Day.
Day lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Day throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sakurai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sakurai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sakurai misses with an uppercut.
Sakurai lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Day backs up against the cage.

It looks like Gary Day has been cut.
Day throws a lazy right hand but Sakurai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sakurai throws out a counter right but Day avoids it with no problem.
Sakurai lands a nice shot to the body.
Hideo Sakurai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Day steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakurai.
Day pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sakurai is out of range and Day settles back down.
A little jabbing left from Sakurai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Day keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As Sakurai tries to get set, Day tries to push him back and clinch up but Sakurai manages to avoid the attempt.
Sakurai defending well as Day loads up on a big left hand.
Sakurai let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Day swings for the body but Sakurai moves out of range.
Day avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It looked like Day was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sakurai.
Sakurai takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Day swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A nice side step and Sakurai releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sakurai throws a shot to the body.
Day misses with a body punch
and Day takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Day misses with a jab to the body
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sakurai misses with a looping left.
Day cracks Sakurai with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Day throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sakurai missing with a left hand there. Day was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice body punch from Sakurai.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakurai. Day does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Day on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sakurai staying out of range there.
It seemed like Sakurai was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Day misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakurai.
Day slips a straight right by Sakurai.
Day cracks Sakurai with a right hand to the side of the head.
Day lands with a hook. Sakurai tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The fighters circling - Day throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Day misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Day moves away from the strike by Sakurai.

Day bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Day working the ground and pound but Sakurai is defending the strikes.
Sakurai defending against the ground and pound.
Day in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Day in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Day working the ground and pound but Sakurai is defending the strikes.
Day working the head with strikes.
Day grinds an elbow into Sakurai's temple.
Day prevents Sakurai from escaping the position.
Day grinds an elbow into Sakurai's temple.
Day in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Day dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gary Day's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Day scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sakurai in his tracks.
Day throws the kick towards the body but Sakurai avoids it.
Sakurai throws an overhand right that lands on Day's shoulder, as Day tries to avoid the shot.
Day is looking to counter punch.
Gary Day seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Day fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sakurai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Day takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Day moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gary Day is winning the standup battle so far.
Day throws a combination that misses
and Sakurai counters with a straight right hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Day darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Day scores with a nice head shot.
Day misses with a wild body shot.
A little jabbing left from Sakurai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Day throws an off balance right hand
and Sakurai counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Day scores with the left hand. Sakurai knows he should have avoided that one.
Day swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sakurai staying out of range there.
Day throws a right hand that Sakurai ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakurai also avoids with ease.
It seemed like Sakurai was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Day connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sakurai's hands.
Day throws a poor cross that misses
and Sakurai counters with a nice uppercut.
Day uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakurai.
A telegraphed right hand from Day misses the target.
Sakurai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Day throws a lazy uppercut
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sakurai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sakurai misses with a left hand
and Day counters with a stiff right hand.
Day on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Day bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Day looks to throw the jab but Sakurai is out of range.
Sakurai misses with an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakurai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Day misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sakurai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sakurai ducks under a wild hook from Day.
Day misses with a left hand
enabling Sakurai to counter with a crisp jab.
Sakurai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sakurai is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Day with a body shot.
Day misses with a lunging right hand
and Sakurai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Day throws a hook but Sakurai avoids it easily.
Day smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sakurai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakurai gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sakurai avoids the body shot from Day.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sakurai checks a leg kick.
Sakurai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Day slips under a jab from Sakurai.
Sakurai takes one on the button.
Day's corner calls for a 1-2. Day obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sakurai throws a body shot but no joy.
Day staying out of range there.
Day ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Day misses with a right hand
and Sakurai counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Day scores with the left hand. Sakurai knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Day misses
and Sakurai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakurai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Day.
Day lands a jab to Sakurai's midsection.
Day on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Day paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sakurai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A shot to the body from Day misses
and Sakurai counters with a straight right hand.
Day throws an off balance right hand
and Sakurai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sakurai's corner calls for a 1-2. Sakurai obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sakurai gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Day.
Sakurai throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Day throws a body punch but Sakurai moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gary Day will probably get the nod.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Day steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakurai.
Sakurai misses with a left hand
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Day cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Day ducks under a wild hook from Sakurai.
Day misses with a leg kick.
Sakurai takes a swing at Day's ribcage but misses.
Sakurai has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Day scores with a nice strike.
Day swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sakurai counters with a crisp one two that drops Day! Sakurai thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Day to his feet! Day is in big trouble!

Day is rocked!
Day scores with a nice right hand.
Oh Day is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Day misses with a body punch
enabling Sakurai to counter with a crisp jab.
Day misses with a left hand
and Sakurai counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Day misses the shot to the body.
Day seems to have got his legs back now.
Day fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakurai manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day scoring well with a low kick there.
Sakurai misses the shot to the body.
Sakurai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakurai misses with a wild body shot.
Sakurai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Day was well out of range. Poor timing from Sakurai.
Sakurai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Day.
Day keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sakurai.
Day uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sakurai.
Day's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Day duly obliges.
Sakurai lands a jab to the head.
Day walks into a straight right hand from Sakurai.
Sakurai throws a body punch but Day moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Day jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A leg kick checked by Sakurai.
Sakurai connects with a good right hand that stumbles Day. Day circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Day ducks under a wild hook from Sakurai.
Day thinks about countering with a body kick.
Day misses with a lunging right hand
and Sakurai counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Day thinking.
Gary Day is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakurai misses the target.
A slapping leg kick lands for Day.
Day connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Day blocks a jab.
Day throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sakurai counters with a right hand to the body.
Sakurai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Day.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Day buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Day fails with the takedown.
Sakurai lands a nice hook to Day's body. Day takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sakurai takes a swing at Day's ribcage but misses.
Sakurai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sakurai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Day is looking for a counter combo.
Sakurai takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Day comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Day uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakurai.
Day fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakurai manages to avoid it.
Day throws out a powerful jab.
A shot to the body from Sakurai misses
and Day counters with a nice leg kick.
Day slips a jab from Sakurai.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakurai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Day.
Hideo Sakurai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Day misses with an uppercut. Sakurai saw that one coming.
Day staying out of range there.
Day throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakurai.
Day lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sakurai circles away quickly and effectively.
Sakurai moves away from the strike by Day.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hideo Sakurai.
I think Day 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!