PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Piston Honda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koutetsu Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Honda
vs
Sakurai

187 cm
21
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

189 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Piston Honda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koutetsu Sakurai!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakurai throws a head kick that half lands.

Sakurai feints and as Honda raises his hands in defense, Sakurai changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sakurai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Honda swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Honda 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.
Sakurai is looking to work some ground and pound but Honda has wrist control.

Honda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sakurai slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Honda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Honda has a closed guard, preventing Sakurai from standing up.
Sakurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Honda is keeping the position for now.

Honda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakurai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakurai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Honda is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai trying to control the position from guard on top but Honda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakurai trying to stand up but can't free himself from Honda's guard.
Honda looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sakurai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Honda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Sakurai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sakurai is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Honda can't fight it off and eventually Sakurai manages to take the fight to the floor. Honda looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sakurai controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Honda is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Sakurai rolls with it to try and escape but Honda cranks on the arm and Sakurai is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Piston Honda!