PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Distant Thunder (ranked 1758 p4p, 102 weight class) and Hayato Sakuraba (ranked 1989 p4p, 113 weight class). Thunder comes to the cage accompanied by Who Set The World On Fire. Distant Thunder has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Thunder
vs
Sakuraba

171 cm
20
135 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

165 cm
22
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

HGH Nutrients Q160 Tycoons Best Quality supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Distant Thunder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hayato Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunder lands a body shot.
Sakuraba shoots in looking for a takedown but Thunder manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sakuraba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thunder throws a right and a left that Sakuraba avoids nicely.
Sakuraba shoots in but Thunder avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Sakuraba is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Thunder's half guard.
Well, if Sakuraba is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Sakuraba wants to work for an arm triangle but Thunder is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thunder trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thunder keeps working.

Thunder looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sakuraba wants to take a breather but Thunder is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder tries to roll over but Sakuraba keeps him under control.
Sakuraba is trying to control the action in half guard but Thunder is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thunder regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sakuraba stands and throws Thunder's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Sakuraba tries for a kimura but Thunder is defending well.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Thunder is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sakuraba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Sakuraba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thunder is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Thunder's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Thunder tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sakuraba wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thunder manages to get back to half guard.
Thunder is staying active underneath Sakuraba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sakuraba prevents Thunder from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thunder regains full guard. Nicely done.

Thunder throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Thunder keeps moving.
Sakuraba forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thunder has managed to free his arm - good work.

Thunder actively working from the bottom here.

Sakuraba is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Sakuraba is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thunder has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sakuraba is working away from the top position though.

Sakuraba wants to work for an arm triangle but Thunder is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Sakuraba is trying to work for a kimura but Thunder is defending well.

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.

Thunder looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sakuraba is working for a submission of some sort.

Sakuraba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thunder doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is thwarting Thunder's attempts to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thunder wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayato Sakuraba dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thunder throws a body shot but no joy.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thunder as he avoids it easily.
Thunder fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sakuraba.
Thunder scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sakuraba shoots in but Thunder avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Sakuraba throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thunder was covering up waiting for the punch and Sakuraba finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sakuraba is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba trying to control but Thunder is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sakuraba drops back looking for a leg! Thunder is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thunder manages to kick Sakuraba off! Sakuraba jumps back into Thunder's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakuraba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thunder has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Thunder has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sakuraba is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Thunder.
Sakuraba working away.

Sakuraba working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Sakuraba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thunder, who protects the arm well.
Thunder manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thunder is defending against the submission attempts here by Sakuraba.

Thunder looking for submissions off his back.
Hayato Sakuraba has got the better of the ground game so far.

Thunder is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakuraba pulls his head out easily.

Sakuraba is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thunder wants to improve his position but Sakuraba is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thunder sees it coming and defends easily.
Thunder won't allow Sakuraba to pass to mount.

Sakuraba is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hayato Sakuraba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Still in half guard, Sakuraba seems content to control.
Sakuraba wants to pass to mount but Thunder is defending the position.
Thunder keeping hold of Sakuraba's head, controlling as best he can.
Well, if Sakuraba is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Thunder trying to hold on to Sakuraba's head to control him but Sakuraba postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Thunder is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakuraba pulls his head out easily.
Thunder trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.

Thunder looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Thunder is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sakuraba pulls his head out easily.
Thunder trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thunder tries to clinch there but Sakuraba circles away.
Sakuraba looks for a takedown but Thunder sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayato Sakuraba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Thunder displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sakuraba.

Thunder gets caught flat footed, as Sakuraba shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sakuraba engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Thunder has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sakuraba can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sakuraba is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Thunder keeping full guard, as Sakuraba tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thunder escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuraba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sakuraba trying to control but Thunder is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thunder is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thunder keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.

Thunder looking for a guillotine here but Sakuraba defends easily.
Thunder can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sakuraba controls the pace.

Thunder has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sakuraba can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Distant Thunder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Thunder is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuraba is aware though and is defending well.

Thunder working for a triangle but Sakuraba defends it easily.
Sakuraba is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sakuraba has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sakuraba trying to control but Thunder is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Distant Thunder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thunder delivers a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba fails to land the takedown.
Sakuraba is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thunder sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thunder wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Distant Thunder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayato Sakuraba.
Sakuraba steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Thunder. That one must have hurt.
Sakuraba has his takedown stuffed
and Thunder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thunder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakuraba throws out a counter right but Thunder avoids it with no problem.
Sakuraba tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Thunder defends well and Sakuraba ends up having to push Thunder into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sakuraba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sakuraba avoids a kick to the body.
Thunder lands a slapping body shot.
Thunder dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thunder lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Thunder looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sakuraba shoots in looking for a takedown but Thunder manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sakuraba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
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!

Sakuraba drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thunder keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.

Thunder has his foot on Sakuraba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakuraba works his way back into a safe position though.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Thunder keeps moving.

Thunder is looking for a triangle but Sakuraba pushes his legs off easily.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sakuraba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Distant Thunder showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sakuraba 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hayato Sakuraba!