Hello again and welcome back to DVD World. My name is Brian Sweet and it is my pleasure to present this week's review of "Pride.33: The Second Coming." As always, please feel free to drop me a line at HYPERLINK "mailto:bs2647@gmail.com" bs2647@gmail.com if you have a request for a specific event to be reviewed or questions regarding anything having to do with MMA or DVDs. I may be able to point you in the right direction if you are having problems completing your collection. Without further ado, lets get down to business and have a look at this week's selection.
Pride.33 - The Second Coming
February 24, 2007
Thomas and mack Center
Las Vegas, Nev.
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Mac Danzig
There isn't much back story on this fight. Danzig was making his Pride debut and was looking to get back in the win column. Unlike Danzig, Sakurai came into the fight riding a two fight win streak and was considered the favorite. Danzig had spent most of his career fighting for the King of the Cage promotion and was stepping up to the big leagues. Mac was always one of those guys that you heard of, but never had the chance to see fight unless you frequented KOTC shows or saw him on DVD. Sakurai was known for his powerful leg kicks, dynamic striking skills, and good submission knowledge. Let's have a look.
THE FIGHT
Round 1: They trade leg kicks to start and Danzig nails a nice body kick on Sakurai. Mach returns the favor with a right high kick that Mac blocks well. They trade hooks near the ropes but not much lands. Danzing lands an outside leg kick followed by a left right combo, but gets countered hard by a right hand that stuns him. Danzig is in trouble as he backs quickly away towards the ropes with Sakurai chasing after him. Hayato throws a series of punches that partially connect, but Mac is able to get out of danger and creates distance in short order. Sakurai leads with a wide right hook and follows up with a few more as Mac ends up in the corner. Hayato executes a thai clinch and delivers two hard kness, the second of which drop Danzig flat on his back. Sakurai thinks better of going to the ground and decides to let Mac stand up. Sakurai leads to the body and connects well before they clinch against the ropes. They separate and Sakurai continues the onslaught with superior striking skills. They trade leg kicks and jabs shortly before Sakurai misses with a lead to the body and Mac gets a takedown despite missing a rear naked choke attempt.
Danzig looks for an armbar but gets nowhere. Sakurai ends up in half guard but the ref repositions them. Hayato works a little ground and pound, but Danzig regains guard and remains busy on the bottom. Danzig gets executes rubber guard briefly before Sakurai stands and both men resume striking. Mac comes in with a jab straight right combo, but Sakurai clinches and performs a beautiful judo throw and lands in side mount. Danzig gains half guard as Sakurai works for a kimura. The round ends with both men looking for position.
Round 2: Sakurai goes back to leg kicks and creates some distance. Danzig rushes in looking for a left right combo followed by a wide left hook that Sakurai ducks under and executes a nice takedown. Hayato works from side mount now and works a kimura again but fails. Danzig looks for another armbar but Sakurai stands and delivers a few more leg kicks after Mac rises as well. They trade a few punches before Sakurai lands a nice stiff jab. Hayato works the jab well here and Danzig is getting beaten to the punch over and over again. Danzig throws a few leg kicks and works a jab of his own. Sakurai lands a few solid leg kicks that connect well. Danzig lands a nice straight right but gets nailed with a hard leg kick again. Danzig is eating some heavy leg kicks here and begins to slow his aggression. Danzig leads with a jab but it is blocked just before Sakurai nails a beautiful right hook that drops Mac flat on the mat. Sakurai follows up with a left and the fight is called. Excellent showing by Sakurai here.
AFTERMATH
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai:
Sakurai spent most of his career fighting in Japan for Shooto, DEEP, and Pride. He had earned a reputation as highly durable and very tough. His legs are as thick as tree trunks and he brings devastating leg kicks to the table. With one exception, Sakurai has only lost to top ranked fighters. The list of men who have defeated him reads like a top ten ranking board: Anderson Silva, Jake Shields, Ryo Chonan, Rodrigo Gracie, Crosley Gracie, Takanori Gomi, David Baron, and Marius Zaromskis. He has competed for several titles throughout his career and came close to winning his lone UFC fight with Matt Hughes back at UFC 36 for the welterweight championship. The guy is just a very strong fighter with well rounded skills. He competes for Dream these days and may very well earn another shot at the welterweight title if he can string together a few wins. He's been fighting now for over thirteen years and is not getting any younger. He is a former Shooto middleweight pound champion and has beaten some really good fighters: Caol Uno, Luiz Azeredo, Frank Trigg, Dave Menne, Shinya Aoki (2), Jens Pulver, Joachim Hansen, and many many others throughout his illustrious career. Hopefully he can win another championship before his skills start to diminish.
Mac Danzig:
Danzig fought gamely in this scrap but ultimately could not withstand the firing power of Sakurai. After this fight, Danzig went on to become a participant in the UFC's flagship program ‘The Ultimate Fighter' and became the season 6 champion. After beating Tommy Speer for the title, he would then to on to compete at UFC 83 and submit Mark Bocek. Lately though, Danzig has hit a rough patch and dropped three fights in a row. It is not entirely outside the realm of possibility that Mac may be cut from the UFC if he loses another fight. He can be entertaining to watch, but ultimately if you do not perform well, you're out. Dana White has proven loyal to all the TUF winner however, so we will have to wait and see. Danzig is fairly good at all aspects of MMA, especially the ground game. There really isn't much else to say about Danzig.
