PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yuu Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baki Hanma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baki Hanma will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Saga
vs
Hanma

174 cm
22
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuu Saga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Baki Hanma!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saga tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hanma swivels and escapes.
Baki Hanma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hanma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saga looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hanma fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hanma throws a head kick that half lands.

Hanma rushes Saga and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Hanma manages to break the clinch.
Hanma wants to slow Saga down by chopping away at his legs.

Hanma closes the distance and clinches.

Hanma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hanma scores with a takedown into Saga's guard.
Hanma stopping the sweep attempt from Saga.
Saga controlling Hanma's posture.
Hanma must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga 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.
Saga looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hanma trying to control the position from guard on top but Saga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saga pulls Hanma in close to prevent any damage.
Saga has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hanma looking to sit in guard and control but Saga gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Saga is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yuu Saga just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Saga doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hanma makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Saga doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hanma counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuu Saga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hanma looks gassed!
Hanma has his takedown stuffed

and Saga counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga content to stall in guard here.
Hanma really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saga. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saga tries to free his leg and advance position but Hanma is retaining full guard.
Hanma wants to control but Saga passes easily into half guard.
Saga controlling the action here.

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.
Saga looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Saga looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yuu Saga just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Saga shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hanma counters with a three punch combo that has Saga backing up. Saga nods at Hanma to acknowledge the strikes.
Saga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saga fails to land the takedown.
Saga shoots and misses
and Hanma counters with a left and a right that stings Saga.
Saga fails with a takedown attempt.
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 Yuu Saga will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hanma drops Saga with a left and a right! Oh, Saga is hurt - Hanma dives into side control looking to finish!

Saga is rocked!
Saga is not content to let Hanma control the position.
Oh Saga is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hanma wants to stand but Saga has his arm trapped.
Saga is looking for a sweep.
Saga can't do much from the bottom here.
Saga seems to have got his legs back now.
Saga tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hanma tries to stand but Saga is controlling his head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hanma lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga tries to bench press Hanma off him but Hanma keeps the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hanma throws a series of punches but Saga avoids them all with ease.
Saga connects with the punch.
Hanma fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saga takes one to the chin there.
Saga shoots in but no luck this time.
Hanma darts in trying to clinch

so Saga counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Saga tries to free his leg and advance position but Hanma is retaining full guard.
Hanma can't keep his opponent in guard - Saga advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hanma is refusing to be controlled, as Saga sits in half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Saga is taking a breather. Hanma says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma is trying to stand.
Hanma wants to improve his position but Saga is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Saga seems content to control.
Saga is tying to control. Hanma wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Saga is thwarting Hanma's attempts to control the position.
Hanma is pressing down on Saga's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma wants to stand and escape but Saga is having none of it.
Hanma keeping moving, preventing Saga from controlling successfully.
Hanma wants to stand but Saga is controlling the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Saga fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Saga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanma.
Hanma misses with a double jab.
Hanma connects with a high kick.

Saga shoots in and bounces Hanma off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanma keeping moving, preventing Saga from controlling successfully.
Saga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hanma keeping moving, preventing Saga from controlling successfully.
Saga slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Saga trying to control but Hanma is working from the bottom.
Hanma trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Saga forces his way into half guard.
Saga performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuu Saga dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hanma fails to land with a series of punches.

Saga gets a takedown into half guard.
Hanma is trying to maintain the position but Saga is very close to passing his half guard.
Saga seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hanma does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hanma is controlling Saga's trapped leg to prevent Saga from advancing to side control.
Saga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hanma keeps working.
Hanma is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hanma wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saga closes the distance and clinches up with Hanma, looking for a takedown. Saga pushes Hanma against the ropes but Hanma circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Saga shoots in but no luck this time.
Hanma rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hanma moves in looking to clinch but Saga pushes him off.
Saga fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuu Saga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hanma loads up on a big right hand but Saga slips the punch.

Saga changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hanma looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Saga in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Hanma pushes Saga away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Saga gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saga wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hanma, who protects the arm well.
Saga staying calm.

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

Saga tries for a kimura but Hanma is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga just content to control the position.
Saga moves into full mount!
Hanma is squirming around, avoiding Saga's attempts to control the action.
Saga takes Hanma's back.
Saga tries to get the hooks in deep but Hanma pushed the leg off.
Hanma looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Saga biding his time, looking for the opening.
Baki Hanma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saga's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yuu Saga just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Saga checks a low kick from Hanma.
Saga checks a leg kick.
Hanma throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hanma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hanma misses with a double jab

and Saga counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Saga wants to take a breather but Hanma is having none of it.
Hanma punching from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuu Saga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saga, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuu Saga!