PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yu Soloman (ranked 4346 p4p, 4178 weight class) and Fabian Sanctuary (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soloman comes into the arena with The Last Samuri blaring out of the sound system. Yu Soloman could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Fabian Sanctuary's chin.

Soloman
vs
Sanctuary

166 cm
25
140
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
23
135
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yu Soloman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fabian Sanctuary!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanctuary has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Soloman.

Soloman clinches up with Sanctuary and pushes him back against the cage.
Soloman has had enough of the clinch but Sanctuary keeps him there for the moment.

Soloman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soloman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sanctuary avoids a punch combination nicely.

Sanctuary drives through and clinches with Soloman against the cage.
Soloman lands a hook to the side of the head.

Soloman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanctuary forces Soloman back against the cage and clinches.

Sanctuary jumps guard.
Sanctuary throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sanctuary looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanctuary, not yet.
Soloman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanctuary had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Soloman defends it easily.
Sanctuary has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanctuary pulls Soloman in close to prevent any damage.

Sanctuary is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Soloman is aware though and is defending well.
Sanctuary looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soloman wanted to stand there but Sanctuary had control of the position.
Soloman lands a couple of digs.

That's two 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.
Soloman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanctuary is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sanctuary holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanctuary misses with a series of wild punches.
Soloman thinks about countering with a head kick.
Soloman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanctuary defends it nicely.
Sanctuary goes for a double leg but Soloman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Soloman continues to drive forward.
Soloman is looking for a counter combo.

Soloman moves into range and clinches up with Sanctuary.

Soloman manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soloman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Soloman throws a head punch that misses.

Sanctuary manages to pull guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Sanctuary manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Soloman misses with a body punch.
Sanctuary content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Soloman manages to break the clinch.
Sanctuary tries to score a power double leg takedown but Soloman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanctuary somewhat.
Sanctuary looks winded!
Nice body kick there by Soloman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soloman moves into the clinch.
Soloman lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Fabian Sanctuary has been cut.
Sanctuary is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Soloman to keep the fight standing.
Yu Soloman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabian Sanctuary.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Soloman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soloman scores with a head kick.
Sanctuary slips a jab and a cross from Soloman.
Soloman changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Soloman throws a front kick that sends Sanctuary stumbling back into the cage.
Sanctuary swats away the attempt to clinch by Soloman.
Soloman throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yu Soloman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fabian Sanctuary's cut.
That's time! Soloman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanctuary shoots in but no luck this time.
Sanctuary tries to score a power double leg takedown but Soloman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanctuary somewhat.
A little feinted left hand from Soloman on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Soloman tries to clinch up.
Soloman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sanctuary is defended easily by Soloman.
Yu Soloman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabian Sanctuary.
Sanctuary is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Soloman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Sanctuary throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soloman tries to bum rush Sanctuary with a series of wild strikes but Sanctuary uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Soloman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Sanctuary drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Soloman bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
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!
Soloman moves in looking to clinch but Sanctuary pushes him off.
Sanctuary keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanctuary swinging wildly here.
Sanctuary rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Soloman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soloman shoots in for a double leg but Sanctuary sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sanctuary displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Soloman.
Sanctuary fails with a takedown attempt.
Fabian Sanctuary seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soloman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sanctuary looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Sanctuary shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Soloman as he avoids it easily.
Yu Soloman is winning the standup battle so far.
Soloman tries to clinch up.
Soloman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanctuary can do to turn this around?

Soloman moves into the clinch.
Sanctuary has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Soloman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Soloman lands an elbow inside that Sanctuary shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soloman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yu Soloman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Soloman cracks Sanctuary with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Soloman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanctuary tries to avoid it but Soloman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanctuary to the ground. Sanctuary escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Soloman throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Sanctuary fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanctuary dodges the punch combination from Soloman.
Soloman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanctuary as he avoids it easily.
Soloman lands a head kick. Sanctuary smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soloman tries to keep at a distance but Sanctuary has taken the fight into the clinch.
Soloman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Sanctuary escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Soloman tries to clinch but Sanctuary is having none of it.
Sanctuary is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sanctuary misses with a takedown attempt - Soloman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sanctuary lands a jab to Soloman's midsection.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yu Soloman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fabian Sanctuary's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Soloman tries to clinch but Sanctuary moves out of range.
Soloman takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sanctuary shoots for a takedown but Soloman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Soloman stuffs the takedown attempt from Sanctuary. Sanctuary gets slowly back to his feet.
A combination from Soloman does no damage.
Sanctuary unleashes a big counter combination but Soloman bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sanctuary tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Soloman defends well and Sanctuary ends up having to push Soloman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Yu Soloman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabian Sanctuary.
Nice sprawl there from Sanctuary as Soloman shoots in.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soloman throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sanctuary takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanctuary tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sanctuary fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soloman moves in looking to clinch but Sanctuary pushes him off.
Soloman throws a head kick but Sanctuary moves out of range.
Sanctuary tries for a takedown but Soloman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Soloman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Soloman shoots in for a double leg but Sanctuary sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sanctuary circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanctuary tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Soloman defends well and Sanctuary ends up having to push Soloman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Soloman throws a nice head kick!
Soloman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanctuary but Sanctuary pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanctuary fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Soloman, pushing him back against the cage.
Sanctuary wants a takedown.

Soloman breaks from the clinch.
Soloman tries to clinch up but Sanctuary circles away and keeps his distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanctuary.
Sanctuary shoots in but Soloman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Soloman looks to land a combination. Sanctuary sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soloman scores with a head kick.
No luck for Sanctuary with that takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Soloman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A right-left combo lands from Soloman.
Soloman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sanctuary closes this distance looking for a takedown but Soloman circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soloman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soloman lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sanctuary tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Soloman defends well and Sanctuary ends up having to push Soloman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Soloman tries to bum rush Sanctuary with a series of wild strikes but Sanctuary uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yu Soloman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanctuary tries to clinch but Soloman moves out of range.
Sanctuary misses with a takedown attempt

and Soloman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Soloman.

Sanctuary pushes Soloman off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soloman misses with a few strikes there.
Sanctuary misses with a head kick.
Fabian Sanctuary has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Soloman throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yu Soloman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Soloman, 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yu Soloman!
A very excited looking Yu Soloman made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.