PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sato Mikoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Hester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mikoto's entrance music is Traditional Samurai Song. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mikoto
vs
Hester

187 cm
22
188 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Acton Nutritional Company

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sato Mikoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Patrick Hester!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mikoto closes the distance and clinches up with Hester, looking for a takedown. Mikoto pushes Hester against the cage but Hester circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mikoto attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Mikoto darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mikoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mikoto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mikoto is taking a breather. Hester 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.

Mikoto wants to work for an arm triangle but Hester is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mikoto performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mikoto with the ground and pound but Hester uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikoto wants to pass the guard but Hester is keeping the position.
Hester tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mikoto 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.
Mikoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mikoto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hester swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mikoto trying to control but Hester is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Mikoto misses with a kick to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mikoto.
Mikoto is breathing heavily.
Hester is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Mikoto controlling the position.
Mikoto tries to advance position but instead Hester slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hester is in trouble now - Mikoto has advanced to mount!
Mikoto will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mikoto fails to take his opponent's back.
Hester is working to get back to half guard.
Mikoto sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mikoto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hester is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mikoto throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hester because Mikoto loaded up on that one.
Hester has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Mikoto is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Hester has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
You can see the frustration on Hester's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hester is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Mikoto tightening his grip on Hester, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sato Mikoto dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mikoto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hester as he avoids it easily.

Mikoto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Mikoto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mikoto tries to advance to mount but Hester denies him.
Mikoto fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hester is breathing heavily.
Mikoto staying calm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hester keeps working.

Mikoto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hester, who protects the arm well.

Mikoto tries for a kimura but Hester is defending well.

Mikoto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hester has escaped the position, nice work there.

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.
Mikoto tries to advance to mount but can't.
Mikoto is looking to take a break and control but Hester is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mikoto working the strikes but Hester uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikoto passes to full mount!
Hester is trying to stand.

Mikoto working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hester is trying to stand up.
Hester has given up his back. Will we see Mikoto going for some submissions?

Hester is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Mikoto misses with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikoto missing with strikes from the back.

Mikoto working for the choke.
Hester prevents Mikoto from getting a body triangle.
Hester is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Mikoto.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mikoto misses with a punch to the head.
Mikoto biding his time, looking for the opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sato Mikoto dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mikoto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mikoto escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mikoto fails with the takedown.

Mikoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mikoto is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hester!
Hester stops Mikoto from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mikoto goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hester turns into him and now he's in Mikoto's guard.
Hester won't allow Mikoto to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hester trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mikoto's guard.
Hester postures up.
Hester won't allow Mikoto to sweep him here.
Hester tries to free his leg and advance position but Mikoto is retaining full guard.
Hester prevents Mikoto from getting back to his feet.
Mikoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mikoto looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mikoto looks for a takedown but Hester sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sato Mikoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mikoto darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mikoto sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mikoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mikoto trying to control from half guard but Hester is working away.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mikoto wants to work for an arm triangle but Hester is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mikoto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hester does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mikoto is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mikoto content just to control the position here.

Mikoto is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Mikoto shoots in and drives through. Hester sprawls well.
Hester tries to clinch up but Mikoto circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mikoto instigates a clinch.
Hester tries a knee to the head but Mikoto blocks it.
Hester goes for a takedown attempt but Mikoto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mikoto shoots in and drives through. Hester sprawls well.
Mikoto throws a head kick that misses.
Sato Mikoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mikoto throws a series of strikes that have Hester backpedaling.
Mikoto swinging wilding here.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mikoto.
Patrick Hester has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sato Mikoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hester striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mikoto advances to mount.
Hester wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sato Mikoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mikoto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sato Mikoto!