PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Beni Nikaido (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuu Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Nikaido
vs
Saga

174 cm
20
150 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

174 cm
24
158 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

ENDLESS 152

Grappling Pro Gear
Demonic Drugs

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Beni Nikaido!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuu Saga!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nikaido has a takedown stuffed.
Nikaido misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Saga feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Saga passes Nikaido's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nikaido manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Saga passes Nikaido's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Saga slows the pace down in half guard.

Saga looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Saga prevents Nikaido from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikaido makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nikaido.
Nikaido wants to sweep but no luck.
Saga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nikaido swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saga trying to control but Nikaido is working from the bottom.
Saga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nikaido swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nikaido is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Saga tries to free his leg and advance position but Nikaido is retaining full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Saga won't allow Nikaido to sweep him here.
Saga trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikaido is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saga slips a jab and a cross from Nikaido.

Nikaido darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikaido tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
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 trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Saga slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nikaido stands up over Saga, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nikaido pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saga is keeping the position for now.
Saga trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Nikaido drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Saga manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Nikaido has Saga in his guard.
Nikaido is breathing heavily.
Saga looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikaido looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Saga puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Saga is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saga missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Saga passes the guard and advances to mount!
Nikaido is trying to escape the mount.
Nikaido sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Saga trying to pass the guard but Nikaido defending well.
Nikaido is looking to improve his position.
Nikaido is staying active underneath Saga, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nikaido tries to get to full guard but Saga has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saga is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nikaido is just riding it out for now. Saga eventually gives up the hold.
Nikaido wants to control but Saga is keeping busy.
Saga wants to pass the guard but Nikaido is defending well.
Saga passes the guard and advances to mount!

Saga is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nikaido is surviving well by controlling Saga's body position as best he can.

Saga has control of Nikaido's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nikaido regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuu Saga dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nikaido doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Saga counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nikaido!
Nikaido tries to hold on but Saga pushes him away.
Nikaido is desperately trying to improve his position but Saga has a good base and remains in mount.
Saga pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Saga takes Nikaido's back.
Saga keeps control of the position as Nikaido tries to break free.
Saga not allowing Nikaido to control his hands.

Saga looking for the RNC.
Nikaido trying to control but not successfully.
Saga is breathing heavily.
Saga keeps control of the position as Nikaido tries to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga doesn't have the hooks in and Nikaido manages to turn into his guard.
Nikaido postures up.
Nikaido trying to control the position from guard on top but Saga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nikaido drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nikaido jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saga seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Saga is trying to keep Nikaido in close.
Yuu Saga has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nikaido tries for a takedown but Saga circles away easily

and Saga counters with a takedown into side control.
Nikaido sneaks back into half guard.

Saga seems to be working for a kimura but Nikaido defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikaido wants to improve his position but Saga is controlling well.
Nikaido tries to kick Saga off but Saga keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Saga performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Saga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nikaido keeps working.
Saga works his foot free and advances to mount.

Saga working for a guillotine from mount but Nikaido is in no mood to give up.
Saga looking to control but Nikaido is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Nikaido is trying desperately to improve position.
Nikaido wants to control but Saga is having none of it.
Nikaido is looking to improve his position but Saga isn't that keen on the idea.
Saga trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nikaido manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Saga is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nikaido wants to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Nikaido trying to hold on to Saga's head to control him but Saga postures up.
Nikaido is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Saga has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Saga takes Nikaido's back.
Nikaido controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Nikaido can't escape the position.

Saga looking for the choke but no joy.

Nikaido showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuu Saga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nikaido closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Saga to the mat! Saga manages to get full guard.
Nikaido stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saga swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saga manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nikaido manages to get himself to full guard.
Saga won't allow Nikaido to sweep him here.
Saga wants to control from the top but Nikaido keeps moving.

Saga thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Nikaido is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Saga avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikaido can't keep his opponent in guard - Saga advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Saga works his foot free and advances to mount.
Saga wants to take Nikaido's back but he can't do it this time.

Saga looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Nikaido tries to hold on but Saga postures up.
Nikaido can't escape the position.
Saga throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Nikaido tries to reverse the position but Saga maintains control.
Beni Nikaido has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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 control but Nikaido is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nikaido sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Saga thows a huge punch but Nikaido dodges it nicely.
Saga passes to side control.
Nikaido is trying to control Saga's posture but Saga avoids it.
Saga staying calm.
Nikaido gets back to half guard.
Saga trying to control the action but Nikaido is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikaido is looking for a sweep. Saga is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saga wants to take a breather but Nikaido is having none of it.
Nikaido is looking to improve his position.
Nikaido trying to control here.
Yuu Saga is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nikaido is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saga works his way into full mount!

Saga working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Nikaido is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Saga wants to finish this one by submission but Nikaido is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Saga.
Nikaido is looking to improve his position but Saga isn't that keen on the idea.
Nikaido bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Nikaido won't allow Saga to sweep him here.
Saga is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Beni Nikaido.
Well Saga has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

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