PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takashi Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demi Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sato
vs
Maia

177 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takashi Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Demi Maia!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato doesn't manage to clinch there - Maia circles away.

Sato clinches with his opponent.
Sato working Maia over with knees to the body.
Maia fails to pull guard.
Sato stops a takedown attempt from Maia.
Maia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sato smiles and moves away.
Takashi Sato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demi Maia.
Sato tries to clinch but Maia is having none of it.

Sato pushes Maia up against the cage in a clinch.
Sato lands an elbow inside that Maia shrugs off.
Sato lands an elbow inside that Maia shrugs off.
Sato lands a knee to the head.

Sato drags the fight down to the ground.

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

Maia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sato wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Maia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sato knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maia on the ground.
Maia looks gassed!
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sato is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sato seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sato gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sato scores with a knee to the head.
Sato scores a nice knee to the body.
Maia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato lands an elbow inside that Maia shrugs off.
Sato tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Sato.
Maia has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sato is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Maia jumps guard but Sato stands there with Maia around his waist. Maia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sato lands a knee to the head.
Sato is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sato crunches a lovely knee into Maia's ribcage.
Sato using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Maia takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sato lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sato lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Maia takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sato stalls.
Sato looking to throw knees to the head but Maia is blocking nicely.
Sato gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Maia jumps guard but Sato stands there with Maia around his waist. Maia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sato creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maia's defenses.
Sato throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Maia blocks it with crossed arms.
Sato trying to land knees to the body.
Maia wants a takedown but no success here.
Maia changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sato fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sato is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sato is looking to clinch but Maia is avoiding it.

Sato rushes Maia and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sato unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maia lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sato stalling the fight.
Sato lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sato tries to land knees in the clinch but Maia avoids the damage to the body.
Sato tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Maia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sato just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sato manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Maia can't get the takedown.
Maia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sato smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takashi Sato dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Maia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sato pinned against the cage. Sato gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Sato darts in and clinches Maia up against the cage.
Maia takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sato unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sato trying to land knees to the body.
Sato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sato with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia is working for takedown but Sato is calmly controlling the position for now.
Maia jumps guard but Sato stands there with Maia around his waist. Maia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Takashi Sato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demi Maia.
Sato looking to throw knees to the head but Maia is blocking nicely.
Sato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maia is trying to drag Sato to the mat but Sato just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Maia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sato walks away with a smile on his face. Maia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Maia keeps the fight on the outside.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Sato shows good takedown defense.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sato looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sato tries to clinch but Maia moves out of range.
Sato tries to clinch but Maia is having none of it.
Sato tries to clinch but Maia is having none of it.
Takashi Sato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maia closes the distance and clinches up with Sato, looking for a takedown. Maia pushes Sato against the cage but Sato circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sato tries to clinch up.
Takashi Sato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maia tries for a takedown but Sato sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sato doesn't manage to clinch there - Maia circles away.

That's two 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.
Sato wants to clinch.

Sato moves into the clinch successfully.
Sato stalling.
Maia avoids a wild elbow strike from Sato.
Maia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maia takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sato creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maia's defenses.
Maia letting Sato take a breather here.

Maia pulls guard successfully.

Maia has his foot on Sato's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sato works his way back into a safe position though.

Maia looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Sato has picked Maia up and slammed him! Maia can't keep hold of the triangle and Sato manages to pass to side control!
Maia is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sato's best efforts.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sato pulls his head out easily.
Sato tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Sato stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Maia closes the distance and clinches up with Sato, looking for a takedown. Maia pushes Sato against the cage but Sato circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Takashi Sato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sato clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Sato.
Sato missing with knees to the body.
Sato tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sato misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maia.
Maia drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sato pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sato tries to clinch but Maia moves out of range.
Maia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sato closes the distance and clinches.
Maia fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Maia lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Maia wants to pass to mount but Sato is defending the position.
Sato tries to roll over but Maia keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Takashi Sato will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Maia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maia keeps the fight on the outside.
Maia shoots for a double leg takedown but Sato sprawls well. He's pushed Maia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sato wants to clinch.
Maia changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sato tries to avoid it but Maia manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sato to the ground. Sato escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Takashi Sato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demi Maia.

Sato moves into range and clinches up with Maia.
Sato lands an elbow that stopped Maia in his tracks for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato tries a knee to the head but Maia blocks it.
Sato lands a damaging elbow.
Sato tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Maia tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sato comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sato lands a knee to the head.
Sato lands an elbow inside.
Sato utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Sato.
Maia jumps guard but Sato stands there with Maia around his waist. Maia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sato.
Maia jumps guard but Sato stands there with Maia around his waist. Maia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maia can't get the takedown.
Sato tries to land a knee to the head but Maia blocks with his arms.
Sato taking a breather.
Maia avoiding damage as Sato throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato trying to land knees to the body.
Maia tries for a takedown. No joy.
Takashi Sato has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sato is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Maia is defending well for now.
Sato comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Maia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maia is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sato pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sato lands a damaging elbow.
Sato misses with a knee to the head.
Sato misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maia.
Maia fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sato slowing the pace effectively.
Sato wants to stall.
Maia tries to pull guard but Sato won't allow it.
Sato lands a good knee to the midsection. Maia won't want to take too many of those.
Maia tries to pull guard but Sato holds him up against the cage and eventually Maia drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato misses with a knee to the head.
Maia fails to pull guard.
Sato throws an elbow but it misses.
Maia tries for a takedown but Sato manages to get underhooks.
Sato landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sato lands a damaging elbow.

Maia jumps guard.

Maia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Maia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sato passes into half guard.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sato pulls his head out easily.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.
Maia is looking for a sweep. Sato is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sato pulls his head out easily.
Demi Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takashi Sato is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sato is taking a breather. Maia 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takashi Sato showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sato, 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

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