PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harjan Varsi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshida Satoru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Varsi comes to the cage accompanied by Hiski Salomaa - Tiskarin polkka. Harjan Varsi has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Varsi
vs
Satoru

202 cm
23
194 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

180 cm
22
197 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Punishment Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Harjan Varsi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshida Satoru!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to de liver by Varsi. Beautiful body shot.
The fighters circling - Varsi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Satoru fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Varsi sprawls well initially but Satoru persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Varsi wants to get back to his feet.

Satoru is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Varsi as he works his way to full guard.
Varsi wants to sweep but no luck.
Satoru slips nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Satoru in particular looking to stall.
Varsi trying to control here.
Satoru wants to lay and pray for a moment but Varsi keeps working.
Satoru is looking to advance position but Varsi won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Satoru seems to be working for a kimura but Varsi defends the submission attempt.
Satoru trying to control the action but Varsi is working from the bottom.
Varsi is trying to maintain the position but Satoru is very close to passing his half guard.

Satoru is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Satoru is defended easily by Varsi.
Satoru misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Satoru shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Varsi's guard.
Varsi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Satoru wants to pass the guard but Varsi is keeping the position.
Varsi is looking to stand up but Satoru isn't so interested in that idea.

Satoru has gone for a leg lock! Varsi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Satoru's guard.
Satoru looks gassed!

Satoru isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Varsi stacks Satoru on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Varsi!
Satoru is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Varsi decides to stand back up. Varsi steps back and let's Satoru get back to his feet.
Satoru avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Varsi stuffs the takedown attempt from Satoru. Satoru gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Varsi drops Satoru with a beautiful combination! Satoru stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Varsi is looking for the KO!

Satoru is rocked!
Satoru uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Varsi.
Varsi connects with a body shot.
Varsi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An inside leg kick from Varsi misses.
Varsi throws an uppercut from hell that sends Satoru clean off his feet! He's out cold! Varsi stands back and admires his work as he thinks about that KO of the night award that is surely being wrapped up for him back stage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Harjan Varsi!
Harjan Varsi retains his middleweight title!