PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Taka Osatoko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Sunabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taka Osatoko has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Osatoko
vs
Sunabe

178 cm
22
160 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

183 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taka Osatoko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Sunabe!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Sunabe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sunabe lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Osatoko backs up against the ropes.
Osatoko has a takedown stuffed.
Sunabe tries to clinch up but Osatoko circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice body punch from Sunabe.
Sunabe throws a nice looking combination but Osatoko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sunabe cracks Osatoko with an open hand slap.
Sunabe tries to clinch there but Osatoko circles away.
Sunabe doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Osatoko to counter with a crisp jab.
Sunabe tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Osatoko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sunabe!
Sunabe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Osatoko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Osatoko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sunabe is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osatoko is really struggling to control Sunabe but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sunabe tries to lock up and control but Osatoko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Osatoko dominating with strikes here.
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.
Poor strikes thrown by Osatoko there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Osatoko thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sunabe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Osatoko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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.
Osatoko thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Osatoko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sunabe is squirming around, avoiding Osatoko's attempts to control the action.
Osatoko throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Osatoko misses with a head shot.

Osatoko is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sunabe to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sunabe shrugs it off.
Osatoko misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Osatoko looking to finish Sunabe with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sunabe!
Osatoko controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sunabe is trying to escape the mount.
Osatoko unloads with some shots from mount but Sunabe bucks and avoids them well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sunabe can do anything to dispel that myth.

Osatoko is working for a guillotine from mount but Sunabe frees his head quite easily.
Osatoko is breathing heavily.
Sunabe is working to get back to half guard.
Sunabe is squirming around, avoiding Osatoko's attempts to control the action.

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.
Sunabe holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Osatoko tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Osatoko misses with a head shot.
Osatoko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Osatoko throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sunabe because Osatoko loaded up on that one.
Sunabe is in all sorts of trouble here.
Osatoko punishing his opponent with strikes.
Osatoko throwing strikes here but Sunabe is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sunabe slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Osatoko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sunabe tries to clinch

and Osatoko counters with a single leg into guard. Sunabe didn't expect that.
Osatoko trying to control but Sunabe is working from the bottom.
Osatoko prevents Sunabe from getting back to his feet.
Osatoko passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sunabe is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Osatoko working the ground and pound but Sunabe is defending the strikes.
Sunabe tries to bench press Osatoko off him but Osatoko keeps the position.
Osatoko wants to control but Sunabe is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Osatoko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Osatoko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sunabe, who protects the arm well.
Sunabe is not content to let Osatoko control the position.
Sunabe is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sunabe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Osatoko as he jumps to the side.
Ryo Sunabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sunabe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Osatoko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sunabe somewhat.
Sunabe dives in and grabs Osatoko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Osatoko pushes down on Sunabe's head and hops out.
Taka Osatoko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Sunabe.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Osatoko lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sunabe has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sunabe and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Osatoko fails to land the takedown.
Osatoko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sunabe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sunabe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sunabe thows a body shot but no joy.
Sunabe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Osatoko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sunabe!
Osatoko with good strikes from the mount here!
Osatoko looking to control but Sunabe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Osatoko misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sunabe really wants to buck Osatoko off and get back to his feet.
Osatoko looking to control but Sunabe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Osatoko misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sunabe is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sunabe is working to get back to half guard.
Sunabe gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Osatoko dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sunabe swinging wildly here.

Osatoko feints and as Sunabe raises his hands in defense, Osatoko changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Osatoko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sunabe is keeping the position for now.
Osatoko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Osatoko wants to control from the top but Sunabe keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osatoko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sunabe is keeping the position for now.
Osatoko stopping the sweep attempt from Sunabe.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sunabe has his takedown stuffed

and Osatoko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Osatoko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sunabe trying to hold on to Osatoko's head to control him but Osatoko postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sunabe keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sunabe tries to get to full guard but Osatoko has control of the leg.
Osatoko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sunabe wants to get back to his feet.

Osatoko is looking for a kimura but Sunabe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Osatoko to get the leverage.
Osatoko trying to control the action but Sunabe is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Osatoko circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko slips a jab and a cross from Sunabe.
Sunabe stuffs the takedown.
Sunabe throws a right hand that Osatoko ducks under and follows up with a left that Osatoko also avoids with ease.
Osatoko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sunabe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Osatoko counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sunabe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Osatoko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taka Osatoko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Sunabe.
Osatoko's corner calls for a 1-2. Osatoko obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sunabe throws a right and a left that Osatoko avoids nicely.
A combination from Sunabe does no damage.
Sunabe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Osatoko scores with a three punch combo!

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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sunabe.
Osatoko just misses with a punch to the body.
Osatoko catches Sunabe with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sunabe lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sunabe misses with a double jab
and Osatoko counters with a three punch combo that has Sunabe backing up. Sunabe nods at Osatoko to acknowledge the strikes.
Osatoko gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sunabe.
Sunabe misses with a takedown attempt
and Osatoko counters with a head kick. That will keep Sunabe thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sunabe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Osatoko counters with a left and a right that stings Sunabe.
Osatoko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sunabe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taka Osatoko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Osatoko, 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Taka Osatoko!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Taka Osatoko!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Taka Osatoko!

Taka Osatoko wins by unanimous decision!