PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hatsu Hioki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hatsu Hioki told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sato
vs
Hioki

169 cm
22
147 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
22
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Dark Storm Performance

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Norifumi Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hatsu Hioki!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato moves in looking to clinch but Hioki pushes him off.
Sato tries for a takedown but Hioki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hioki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sato uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hioki.
Hioki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sato manages to avoid it.

Sato scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hioki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hioki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hioki regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sato might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sato works over Hioki with some ground and pound from guard.
Hioki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sato is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hioki wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sato with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sato won't allow Hioki to sweep him here.
Hioki is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sato is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Hioki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sato gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hioki is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sato stands and steps away. Hioki gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hioki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hioki stuffs the takedown attempt from Sato. Sato gets slowly back to his feet.
Sato misses with a takedown attempt - Hioki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norifumi Sato. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sato closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sato is breathing heavily.
Sato misses with the ground and pound.
Hioki tries to bench press Sato off him but Sato keeps the position.
Hioki sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hioki has hold of Sato's hands but Sato slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sato missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hioki looking for submissions off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sato connects with a nice short shot to Hioki's temple.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hioki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hioki throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sato has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hioki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sato doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Hioki is tightening it up a little... Sato has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Sato reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Sato taps out! nice BJJ there by Hioki!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Hatsu Hioki!