PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between B Schnitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kumina Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Schnitz
vs
Sato

178 cm
23
160 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

167 cm
21
169 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, B Schnitz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kumina Sato!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schnitz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sato sprawls well. Sato wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Schnitz gets slowly back to his feet.
Schnitz fails with a takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sato jabs at Schnitz's body.
Sato lands a nice looking body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Sato. No joy for Schnitz on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for B Schnitz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Schnitz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Schnitz showed some decent athleticism there.
Sato trying to control from the bottom.
Sato tries to roll over but Schnitz keeps him under control.
Sato is trying to maintain the position but Schnitz is very close to passing his half guard.
Schnitz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sato gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schnitz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Schnitz postures up in Sato's guard and throws a big left but Sato blocks it.
Schnitz throws and elbow that misses. Sato uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Schnitz's guard. Nice move by Sato!
Sato wants to control from the top but Schnitz keeps moving.
Schnitz wants to stand but Sato is controlling the position.
Schnitz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Schnitz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Schnitz tries to get out of the position.
Sato tries to free his leg and advance position but Schnitz is retaining full guard.
Sato pushes down on Schnitz's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Schnitz is trying to stand back up but Sato is controlling him
Sato not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sato prevents Schnitz from improving his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sato lands with a kick to the temple. Schnitz shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
B Schnitz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schnitz has a takedown stuffed.

Schnitz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sato stands and throws Schnitz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sato lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Sato seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sato working away.
Schnitz is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sato working away.
Sato has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Schnitz keeps working.
Schnitz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Schnitz is refusing to be controlled, as Sato sits in half guard.
Sato with the ground and pound but Schnitz uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Schnitz keeping full guard, as Sato tries to pass.
Schnitz controls Sato momentarily but Sato frees himself.
Sato slips nicely into half guard.
Sato is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Schnitz is looking to escape.
Sato drops an elbow to the side of Schnitz's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato dominated that round.
That's time! Schnitz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sato throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Sato lands a head kick. Schnitz smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Schnitz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sato paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Schnitz misses with a takedown
and Sato counters with a nice kick to the body.
Schnitz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sato connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sato lands with a nice body kick.

Schnitz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sato's half guard.
Schnitz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Schnitz lands a nice short elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sato regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Schnitz.
Schnitz throws and elbow that misses. Sato uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Schnitz's guard. Nice move by Sato!
Sato controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato trying to control the position from guard on top but Schnitz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sato stands and throws Schnitz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Schnitz manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sato's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sato wants to control but Schnitz is keeping him busy.
Sato is thwarting Schnitz's attempts to control the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Schnitz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Schnitz wants to get back to his feet.

Sato 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.
Schnitz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Schnitz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sato on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schnitz trying to control the position.
Schnitz keeping moving, preventing Sato from controlling successfully.
Sato thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sato misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Schnitz.
Schnitz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sato counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Schnitz!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for B Schnitz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sato looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Sato goes for an armbar but Schnitz turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Schnitz.
Schnitz postures up in Sato's guard and throws a big left but Sato blocks it.
Schnitz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Schnitz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sato swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schnitz throws a strike but Sato rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Schnitz is looking to stand up but Sato isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice uppercut lands for Sato. That snapped Schnitz's head back.
Sato throws a nice head kick!
Schnitz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sato counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Schnitz tries for a takedown but Sato circles away easily
and Sato counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sato pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Schnitz misses with a takedown
and Sato counters with an inside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for B Schnitz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schnitz shoots and misses
and Sato counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sato lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Schnitz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sato counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Schnitz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sato sprawls well initially but Schnitz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sato regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Schnitz.
Sato preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sato trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schnitz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sato 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.
Kumina Sato has got the better of the ground game so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sato holds on and takes a little breather.
Schnitz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Schnitz throws a big right hand that misses.
Sato 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sato throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Schnitz was covering up waiting for the punch and Sato finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sato stopping the sweep attempt from Schnitz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Schnitz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Schnitz looking to control.
Sato in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Sato drops back, looking for a kneebar! Schnitz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Schnitz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Schnitz!
Schnitz throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Sato works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato trying to control from the bottom.
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. Schnitz connects with a nice short shot to Sato's temple.
Schnitz is nestled in close to Sato, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Schnitz is looking to advance position but Sato won't allow it.
Schnitz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sato wants to get back to full guard.

That's four 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 trying to control but Schnitz postures up.
Schnitz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sato is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Schnitz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Schnitz's back!
Schnitz surviving as best he can, preventing damage.
Sato avoiding Schnitz 's attempts to control his hands.
Sato trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Sato is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kumina Sato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sato 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Kumina Sato!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Kumina Sato!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Kumina Sato!

Kumina Sato wins by unanimous decision!