PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yuu Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tix Pain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saga
vs
Pain

174 cm
27
159 lbs
18 - 2 - 0

171 cm
23
153 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Syndicate Drugs
Tokyo Defiance

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 18 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuu Saga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tix Pain!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saga looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pain wants to control but Saga is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Saga is trying to work for a kimura but Pain is defending well.
Pain blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saga.
Saga is thwarting Pain's attempts to control the position.
Pain wants to get back to full guard.
Saga lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Saga wants to pass to mount but Pain is defending the position.
Pain manages to get to full guard.
Saga wants to control from the top but Pain keeps moving.
Pain pulls Saga in to control the position.
Saga pushing down on Pain's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
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. Saga connects with a nice short shot to Pain's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga is looking to advance position but Pain won't allow it.
Pain has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Saga is working away from the top position though.
Saga missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pain trying to hold on to Saga's head to control him but Saga postures up.
Saga throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saga tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pain knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Saga winds up and cracks Pain with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Pain as Saga shoots in.
Saga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pain swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Saga closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Pain makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pain.
Pain is trying to control the position but Saga postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pain works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saga is breathing heavily.
Saga missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saga postures up.
Saga looking to pass the guard.
Saga working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pain's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Saga shoots in and bounces Pain off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pain looking to control.
Pain wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Saga landing some decent shots from guard.
Pain keeping moving, preventing Saga from controlling successfully.
Pain looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pain is controlling Saga's posture.
Saga wants to pass the guard but Pain is keeping the position.

Saga drops back looking for a leg! Pain is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pain manages to kick Saga off! Saga jumps back into Pain's guard.
Pain controlling Saga's posture.
Saga wants to control from the top but Pain keeps moving.
Pain looking to control.

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

Saga shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pain's guard.
Saga thows a big elbow that misses.

Saga 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pain managing to control the position.
Pain is trying to keep Saga in close.

Pain is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Saga defends well.
Saga throwing strikes but missing.
Saga thows a big elbow that misses.
Pain is trying to control the position but Saga postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pain with a poor takedown

and Saga counters with a takedown into side control.
Saga is working Pain over with some ground and pound from side control.
Saga scores with a couple of short elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuu Saga dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice uppercut there from Saga.
Pain fails with the takedown

and Saga counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pain on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Saga trying to control the action but Pain is working from the bottom.
Pain trying to control from the bottom.
Pain is staying active underneath Saga, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Saga works his way into full mount!
Saga trying to control but Pain is having none of it.
Saga seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Pain is holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga working the ground and pound effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saga fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Saga looking to control but Pain is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Saga landing punches.

Saga looking for a guillotine from mount but Pain is having none of it.
Saga landing shots from mount.
Pain is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Saga fails to advance to Pain's back.
Pain wants to control but Saga is having none of it.
Saga breaks from Pain's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Saga throwing strikes here but Pain is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pain regains half guard.
Yuu Saga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Saga is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pain is just riding it out for now. Saga eventually gives up the hold.
Pain trying to hold on to Saga's head to control him but Saga postures up.

Saga is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pain has managed to free his arm - good work.

Saga is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pain defends it well.

Pain looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga wants to pass the guard but Pain is defending well.
Saga not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saga misses with a takedown attempt

and Pain counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Saga's guard now.
Pain pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saga is keeping the position for now.

Saga looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pain slips nicely into half guard.
Pain is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Pain wants to work for an arm triangle but Saga is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saga is trying to control but can't.
Saga is looking for a sweep. Pain is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saga is working hard here to advance position.
Saga missing with punches from the bottom.
Saga wants to control but Pain is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Saga flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pain doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Saga counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pain!
Pain tries to hold on but Saga pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saga postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Pain looks a forlorn figure.
Saga working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pain wants to control but Saga is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuu Saga dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Saga gets the takedown into side control.
Saga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pain keeps working.
Pain dodges the ground and pound from Saga.

Saga thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Pain's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pain regains half guard.

Saga is looking for a kimura here.
Saga trying to mount his opponent but Pain defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pain looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pain gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Saga counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Saga is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saga is pressing down on Pain's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pain is holding on for now.
Pain has his hands clasped together around Saga's back. He's all about the action.

Saga seems to be working for a kimura but Pain defends the submission attempt.
Saga seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pain does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saga trying to mount his opponent but Pain defends it.
Pain is trying to control but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Saga scores with a takedown into Pain's guard.
Pain trying to control the position.
Saga scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Saga wants to control from the top but Pain keeps moving.
Pain manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saga manages to get himself to full guard.

Pain got a little sloppy there for a moment and Saga has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pain has managed to get both his arms back between Saga's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pain preventing the sweep.

Saga working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pain doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pain manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pain postures up in Saga's guard and throws a big left but Saga blocks it.
Pain trying to control but Saga is working from the bottom.

Saga is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yuu Saga is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pain forces his way into half guard.
Saga 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.

Pain is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saga is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pain's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pain's back!
Pain tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Saga controlling the position easily from mount.
Pain in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Pain tries to lock up and control but Saga gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Saga controlling from the full mount.
Tix Pain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pain is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuu Saga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Saga has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuu Saga!