PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hajime Saito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masahiko Kimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masahiko Kimura has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Hajime Saito's chin.

Saito
vs
Kimura

185 cm
26
193 lbs
12 - 5 - 1

170 cm
18
187 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hajime Saito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Masahiko Kimura!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kimura takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Saito drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Saito tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kimura's legs.
Saito trying to control the action but Kimura is working from the bottom.
Saito advances nicely into full mount.
Kimura is in all sorts of trouble 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.
Kimura sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Kimura actively working from the bottom here.
Kimura is looking to improve his position.
Kimura works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kimura looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kimura keeping full guard, as Saito tries to pass.
Saito pushes down on Kimura's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saito passes to side control.
Saito tries to advance to mount but Kimura denies him.
Kimura should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Saito has knee on belly momentarily but Kimura bucks him off and regains half guard.
Saito passes to side control.
Kimura tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Saito presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Saito has hold of Kimura's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kimura manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Kimura has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Kimura is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Saito off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimura can't escape the position.
Will Saito go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
I really don't envy Kimura right now.

Saito working for the choke.

Kimura is trying to defend against the choke here but Saito has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Saito Tightens the hold and Kimura taps out furiously! Saito displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Hajime Saito!