PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mabishiro Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and james pimentel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as james pimentel enters the cage!

Sakamoto
vs
pimentel

175 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 21 - 0

165 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 21 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mabishiro Sakamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, james pimentel!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Roberts and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
pimentel tries to clinch up.
pimentel looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Sakamoto drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sakamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but pimentel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakamoto controlling from the top position.

pimentel manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sakamoto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with pimentel but pimentel pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sakamoto gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows pimentel to score an easy takedown into full guard.
pimentel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakamoto is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakamoto is adopting a defensive guard.
Sakamoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in pimentel's guard.

Sakamoto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakamoto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sakamoto trying to control but pimentel is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sakamoto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakamoto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
pimentel throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sakamoto trying to control but pimentel is working from the bottom.

pimentel has his feet on Sakamoto's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakamoto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
pimentel makes his way to full guard. A much better position for pimentel.
pimentel throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
pimentel looking to control.
pimentel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakamoto is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
pimentel is trying to control the position from the bottom.

pimentel has his foot on Sakamoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakamoto works his way back into a safe position though.
pimentel managing to control the position.
pimentel trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mabishiro Sakamoto will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

pimentel with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sakamoto counters with a solid body kick.
Sakamoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
pimentel swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakamoto.

Sakamoto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. pimentel was covering up waiting for the punch and Sakamoto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sakamoto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
pimentel 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.
pimentel looking to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
pimentel keeping moving, preventing Sakamoto from controlling successfully.
pimentel trying to keep a closed guard but Sakamoto is proving a slippery customer.
Sakamoto postures up and lands a big shot to pimentel's brow.

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.
pimentel wants to stand but Sakamoto is controlling the position.

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

pimentel gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sakamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but pimentel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakamoto postures up.
pimentel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sakamoto is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pimentel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
pimentel striking off his back but it's not causing Sakamoto any problems.
Sakamoto postures up.
Sakamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but pimentel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by pimentel.
pimentel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakamoto keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Sakamoto's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

pimentel decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sakamoto to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

pimentel clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mabishiro Sakamoto will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

pimentel tries for a takedown but Sakamoto circles away easily

and Sakamoto counters with a single leg into guard. pimentel didn't expect that.
Sakamoto showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

pimentel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakamoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakamoto won't allow pimentel to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakamoto trying to control but pimentel is working from the bottom.
pimentel seems keen to control Sakamoto's posture.
Mabishiro Sakamoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
pimentel wants to sweep but no luck.

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

pimentel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sakamoto looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
pimentel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakamoto keeps working.
pimentel tries to advance to mount but Sakamoto denies him.

pimentel stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pimentel closes the distance but Sakamoto moves to the side

and Sakamoto counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sakamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but pimentel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now pimentel is on top in guard.
pimentel trying to control but Sakamoto is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but pimentel is one step ahead there.

pimentel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sakamoto is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of pimentel, into his guard.
Sakamoto stops pimentel from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mabishiro Sakamoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sakamoto, 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mabishiro Sakamoto!