PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Atsushi Sawada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malik is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rocky Theme. Atsushi Sawada could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sam Malik's chin.

Sawada
vs
Malik

180 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
24
255 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Atsushi Sawada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sam Malik!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sawada fails with a takedown attempt.
A clash of legs there as Malik blocks the low kick.
Sawada lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Malik circles away quickly and effectively.
Malik swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Malik has closed the distance and engaged Sawada in a clinch.
Malik tries to break free but Sawada pushes him back against the ropes.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malik misses with a series of wild punches.
Danga de danga de dang - Malik scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Atsushi Sawada has been cut.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sawada paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sam Malik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sawada counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Malik's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sawada trying to control but Malik is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sawada not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Malik manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Malik throws a series of punches but Sawada moves out of range.
Sawada throws a nice looking combination but Malik bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malik instigates a clinch.
Malik tries to break free but Sawada pushes him back against the ropes.
Sawada has Malik pressed against the ropes, preventing Malik from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Malik breaks the clinch.
Malik fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Sawada shoots in and gets a takedown into Malik's guard.
Sawada stops Malik from standing up.
Sawada might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sawada is breathing heavily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sawada is looking to stand up but Malik won't let him.
Sawada stops Malik from standing up.
Malik is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jab from Sawada.
Sawada connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Malik's hands.
Jab from Sawada.
Sam Malik is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Malik throws a right hand that Sawada ducks under and follows up with a left that Sawada also avoids with ease.
Sawada scores with a jab.
Malik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Sawada does no damage.
Sawada showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malik.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sawada breaks from the clinch.
Malik throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sawada counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sawada scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sawada thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malik's head.
Malik pushes Sawada off looking to stand but Sawada dives back in and keeps control.
Malik on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawada looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Malik with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sawada thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malik's head.
Malik tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Malik pushes Sawada off and gets back to his feet.
Sawada dodges the punch combination from Malik.
Malik throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sawada counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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.
Sawada trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sawada is looking to work some ground and pound but Malik has wrist control.
Sawada knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Malik on the ground.
Malik wants to get back to his feet but Sawada is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Malik pushes Sawada off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sawada throws a nice looking combination but Malik bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malik lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sawada circles away quickly and effectively.
Sawada looks to land a combination. Malik sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Malik misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Malik misses with a double jab
and Sawada counters with a left and a right that stings Malik.
Malik stuffs the takedown.
Sawada avoids a punch combination nicely.
Malik darts in trying to clinch

and Sawada moves into the clinch.
Malik can't break the clinch.
Sawada wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Malik is looking to break free of the clinch but Sawada has double underhooks.

Malik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malik misses with a double jab.
Malik swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sawada tries to land a front kick but Malik steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sawada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Malik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atsushi Sawada dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Atsushi Sawada's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sawada lands with a cross.
Sawada shoots in but Malik avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sawada avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Atsushi Sawada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sawada shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Malik as he jumps to the side.
Malik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sawada counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Malik wants to stand and escape but Sawada is having none of it.

Malik has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sawada off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Malik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sawada fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Malik avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atsushi Sawada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Malik looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sawada ducks right into an uppercut from Malik.
Malik throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Malik throws a series of punches but Sawada avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawada slips a jab and a cross from Malik.
Malik is looking to clinch.
Malik dodges the punch combination from Sawada.
Malik lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sawada circles away quickly and effectively.
Malik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Sawada counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sawada won't allow Malik to get back to his feet.
Sawada landing some decent shots from guard.
Sawada won't allow Malik to get back to his feet.
Sawada has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawada looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Malik is on top in guard.

Malik decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sawada, up you get!
Sawada dodges the punch combination from Malik.

Sawada closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Malik to the mat! Malik manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malik wants to stand up but Sawada is controlling him.

Malik uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
Sawada has a takedown stuffed.
Some wild striking there from Malik.
Malik looks to land a combination but Sawada avoids it well.

Sawada drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Malik on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malik is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sawada throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Malik is trying to buck Sawada off.
Sawada working the ground and pound.
Malik is trying to get back to his feet.
Sawada working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malik is trying to buck Sawada off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atsushi Sawada dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Atsushi Sawada's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sawada closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Malik quickly recovers to half guard.

Malik manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Malik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Malik.
Malik shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Sawada scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Malik wants to get back to his feet.
Atsushi Sawada overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Malik kicks off Sawada and gets to his feet.
Malik swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sawada shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Malik is trying to defend but Sawada finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sawada tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malik manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sawada shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Malik as he jumps to the side.
Malik closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sawada counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Malik!
Sawada punching from mount but Malik doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Malik is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Sawada putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Malik bucks up and throws Sawada to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Malik misses with a hook. Sawada ducked under it nicely.
Sawada slips a jab and a cross from Malik.
Malik tries to clinch up but Sawada circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik wants to clinch up but Sawada keeps it at a distance.
Malik tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sawada counters with a single leg into guard. Malik didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Malik pushes Sawada off and scrambles back to his feet.
Malik swinging wildly here.
Malik swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice sprawl there from Malik as Sawada shoots in.
No joy there for Malik, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A combination from Malik does no damage.
Malik throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sawada.

Sawada shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sawada was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
You get the feeling that Malik really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Sawada lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Malik hang on?
Sawada with a couple of short strikes.
Malik is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Sam Malik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malik keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Malik is trying to stand.
Sawada in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sawada thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sawada tries to control but Malik wriggling away.
Malik is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Sawada throwing strikes here but Malik is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Malik taking shots to the head.
Malik trying desperately to get to his feet.
Sawada scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Malik?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Malik's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Sawada in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sawada landing strikes, looking to finish!
Malik manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Malik, under a barage of strikes from Sawada.
Sawada trying to control the action but Malik is working from the bottom.
Malik tries to kick Sawada off but Sawada keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Malik is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sawada pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malik is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Malik is trying to stand back up but Sawada is controlling him

And that's the end of the fight!
Atsushi Sawada showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sawada, 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atsushi Sawada!