PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Saaste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masaru Hanso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hanso's choice of entrance music: Great Takeru. Masaru Hanso has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saaste
vs
Hanso

177 cm
19
149 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

171 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pekka Saaste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masaru Hanso!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanso showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saaste.
Saaste fails with an attempt to clinch.

Saaste has taken the fight to the clinch.

Saaste is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hanso is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Saaste to the mat. Saaste regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hanso forces his way into half guard.
Saaste looks like he's trying to stand up.

Hanso postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Saaste to stand up.
Saaste shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hanso pinned against the cage. Hanso gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hanso keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saaste is looking to clinch.
A big left from Saaste misses.
Saaste closes the distance and clinches up with Hanso, looking for a takedown. Saaste pushes Hanso against the cage but Hanso circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pekka Saaste. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saaste lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Saaste.
Saaste throws a leg kick but Hanso checks it.
Saaste tries for a takedown but Hanso sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Saaste is looking to clinch but Hanso is avoiding it.
No luck for Saaste with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saaste throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Saaste misses with a takedown attempt - Hanso sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Saaste is breathing heavily.

Hanso decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hanso frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Saaste wants to control but Hanso is having none of it.

Hanso looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanso is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Saaste is in real trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanso working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Saaste is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Hanso has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Saaste taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Masaru Hanso!