PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dale Bellido (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kumina Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bellido
vs
Sato

178 cm
28
168 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

167 cm
24
161 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dale Bellido!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kumina Sato!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bellido defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sato.

Bellido gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sato to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sato slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sato throws and elbow that misses. Bellido uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sato's guard. Nice move by Bellido!
Bellido throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sato works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sato is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bellido wants to control from the top but Sato keeps moving.
Sato is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bellido is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sato is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sato has escaped and now he's on top!
Bellido will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bellido is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sato is controlling him.
Sato looking to pass the guard.
Sato working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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.
Sato controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sato is pushing down on Bellido's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bellido is fighting to maintain full guard but Sato has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sato working the head and body with strikes.
Sato trying to control the action but Bellido is working from the bottom.

Sato seems to be working for a kimura but Bellido defends the submission attempt.
Sato thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato wants to take a breather but Bellido is having none of it.
Sato controlling the action here.
Sato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bellido keeps working.
Bellido is trying to stand up here but Sato is controlling him well.
Sato looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sato wants to pass the guard but Bellido is defending well.
Bellido blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sato.
Sato controlling the action here.
Sato takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bellido trying to control here.
Bellido is trying to escape back to his feet but Sato uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Sato trying to control the action but Bellido is working from the bottom.
Sato throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sato throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sato lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sato wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bellido throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bellido tries to clinch but Sato is having none of it.
Bellido has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bellido there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice uppercut there from Sato.
Bellido stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sato.
Sato connects with a looping right hand.
Dale Bellido is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sato moves into the clinch.
Bellido misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sato breaks the clinch.
Sato scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sato checks a low kick from Bellido.
Sato tries to clinch but Bellido moves out of range.
Bellido tries to move into range but Sato moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sato has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bellido's head.
Sato connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sato just misses with a punch to the body.
Bellido is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bellido slips a jab from Sato.
Sato bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bellido's head backwards.
Bellido doesn't manage to clinch there - Sato circles away.
Kumina Sato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sato comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sato connects with a nice looking jab.
Sato lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bellido was well out of range. Poor timing from Sato.
Sato feints and then cracks Bellido's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bellido down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bellido closes the distance but Sato moves to the side
and Sato connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sato throws a series of strikes that have Bellido backpedaling.

Sato has closed the distance and engaged Bellido in a clinch.
Bellido is trying to break the clinch but Sato is controlling him.
Sato is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Sato has picked Bellido up - he's going for a ride! Sato dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sato missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sato wants to pass the guard but Bellido is defending well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bellido is trying to get back to full guard.
Sato sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bellido defending well though.
Bellido wants to control but Sato is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato works his foot free and advances to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sato controlling from the full mount.
Bellido takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sato wants to control the pace but Bellido is squirming around nicely.
Sato throwing strikes here but Bellido is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sato takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato wants to control the pace but Bellido is squirming around nicely.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bellido regains half guard.
Sato tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bellido knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bellido wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sato working Bellido over with strikes.
Bellido is refusing to be controlled, as Sato sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bellido takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Bellido throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Sato shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bellido manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sato looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bellido swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sato's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sato has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sato in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sato in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sato looking to sit in guard and control but Bellido gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sato is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Bellido frees his head nicely. Oh but Sato has switched to an armbar! Bellido is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Kumina Sato! Kumina Sato retains his lightweight title!