PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stepan Baraban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuo Sasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sasaki has chosen The Church of Misery - The Gray Man as his entrance music. Kazuo Sasaki will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Baraban
vs
Sasaki

180 cm
21
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stepan Baraban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuo Sasaki!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baraban feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Baraban stopping the sweep attempt from Sasaki.
Sasaki trying to control the position.

Baraban drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sasaki manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Baraban has Sasaki in his guard.
Baraban keeping moving, preventing Sasaki from controlling successfully.

Sasaki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Baraban keeping moving, preventing Sasaki from controlling successfully.
Sasaki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Baraban's guard.
Sasaki lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baraban is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sasaki defends well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sasaki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Baraban's guard.

Baraban is looking for a triangle but Sasaki pushes his legs off easily.
Baraban is breathing heavily.

Sasaki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sasaki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sasaki tries to stand but Baraban is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sasaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Baraban is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sasaki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sasaki postures up in Baraban's guard and throws a big left but Baraban blocks it.

Sasaki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Baraban has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sasaki has managed to get both his arms back between Baraban's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sasaki prevents Baraban from getting back to his feet.
Sasaki working some strikes from top position.
Sasaki trying to control but Baraban is working from the bottom.
Sasaki stops Baraban from standing up.

Sasaki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Baraban is trying to control the position but Sasaki postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sasaki wants to get up but he can't break Baraban's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Baraban looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Baraban working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sasaki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sasaki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Baraban keeping moving, preventing Sasaki from controlling successfully.
Sasaki wanted to stand there but Baraban had control of the position.

Baraban is looking for a triangle but Sasaki pushes his legs off easily.
Sasaki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Baraban's guard.

Baraban has his foot on Sasaki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sasaki works his way back into a safe position though.

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.
Sasaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Baraban is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sasaki stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sasaki looks to land a combination but Baraban avoids it well.

Baraban closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sasaki quickly recovers to half guard.
Sasaki is trying to stand back up but Baraban is controlling him

Baraban seems to be working for a kimura but Sasaki defends the submission attempt.

Sasaki looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stepan Baraban dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Baraban gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sasaki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baraban slips a jab and a cross from Sasaki.
Baraban misses with a takedown

and Sasaki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Baraban won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sasaki decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sasaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sasaki doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Baraban counters with a takedown into side control.

Baraban tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Baraban has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Baraban working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sasaki is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sasaki wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sasaki is looking to reverse the position.
Sasaki is trying to get back to his feet.

Baraban is working to tighten is grip on Sasaki's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Sasaki has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Baraban is really squeezing tight and eventually Sasaki passes out! Baraban breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Stepan Baraban!