PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sato Hattori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Sato Hattori has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hattori
vs
Gray

186 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sato Hattori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roy Gray!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good standup being displayed there by Gray as he connects with a hook.
Hattori will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hattori with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gray counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hattori won't be happy with that.

Gray is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hattori knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hattori can't do much from the bottom here.

Gray decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hattori to his feet.

Gray gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hattori can't do much from the bottom here.
Hattori is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gray is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gray lands a few punches from side control.

Gray decides to stand back up. Gray steps back and let's Hattori get back to his feet.

Gray throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hattori tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gray is in Hattori's guard.
Gray looking to pass the guard.
Gray wants to stand and escape but instead Hattori has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray wants to stand up but Hattori is controlling him.

Gray looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hattori scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hattori trying to control the position from guard on top but Gray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gray is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gray looks gassed!

Hattori stands up and waves to Gray to follow him.
No joy there for Gray, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hattori misses with a takedown

and Gray counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hattori tries to circle away but Gray has him pinned against the cage.
Gray is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hattori is looking to break free of the clinch but Gray has double underhooks.
Gray tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gray drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hattori gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sato Hattori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Gray.
Hattori has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gray keeps control of Hattori as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gray keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hattori's efforts to push away.
Gray is trying to drag Hattori to the mat but Hattori just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hattori tries to circle away but Gray has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hattori wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gray has him pressed against the cage.
Gray wants a takedown.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gray tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hattori tries to circle away but Gray has him pinned against the cage.
Hattori wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gray fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gray wants a takedown.
Hattori has had enough of the clinch but Gray keeps him there for the moment.
Gray is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A frustrated look appears on Hattori's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hattori is looking to break free of the clinch but Gray has double underhooks.
Gray wants a takedown.
Hattori is trying to force a seperation but Gray has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Gray dominated that round.
That's time! Hattori's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A head kick misses from Hattori.
Hattori tries for a takedown but Gray circles away easily
and Gray counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gray takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hattori!
Hattori looks to throw a body kick

and Gray counters by clinching up.
Gray jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hattori walks away with a smile on his face. Gray gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gray catches Hattori with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Gray takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gray defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hattori.

Gray scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Gray decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Gray fails with the takedown.
Sato Hattori is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hattori shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sato Hattori. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gray checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hattori has his takedown stuffed

so Gray counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gray trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hattori's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gray wants to stand and escape but instead Hattori has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Gray is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hattori trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.
Hattori postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray wants to sweep here but Hattori controlling him for the moment.
Gray is trying to keep Hattori in close.
Hattori trying to control the position from guard on top but Gray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hattori working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gray's head.
Hattori working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gray's head.
Hattori postures up in Gray's guard and throws a big left but Gray blocks it.
Gray is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hattori connects with a couple of short punches.
Hattori lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hattori scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hattori throwing strikes but missing.
Gray wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hattori thows a big elbow that misses.
Hattori with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Hattori drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hattori jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gray is looking to stand up but Hattori isn't so interested in that idea.
Gray tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four 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.
Hattori working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gray 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.
Hattori trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.
Hattori preventing the sweep.
Gray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hattori working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hattori is looking to work some ground and pound but Gray has wrist control.
Gray really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hattori. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gray keeping moving, preventing Hattori from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hattori lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hattori shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gray but Gray pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Gray 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! This is the final round!

Gray shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hattori pinned against the cage. Hattori gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hattori bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gray's head backwards.
Hattori tries for a takedown but Gray circles away easily

and Gray counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gray prevents Hattori from getting back to his feet.

Gray decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hattori, up you get!

Gray gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gray is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gray tries to pull guard but Hattori holds him up against the cage and eventually Gray drops back down to his feet.
Gray keeps control of Hattori as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hattori gets underhooks to prevent Gray's takedown attempt.
Sato Hattori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Gray.
Hattori tries to pull guard but Gray won't allow it.
Gray tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hattori avoids it.
Hattori is trying to break the clinch but Gray is controlling him.

Hattori ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hattori no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hattori is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hattori looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gray is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gray stands up from Hattori's guard - Gray perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hattori shoots in for a takedown but Gray shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hattori tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hattori enables Gray to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hattori manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gray looking to pass the guard.
Hattori keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hattori is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gray wants to stand and escape but instead Hattori has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Gray has momentary wrist control but Hattori slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four 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.

Gray manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hattori closes the distance and clinches up with Gray, looking for a takedown. Hattori pushes Gray against the cage but Gray circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Gray closes the distance and pushes Hattori back into the cage.
Gray tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gray tries to score a body lock takedown but Hattori shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Gray manages to break the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gray stuffs the takedown.
Hattori throws a lazy body kick

and Gray counters with a shoot takedown. Hattori fights it but they end up in guard.
Sato Hattori has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gray stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hattori swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gray stands up out of Hattori's guard for a moment - Hattori manages to land a nice upkick.
Roy Gray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gray looking to sit in guard and control but Hattori gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roy Gray comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gray winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roy Gray!