PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hajime Saito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathon Brighton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saito
vs
Brighton

185 cm
28
193 lbs
20 - 7 - 1

189 cm
23
187 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

West Coast Apparel

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 20 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hajime Saito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jonathon Brighton!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brighton swings for the body but Saito moves out of range.
Saito misses with a lunging right hand
and Brighton counters with a left to the body.
Brighton connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Donk. Brighton catches Saito right on the button with a cross.
Brighton fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Brighton misses with a wild body shot.
Saito misses the body punch
and Brighton counters with a nice body shot.
Saito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Brighton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saito moves away.
Brighton comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Saito misses with a hook.
Brighton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saito.
Brighton scores with a hook to the body. Saito takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Saito thows a body shot but no joy.
Brighton throws a body punch but Saito moves out of range.
Saito swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saito tries for a takedown but Brighton circles away easily
and Brighton counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saito thinking.

Saito scores a takedown into full mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Brighton has given up his back.
Saito tries to keep control of the position but Brighton is staying busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brighton wants to get back to his feet.
Brighton is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Brighton is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Saito off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Brighton is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Brighton looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Brighton manages to escape to his feet.
Brighton slips a jab from Saito.
Brighton misses the shot to the body.
Brighton doesn't manage to clinch there - Saito circles away.
Brighton swings for the body but Saito moves out of range.
Brighton throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Saito shoots in looking for a takedown but Brighton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saito's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Brighton takes a swing at Saito's ribcage but misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Brighton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saito.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brighton takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Saito shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Brighton as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hajime Saito. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brighton tries to clinch there but Saito circles away.
Brighton throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Saito stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Brighton looks to score with a jab to the body but Saito is just out of range.
Brighton misses the shot to the body.
Brighton stuffs the takedown attempt from Saito. Saito gets slowly back to his feet.
Saito takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Saito misses with an uppercut. Brighton saw that one coming.
Saito drops his hands momentarily and Brighton takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Brighton throws a body punch but Saito moves out of range.
Saito slips under a jab from Brighton.
Brighton swats away the attempt to clinch by Saito.
Brighton stuffs the takedown.
Saito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Brighton staying out of range there.
Saito swats away the attempt to clinch by Brighton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Saito misses
and Brighton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Brighton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saito moves away.
Brighton just misses with a punch to the body.
Saito avoids the body shot from Brighton.
Saito misses with a wild body shot.
Brighton just misses with a punch to the body.
Brighton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saito moves away.
Saito throws an off balance right hand
and Brighton counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Brighton forces Saito back against the cage and clinches.
Brighton lands a right hand.
Brighton scores with a shoulder strike.
Brighton throws a punch but it's blocked by Saito.
Brighton lands a right hand that snaps the head of Saito backwards.
Brighton misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Brighton fails to land.
Saito blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Brighton swings wildly with an uppercut but Saito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saito blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brighton misses with a short punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Brighton as Saito tries to tie him up.
Brighton stops a takedown attempt from Saito.
Saito blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Brighton.
Brighton throws a punch but it's blocked by Saito.
A head punch on the inside from Brighton fails to land.
Brighton misses with a short punch on the inside.
Brighton lands an uppercut.
Saito taking a breather.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brighton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Brighton lands with a short shot to the head.
Brighton working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Saito blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathon Brighton dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Saito darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Saito frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Saito is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Brighton can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Saito tries to control but Brighton wriggling away.
Brighton has given up his back.

Saito working for a choke but Brighton is defending well.
Brighton can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brighton is in a bad position with Saito working for a choke. Brighton manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Saito wants to sweep here but Brighton controlling him for the moment.
Brighton looking to sit in guard and control but Saito gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brighton wants to stand but Saito is controlling the position.
Saito trying to control the position from guard on top but Brighton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brighton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saito manages to get himself to full guard.

Saito is looking for a triangle but Brighton pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saito bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brighton's guard.
Saito tries to free his leg and advance position but Brighton is retaining full guard.
Saito forces his way into half guard.
Brighton tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Saito manages to move to mount!
Brighton is looking to get to half guard.

Saito swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Brighton is now in Saito's guard. A big mistake from Saito there, giving up the dominant position!
Saito is trying to keep Brighton in close.

Brighton stands and steps away. Saito gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brighton uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saito.
Saito throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saito connects with a jab.
Brighton connects with a body shot.
Saito tries for a takedown but Brighton sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Brighton tries to clinch but Saito moves out of range.
Brighton throws out a loose jab but Saito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saito misses with a right hand
and Brighton counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Brighton misses the body punch

and Saito counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Saito trying to control the position from guard on top but Brighton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saito slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Brighton prevents Saito from improving position.
Brighton is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saito is trying to get an arm triangle but Brighton is defending well.
Brighton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Brighton gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Saito trying to mount his opponent but Brighton defends it.
Brighton trying to hold on to Saito's head to control him but Saito postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saito wants to pass the guard but Brighton is defending well.
Saito has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hajime Saito dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Saito has a takedown stuffed.
Brighton thows a body shot but no joy.
Brighton scores with a decent looking hook.

Brighton has Saito up against the cage in a clinch.
Saito blocks an uppercut.
Saito has had enough of the clinch but Brighton keeps him there for the moment.
Saito trying to control the position but instead, Brighton has worked for underhooks and has pushed Saito into the cage.
Saito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Brighton misses with some punches.
Brighton has a couple of punches blocked by Saito.
Saito blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brighton working aggressively here.
Brighton lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Saito backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Brighton.
Brighton throws a punch but it's blocked by Saito.
A nice right hand lands inside from Brighton.
Brighton tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Brighton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Brighton softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Saito blocks an uppercut.
Brighton gets through Saito's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Brighton tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Brighton as Saito tries to tie him up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saito.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Brighton throws a head punch that misses.
Brighton throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Brighton fails to land.
Brighton misses with some punches.
Saito tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Brighton just stands there and leans against the cage.
Brighton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saito trying to control the position but instead, Brighton has worked for underhooks and has pushed Saito into the cage.

Saito gets control of Brighton's arms and successfully pulls guard. Saito will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Saito throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Brighton trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brighton is looking to stand up but Saito won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saito wants to sweep here but Brighton controlling him for the moment.
Saito bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brighton's guard.
Saito's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Saito passes Brighton's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Saito wants to free his trapped foot but Brighton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Brighton wants to improve his position but Saito is controlling well.

Saito is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Brighton defends it well.
Brighton is looking for a sweep. Saito is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saito wants to free his trapped foot but Brighton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Brighton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Brighton throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Saito escapes and throws Brighton's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Brighton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saito tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Brighton tries to bench press Saito off him but Saito keeps the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saito wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brighton keeps working.
Brighton gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Hajime Saito showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saito has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hajime Saito!