PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kulapu Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Dir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dir has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saga
vs
Dir

190 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kulapu Saga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shawn Dir!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saga swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dir looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Dir swinging wildly here.
Saga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dir paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dir keeps the fight on the outside.
Kulapu Saga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saga wants to clinch.

Saga gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Saga pulls guard successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dir prevents Saga from getting back to his feet.
Saga trying to keep a closed guard but Dir is proving a slippery customer.
Saga controlling Dir's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saga 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.
Saga trying to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Kulapu Saga has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Saga throws a right hand that Dir ducks under and follows up with a left that Dir also avoids with ease.
Shawn Dir is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saga shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dir defends it nicely.
Saga throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saga shoots in but Dir avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Saga ducks under a wild hook from Dir.

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.
Saga looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kulapu Saga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saga shoots for a takedown but Dir saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saga falls off balance throwing a combination
and Dir counters with a straight right hand.
Dir stuffs the takedown.
Saga wants to clinch
and Dir counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Saga wants to clinch up but Dir keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga misses with a takedown attempt - Dir sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Saga looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saga shoots in for a takedown but Dir shows good takedown defense.
Saga shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dir pinned against the cage. Dir gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Saga looks to clinch
and Dir counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Saga throws a body kick that misses.
Saga throws a combination that misses
and Dir counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saga thinking.
Saga wants to clinch but Dir slips to the side
and Dir cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saga keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dir blocks a head kick by Saga.
Dir stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dir wants it to stay on the feet.
Dir feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sagas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Saga misses with a combination
and Dir counters with a straight right hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dir lands a jab to Saga's midsection.
Saga on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Saga shoots for a takedown but Dir saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Dir 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.

Dir with a hook.
Saga fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saga avoids the body shot from Dir.
Dir swats away the attempt to clinch by Saga.
Saga throws a sloppy head kick and Dir moves out of range easily.
Saga shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dir defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saga shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dir as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dir throws a lazy uppercut
and Saga makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Saga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saga throws a leg kick that misses.
Saga finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kulapu Saga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saga has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kulapu Saga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saga.
Saga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dir paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dir misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saga darts in trying to clinch
and Dir counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dir keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for Saga with that takedown attempt.
Dir changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Saga misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Saga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dir is fending him off so far but Saga persists. Nope, Dir circles away and we're back to standing.
Saga tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Dir counters with a nice uppercut.
Saga doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dir counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Saga tries to clinch up
and Dir counters with a right hand to the body.
Saga misses with the combination.
Saga misses with a few strikes there.

That's four 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.
Saga shoots in for a double leg but Dir sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dir throws a series of strikes that have Saga backpedaling.
Saga looks to clinch
and Dir counters with a left to the body.
Saga uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dir.
Saga misses with a right hand
and Dir counters with a nice body shot.
Dir avoids the head kick by Saga.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saga shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dir defends it nicely.
Dir lands the left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Dir showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dir slaps away a takedown attempt from Saga, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saga shoots in but no luck this time.
Saga wants to clinch
and Dir cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dir avoids a kick to the body.
Saga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dir.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saga.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kulapu Saga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saga is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dir sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Good work by Dir as he checks the leg kick.

Saga clinches with his opponent.
Saga jumps guard but Dir stands there with Saga around his waist. Saga gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Saga can't break the clinch.
Saga is looking to break free of the clinch but Dir has double underhooks.
Saga jumps guard but Dir stands there with Saga around his waist. Saga gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Dir as Saga tries to tie him up.
Saga tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dir just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two 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.
Saga is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dir pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Saga tries to circle away but Dir has him pinned against the cage.
Saga looking for a takedown.
Saga pressing his opponent against the cage.

Dir breaks from the clinch.
Dir punishes Saga's body with a nice straight punch.
Saga shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Dir eats them both and turns towards Saga to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Saga looks to clinch
and Dir cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga shoots in for a takedown but Dir shows good takedown defense.
Saga shoots in but Dir avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dir stuffs the takedown.
Saga fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dir avoids it really well and circles away.
Dir leaves Saga with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Saga closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dir circles away.

That's four 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.
Saga on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dir. Saga does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dir just misses with a punch to the body.
Saga shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dir sprawls well. Dir wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Saga gets slowly back to his feet.
Dir cracks Saga with a right hand to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saga fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shawn Dir comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dir 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shawn Dir!