PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Katsuro Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sato
vs
Rash

187 cm
23
202 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
200 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsuro Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Rash!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rash swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Rash scores a takedown into full mount!
Sato regains half guard.
Rash wants to pass the guard but Sato is defending well.
Sato moves into full guard.

Sato working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rash doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rash manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sato is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sato looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rash is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rash throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sato works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Sato is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sato bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rash's guard.
Rash avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rash trying to control the position.
Sato advances to half guard.
Rash trying to control from the bottom.
Sato wants to pass the guard but Rash is defending well.
Sato is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sato not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rash is refusing to be controlled, as Sato sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sato stops Rash from getting back to his feet.
Sato wants to pass the guard but Rash is defending well.
Sato slips a nice elbow through Rash's hands, connecting with Rash's forehead.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rash is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato wants to free his trapped foot but Rash is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rash wants to control but Sato is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sato looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rash can do anything to dispel that myth.

Sato is looking for a kimura but Rash is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sato to get the leverage.

Sato seems to be working for a kimura but Rash defends the submission attempt.
Sato not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rash controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Sato not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Sato wants to work for an arm triangle but Rash is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rash avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sato.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sato lands strikes from half guard.
Sato passes to full mount!
Rash avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sato.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuro Sato dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A big right from Sato misses.
No luck for Sato with that takedown attempt.
Sato misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sato avoids the body shot from Rash.
Katsuro Sato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rash takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sato misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rash.
Rash darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sato avoids the body shot from Rash.
Sato cracks Rash with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sato throws a big shot that misses.
Rash keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sato avoids the body shot from Rash.
Rash jabs Sato to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rash avoids it really well and circles away.
Sato misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rash manages to avoid it.
Rash thows a body shot but no joy.
Sato throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rash is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sato rather than just go for the knockout.
Sato avoids the body shot from Rash.
Rash tests Sato's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sato fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Katsuro Sato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rash scores with a jab to the head.
Sato shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rash dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the liver by Rash. Beautiful body shot.
Sato swings for the body but Rash moves out of range.
Rash misses with a hook. Sato ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rash misses with a body shot.
Rash lands with a good body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Rash does it's job there.
A combination from Sato does no damage.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rash.
Rash swings for the body but Sato moves out of range.
Sato shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rash bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sato's head.
Sato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A slow jab from Sato misses its intended target.
Rash connects with a right hand. Sato shakes it off.
Rash ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sato moves away.
Rash ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sato moves away.
Sato swings for the body but Rash moves out of range.
Rash connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rash misses with a body shot.
Rash lands a nice looking body shot.
Rash throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sato throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rash. Sato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rash looks to score with a jab to the body but Sato is just out of range.
Sato cracks a nice hook into Rash's ribs.
Sato looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rash.
Rash works Sato's body with a nice hook.
Rash misses the shot to the body.
Rash swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sato misses with a low kick.
Rash tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sato was well out of range. Poor timing from Rash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rash misses with a body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sato.
Rash tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sato was well out of range. Poor timing from Rash.
Rash ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sato moves away.
Rash lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sato at a distance.
Rash swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sato cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rash. Sato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sato punishes Rash's body with a nice straight punch.
Sato lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rash thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A telegraphed right hand from Sato misses the target.
Sato throws a head kick that misses.
Rash throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rash tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sato was well out of range. Poor timing from Rash.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rash showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sato scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rash fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sato manages to avoid it.
Rash connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rash walks into a left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sato. Rash does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sato pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rash is out of range and Sato settles back down.
Sato shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rash defends it nicely.
Sato swings widly with a right hand
and Rash counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rash scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rash throws out a loose jab but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rash connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sato momentarily.
Rash throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sato fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sato throws a big shot that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sato takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rash swings for the body but Sato moves out of range.
Sato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rash throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rash misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sato.
Rash fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sato manages to avoid it.
Sato lands with a cross.
Sato throws a front kick that sends Rash stumbling back into the cage.
Rash tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sato was well out of range. Poor timing from Rash.
Sato jabs Rash right on the nose. Rash blinks but takes it well.
Rash lands a jab to Sato's midsection.
Rash slips a straight right by Sato.
Rash uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sato.
Rash uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sato.

Rash shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sato has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sato tries to hold on but Rash postures up.
Sato can't escape the position.
Rash wants to control the pace but Sato is squirming around nicely.
Rash looking to finish Sato with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sato!
Sato is looking to improve his position but Rash isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rash in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rash prevents Sato from getting the reversal.
Rash landing strikes from the mount and Sato is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rash looking to control but Sato is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sato tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sato regains half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rash wants to free his trapped foot but Sato is holding on for dear life with his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Rash.
I think Rash has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Rash!