PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sawao Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sawao Kato has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kato
vs
James

180 cm
20
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sawao Kato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Samuel James!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kato looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kato sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. James defending well though.
Kato seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but James does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
James flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kato seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.
Kato missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kato thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kato thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed James's head.
Kato slips a nice elbow through James's hands, connecting with James's forehead.
James wants to control but Kato is keeping busy.
James looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kato throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
James on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Kato sits in half guard.
James tries to roll over but Kato keeps him under control.
Kato lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kato is working for a submission of some sort.
Kato passes to side control.
Kato throwing shots but missing, from side control.
James parries the strikes from Kato easily there. Kato is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable James to escape.
An elbow from Kato crashes against the mat.
James managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kato.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kato is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.
Kato working the ground and pound.

James is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James pushes Kato away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kato gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Kato lands a strong strike to the head of James. That's dazed him! Kato looking to finish here. James is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Kato lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sawao Kato!