PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ran Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taz Fodido (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ran Sakamoto has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sakamoto
vs
Fodido

173 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
165 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ran Sakamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Taz Fodido!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fodido shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fodido looking to pass the guard.

Sakamoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Sakamoto has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Fodido is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sakamoto.

Fodido decides to stand back up.
Sakamoto misses with a takedown

and Fodido counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sakamoto!
Sakamoto wants to hold on but Fodido pushes him away.

Fodido looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The referee warns Sakamoto that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Fodido is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sakamoto has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Fodido tries to control but Sakamoto wriggling away.
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.
Fodido prevents Sakamoto from getting the reversal.
Sakamoto tries to hold on but Fodido pushes him away.
Sakamoto can't escape the position.
Fodido lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sakamoto can't escape the position.
Sakamoto is breathing heavily.
Fodido fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sakamoto regains half guard.
Fodido throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sakamoto wants to control but Fodido is keeping busy.
Fodido trying to control the action but Sakamoto is working from the bottom.

Sakamoto is defending against the submission attempts here by Fodido.

Sakamoto actively working from the bottom here.
Fodido stalling.

Fodido 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.

Fodido is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fodido is looking for a kimura but Sakamoto is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fodido to get the leverage.
Fodido is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakamoto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fodido in particular looking to stall.
Fodido prevents Sakamoto from improving his position.
Fodido seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Fodido is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sakamoto is looking for a sweep. Fodido is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sakamoto is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Fodido pulls his head out easily.
Sakamoto strikes from the bottom but Fodido passes into mount!
Sakamoto can't escape the position.

Fodido working for a guillotine from mount but Sakamoto is in no mood to give up.
Fodido looking to control but Sakamoto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Fodido get's back to his feet.
Fodido fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taz Fodido dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fodido closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fodido lands in his opponent's guard.
Fodido pushing down on Sakamoto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Fodido is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sakamoto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fodido.
Fodido works his way into full mount!
Sakamoto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sakamoto trying to hold on to Fodido's head to control him but Fodido postures up.

Sakamoto is defending against the submission attempts here by Fodido.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fodido is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fodido looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Fodido is looking to advance position but Sakamoto won't allow it.
Fodido looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Sakamoto actively working from the bottom here.

Sakamoto actively working from the bottom here.
Sakamoto is in trouble now - Fodido has advanced to mount!
Sakamoto is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sakamoto wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Sakamoto turns into Fodido and is now in his guard.
Fodido is trying to control the position but Sakamoto postures up.
Fodido keeping full guard, as Sakamoto tries to pass.
Fodido manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakamoto manages to get himself to full guard.
Fodido tries to stand but Sakamoto is controlling from the bottom.
Fodido advances to half guard.

Fodido wants to work for an arm triangle but Sakamoto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Fodido wants to pass the guard but Sakamoto is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto wants to get back to full guard but Fodido has mounted him!
Fodido avoids the attempt from Sakamoto to control.
Sakamoto is looking to get to half guard.

Fodido is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sakamoto is surviving well by controlling Fodido's body position as best he can.
Sakamoto tries to reverse the position but Fodido maintains control.
Taz Fodido has got the better of the ground game so far.

Fodido wants to finish this one by submission but Sakamoto is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Fodido.
Fodido lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Fodido can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakamoto is looking to escape.

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.
Sakamoto wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Fodido has the hooks in. Sakamoto is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Sakamoto trying to control the hands but Fodido won't let him.
Fodido is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Sakamoto up.
Fodido controlling well, preventing Sakamoto from escaping the position.

Fodido is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Sakamoto with him. Sakamoto is trying to defend but Fodido has an arm under the chin now! Sakamoto grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Taz Fodido!