PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Genma Saotome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saotome comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Everybody's Fool kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Storm
vs
Saotome

182 cm
25
179 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

195 cm
22
175 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Johnny Storm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Genma Saotome!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saotome tries to clinch up but Storm circles away and keeps his distance.
Saotome tries to clinch but Storm is having none of it.
Storm looks to land a combination but Saotome avoids it well.
Storm misses the jab.

Saotome scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Saotome keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Saotome passes to full mount!
Saotome controlling the pace for now.
Saotome throws some wild stikes that Storm manages to avoid easily.
Saotome working the ground and pound effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saotome punching from mount but Storm doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Saotome looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Saotome working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Saotome looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saotome controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Storm holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Saotome tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Saotome controlling the pace for now.
Saotome is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Storm is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saotome looking to control and managing it successfully.
Saotome has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saotome working for a guillotine from mount but Storm is in no mood to give up.
Saotome raining down shots from the mount!
Saotome is landing with some decent strikes but Storm is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saotome tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Genma Saotome dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Saotome moves away from the strike by Storm.
Saotome is looking to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Storm. Saotome does a little dance to reset his feet.
Storm misses with a wild body shot.
Storm thows a body shot but no joy.
Storm throws a hook to the side of Saotome's head but Saotome sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice takedown defense from Storm. No joy for Saotome on that attempt.
Storm tries to clinch but Saotome moves out of range.
Saotome shoots in for a double leg but Storm sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Storm swings for the body but Saotome moves out of range.
Storm thows a leg kick but Saotome checks it
and Saotome counters with a straight right hand.
Genma Saotome is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Storm misses.
Storm missing with a left hand there. Saotome was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Storm throws a looping overhand right but Saotome ducks down to avoid it.
Good work by Saotome as he checks the leg kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Storm enables Saotome to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Storm manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Saotome looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saotome stands and throws Storm's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Saotome trying to control the action but Storm is working from the bottom.

Saotome decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saotome closes the distance and clinches.
Saotome tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Storm just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johnny Storm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Genma Saotome.
Saotome avoids a wild elbow strike from Storm.
Saotome wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Storm tries a body shot but Saotome blocks it.
Storm goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saotome blocks an uppercut.
Storm is trying to push Saotome away but Saotome has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Saotome is trying to pull guard but Storm turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Saotome avoiding damage as Storm throws knees to the body.
Storm lands with a right to the head.
Saotome is looking for a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Storm fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saotome manages to pull guard.
Storm wants to control from the top but Saotome keeps moving.
Saotome seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Storm preventing the sweep.

Saotome has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Storm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saotome is on top in guard.
Storm 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Saotome slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Storm might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Storm is not content to let Saotome control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Storm parries the strikes from Saotome easily there. Saotome is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Storm to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Genma Saotome showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Saotome looks to land a combination but Storm avoids it well.
Saotome fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Storm stuffs the takedown.
Saotome misses with a takedown attempt - Storm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnny Storm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Genma Saotome.
No luck for Saotome with that takedown attempt.
Storm lands a lovely overhand right.
Saotome uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Storm.
Saotome goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Saotome shoots for a double leg takedown but Storm sprawls well. He's pushed Saotome's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saotome slips a straight right by Storm.
Saotome shoots for a takedown but Storm saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saotome tries for a takedown but Storm sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Storm connects with a good right hand that stumbles Saotome. Saotome circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Saotome takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Storm misses with a double jab.
Storm misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnny Storm is winning the standup battle so far.
Storm throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Storm throws a hook to the side of Saotome's head but Saotome sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Storm cracks Saotome with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Storm has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Saotome to stand back up!

Saotome is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Storm gets a clinch.
Saotome is still on wobbly legs! Can Storm finish him?
Storm prevents Saotome from breaking the clinch.
Storm fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Storm tries a body shot but Saotome blocks it.
Storm has had enough of the clinch but Saotome keeps him there for the moment.
Storm wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Storm misses with a punch on the inside.
Saotome avoids the elbow strike from Storm, against the cage.
Storm misses with the head strike.
Saotome blocking some punches.
Saotome seems to have recovered his senses.
Storm tries to work over Saotome's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Storm throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Saotome pulls guard successfully.

Saotome has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Storm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saotome trying to control the position.
Saotome pulls Storm in close to prevent any damage.
Saotome looking for a sweep. Not yet Saotome, not yet.
Saotome keeping moving, preventing Storm from controlling successfully.
Saotome tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Saotome has his feet on Storm's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Storm throws a jab when Saotome was well out of range.
Saotome tries to clinch there but Storm circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saotome is defended easily by Storm.
Storm throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Saotome sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Storm avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Storm thuds a left hand into Saotome's body.
Storm throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saotome moves forwards but Storm connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Storm throws a right hand that misses

and Saotome decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Storm's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Saotome is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Storm is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Storm has escaped and now he's on top!

Saotome is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Storm has his hands clasped together but Saotome extends an breaks Storm's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Saotome.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Genma Saotome!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Genma Saotome made sure he mentioned Valhalla Fight Wear, along with how happy he was to win his fight.