PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hajime Saito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nanak Singh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saito
vs
Singh

185 cm
31
193 lbs
23 - 10 - 1

180 cm
29
202 lbs
22 - 2 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

West Coast Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hajime Saito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Nanak Singh!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saito thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hajime Saito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saito fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Saito swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Singh.
Good standup being displayed there by Saito as he connects with a hook.
Saito throws a body punch but Singh moves out of range.
Saito shoots for a takedown but Singh saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saito tries to score a power double leg takedown but Singh sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Saito somewhat.
Singh tries to land a front kick but Saito steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Singh lands with a nice body punch.
Singh swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Saito.

It looks like Hajime Saito has been cut.
Singh does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Good leg kick by Singh there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Saito swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Singh counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Singh must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Saito is breathing heavily.
Singh passes into half guard.
Saito wants to control but Singh is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Singh keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Saito regains full guard. Nicely done.
Singh trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saito 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.
Singh not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Saito is trying to control the position but Singh postures up.
Singh wants to pass the guard but Saito is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saito keeping moving, preventing Singh from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nanak Singh hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Saito closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Singh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Saito wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Saito tries to advance to mount but Singh denies him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Singh is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Singh wants to improve his position but Saito is controlling well.
Singh is controlling Saito's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Singh moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Saito stopping the sweep attempt from Singh.

Saito got a little sloppy there for a moment and Singh has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saito has managed to get both his arms back between Singh's legs - danger averted.

Singh is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Saito is aware though and is defending well.
Saito looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Singh is on top in guard.
Saito is trying to control the position but Singh postures up.
Singh forces his way into half guard.
Singh passes to side control.
Singh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saito keeps working.

Singh working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Singh controls the position from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nanak Singh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hajime Saito's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Singh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Singh gets caught napping as Saito dives in and scores a takedown. Singh manages to retain guard.
Saito preventing the sweep.
Saito passes into half guard.
Saito has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Saito fails to move to back control.
Nanak Singh has got the better of the ground game so far.
Singh tries to improve his position but instead Saito has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saito has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Saito is trying to stick to Singh's back but Singh is turning into Saito. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Saito's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Singh.
Singh trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saito throws his legs up looking for a submission but Singh uses it to pass to side control.
Singh works to advance to full mount. Saito defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Saito tries to reverse the position but Singh maintains control.

Singh looking for a guillotine from mount but Saito is having none of it.
Singh works his way to his opponent's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saito can't escape the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Singh looking for the RNC.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Singh working for a choke but Saito reverses nicely into Singh 's guard.
Saito wants to pass the guard but Singh is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Singh is pulling down on Saito's head to control his posture.
Saito wants to pass the guard but Singh is keeping the position.
Saito trying to control but Singh is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Saito trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Singh manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saito keeping moving, preventing Singh from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saito is looking to sweep but instead, Singh has passed into half guard.
Saito wants to get back to full guard.
Singh has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Singh avoids the attempt from Saito to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Singh controlling from mount.
Singh trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nanak Singh will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Hajime Saito's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Saito throws a looping overhand right but Singh ducks down to avoid it.
Saito blocks a low kick nicely.

Singh moves into the clinch.
Singh goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Singh turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Singh manages to end up in side control.
Singh laying and praying for a moment but Saito takes advantage and regains half guard.
Saito is looking for a sweep. Singh is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Singh is trying to control the action in half guard but Saito is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Singh is looking to advance position but Saito won't allow it.
Saito is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saito is defending against the submission attempts here by Singh.
Saito is trying to maintain the position but Singh is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Saito manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Singh pushing down on Saito's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saito makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Saito.
Saito looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Singh puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Singh controlling the pace.
Saito is looking to get back to full guard here but Singh has managed to pass to side control instead.
Singh tries to move into full mount but can't pass Saito's legs.
Singh trying to control the position but Saito is working away.
Saito is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Singh is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Singh working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Singh has hold of Saito's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Saito manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Singh works his way to his opponent's back.
Saito manages to reverse the position and now he's in Singh's guard. Nice work there by Saito.
Singh tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saito trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Singh manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Saito looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nanak Singh is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saito working a defensive guard here.
Saito wants to hit a switch here but Singh passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Saito there!
Saito prevents Singh from taking his back.
Singh manages to capitalize on a mistake by Saito to take his back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saito can't escape the position.
Singh just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Hajime Saito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saito breaks Singh's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nanak Singh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Singh has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nanak Singh!
After the fight, Nanak Singh was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.