PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jushin Kusanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anu Saukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kusanagi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Got The Life. Anu Saukko struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kusanagi
vs
Saukko

178 cm
21
150 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

170 cm
22
167 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Jushin Kusanagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anu Saukko!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saukko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kusanagi as he jumps to the side.
Kusanagi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kusanagi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Saukko trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Saukko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kusanagi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saukko on the ground.

Kusanagi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Saukko 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.
Saukko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kusanagi tries to free his leg and advance position but Saukko is retaining full guard.
Kusanagi wants to get up but he can't break Saukko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kusanagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Saukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saukko working for a triangle but Kusanagi defends it easily.
Saukko looks gassed!
Kusanagi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kusanagi drops back looking for a leg! Saukko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saukko manages to kick Kusanagi off! Kusanagi jumps back into Saukko's guard.

Saukko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saukko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Saukko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Saukko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kusanagi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kusanagi stopping the sweep attempt from Saukko.

Kusanagi has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Saukko to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Kusanagi is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Saukko pulls down on the head and he's put Kusanagi to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Anu Saukko!