PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Saku Katsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trevor Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith has chosen ''Big Poppa'' by The Notorious B.I.G. as his entrance music. Trevor Smith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Saku Katsumoto's chin.

Katsumoto
vs
Smith

180 cm
26
190 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

188 cm
37
197 lbs
24 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saku Katsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Trevor Smith!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a head kick but Katsumoto moves out of range.
Katsumoto takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Katsumoto tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Smith counters with a thumping low kick.
Katsumoto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Katsumoto off to one side.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith lands with a light punch inside.
Katsumoto tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.

Katsumoto breaks the clinch.
Trevor Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Katsumoto blocks a head kick by Smith.
Katsumoto throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Katsumoto circles away quickly and effectively.
Katsumoto moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Katsumoto counters by clinching up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smith.
Smith lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Katsumoto backwards.
Katsumoto tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.
Katsumoto is trying to break free.
Smith keeps control of Katsumoto as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Katsumoto's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
Katsumoto tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.

Katsumoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Katsumoto chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Katsumoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith displaying some good clinch control by pressing Katsumoto up against the cage.
Katsumoto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Katsumoto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Katsumoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
Katsumoto wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith lands a good knee to the midsection. Katsumoto won't want to take too many of those.
Smith is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Katsumoto is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith lands a shoulder strike.
Katsumoto avoids a wild elbow strike from Smith.
Katsumoto is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saku Katsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith has Katsumoto pressed against the cage, preventing Katsumoto from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Katsumoto is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.
Smith is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries a body shot but Katsumoto blocks it.

Katsumoto breaks the clinch.
Smith tries to bum rush Katsumoto with a series of wild strikes but Katsumoto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Katsumoto on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Katsumoto needs to keep his hands up - Smith had a free shot at his head there.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Katsumoto.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Katsumoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith looks to land a combination but Katsumoto avoids it well.
Katsumoto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Smith counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Katsumoto is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nice shot lands for Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trevor Smith dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smith feints and then cracks Katsumoto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Katsumoto down.
Smith is looking to slow Katsumoto down with leg kicks.

Katsumoto throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smith tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Katsumoto is in Smith's guard.
Katsumoto looking to pass the guard.
Katsumoto wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Katsumoto wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith pulls Katsumoto in close to his closed guard and prevents Katsumoto from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Katsumoto wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsumoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.
Katsumoto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith tries to clinch up but Katsumoto circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.

Katsumoto gets a takedown into half guard.
Smith won't allow Katsumoto to pass to mount.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Smith moves into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Smith.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto is looking for a takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Katsumoto.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Katsumoto tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
Katsumoto has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smith after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saku Katsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith connects with a nasty looking knee right to Katsumoto's face.

It looks like Saku Katsumoto has been cut.
Katsumoto prevents a body shot from Smith.
Katsumoto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Knees to the body from Smith.
Katsumoto working hard to break the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Katsumoto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith is stalling here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Katsumoto's efforts to push away.
Katsumoto takes a shot to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Smith - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Smith pushes Katsumoto back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Katsumoto is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.
Smith pressing his opponent against the cage.
Katsumoto working aggressively here.
Katsumoto is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Katsumoto is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith stalls.
Smith throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Katsumoto has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Smith obliges.
Katsumoto changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Katsumoto. Katsumoto gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith thuds his shin into the meat of Katsumoto's side.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Katsumoto dodges the punch combination from Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trevor Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Saku Katsumoto's cut.
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!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Trevor Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Katsumoto tries to break free but Smith pushes him back against the cage.
Katsumoto has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Katsumoto wants a takedown.
Smith lands a nice uppercut.
Katsumoto blocks a body shot from Smith.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith scores with a nice hook to the head.
Smith is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Katsumoto lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Katsumoto is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.
Smith prevents Katsumoto from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsumoto is trying to force a seperation but Smith has the dominant position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Smith.
Katsumoto is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Katsumoto is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
Katsumoto is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
Smith has Katsumoto pressed against the cage.
Katsumoto tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Katsumoto goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Trevor Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Katsumoto backs up against the cage.
Katsumoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Katsumoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saku Katsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katsumoto shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Katsumoto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Smith connects with a nice looking jab.
Smith cracks Katsumoto with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Smith forces Katsumoto back against the cage and clinches.
A hook to the body from Smith.
Smith is struggling to control the position.
Smith lands a good knee to the midsection. Katsumoto won't want to take too many of those.
Smith presses Katsumoto against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Katsumoto wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Smith crunches a lovely knee into Katsumoto's ribcage.
Katsumoto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Katsumoto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith is working Katsumoto over against the cage.
Smith working Katsumoto over with knees to the body.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smith putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Katsumoto in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Smith landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Smith holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Smith crunches a lovely knee into Katsumoto's ribcage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith lands an uppercut.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Katsumoto's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith landing knees to the head.
Smith scores a nice knee to the body.
Smith lands a hook that snaps the head of Katsumoto backwards.

Katsumoto is rocked!
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
Oh Katsumoto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.
Trevor Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Katsumoto seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Katsumoto backwards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Katsumoto is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Saku Katsumoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith unloads an enormous knee to the head! That's knocked Katsumoto out cold! Holy cow, it was almost as if it lifted Katsumoto off his feet!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). Trevor Smith!
Trevor Smith decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.