PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akiro Sata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Akiro Sata was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Mendes
vs
Sata

175 cm
25
158 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

171 cm
20
143 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tyson Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Akiro Sata!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes misses with a body shot.
Tyson Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mendes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sata was covering up waiting for the punch and Mendes finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mendes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mendes works over Sata with some ground and pound from guard.
Mendes postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mendes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mendes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sata working a defensive guard here.

Sata looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mendes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
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!
Mendes throwing strikes from guard but Sata blocks nicely.
Mendes trying to control but Sata is working from the bottom.

Sata working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mendes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mendes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes is in close to Sata's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mendes distracts Sata with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mendes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sata has momentary wrist control but Mendes slips an elbow through the middle.
Mendes looking to sit in guard and control but Sata gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sata controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sata is pushing down on Mendes's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mendes is fighting to maintain full guard but Sata has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sata thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sata throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sata prevents Mendes from improving his position.
Mendes has his hands clasped together around Sata's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendes is looking to improve his position.
Sata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendes keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sata.
Sata keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Sata has Mendes up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Sata as the two fighters clinch.
Mendes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sata pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mendes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sata.
Mendes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sata is fending him off so far but Mendes persists. Nope, Sata circles away and we're back to standing.
Sata fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sata tries to clinch up but Mendes circles away and keeps his distance.
Mendes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sata was well out of range. Poor timing from Mendes.
Sata fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mendes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sata.

Mendes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sata regains half guard.
Mendes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sata does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sata wants to control but Mendes is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes stops Sata from getting back to his feet.
Mendes thows a huge punch but Sata dodges it nicely.
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!
Sata is trying to control but can't.
Mendes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sata trying to control from the bottom.

Mendes is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sata is looking to improve his position.
Mendes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sata with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sata gets back to full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sata being controlled here, momentarily.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Sata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tyson Mendes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sata defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mendes.
Sata fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sata fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sata moves away.

Sata forces Mendes back against the cage and clinches.
A short right from Sata on the inside.

Sata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sata connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mendes. Mendes circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sata thuds a left hand into Mendes's body.
Sata tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mendes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sata is looking to clinch.
Mendes on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Sata closes the distance and clinches.

Sata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sata stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sata wants it to stay on the feet.
Akiro Sata is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes drives through with a takedown into Sata's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mendes preventing the sweep.
Sata bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mendes's guard.
Mendes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sata trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sata throws an elbow that misses. Mendes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sata's guard. Nice move by Mendes!
Mendes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sata works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sata trying to strike off his back.

Sata is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mendes defends well.
Mendes is working Sata over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sata's head.
Mendes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sata bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mendes's guard.
Sata trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mendes tries to get out of the position.
Sata is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sata looking to pass the guard.
Mendes is pulling down on Sata's head. It's preventing any offense from Sata, at least for the moment.
Sata trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sata prevents Mendes from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mendes is thwarting Sata's attempts to control the position.
Sata gets back to full guard.
Tyson Mendes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendes preventing the sweep.
Mendes scoring with some ground and pound.

Sata is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mendes defends well.

Sata has his foot on Mendes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mendes works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sata has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mendes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sata is breathing heavily.
Mendes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sata will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes won't allow Sata to sweep him here.
Mendes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mendes trying to move into half guard but instead Sata has managed to sweep!
Sata pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendes is keeping the position for now.
Sata trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mendes has Sata pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akiro Sata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sata displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mendes throws out the jab.

Sata drives through and clinches with Mendes against the cage.
Mendes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Sata manages to break the clinch.
Sata lands a head shot.
Sata works the jab nicely.
Sata moves in looking to clinch but Mendes pushes him off.
Mendes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sata.

Sata gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mendes wants a takedown.
Mendes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sata after a bit of a struggle.
Sata on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sata lands with a light punch inside.
Sata lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sata looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sata leaning against his opponent.
Mendes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mendes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mendes fails with the takedown.
Mendes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sata pushes Mendes up against the cage in a clinch.
Mendes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sata prevents it.
Mendes misses with a punch to the body.
Sata lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sata lands with a light punch inside.

Sata breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendes shoots in and bounces Sata off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sata is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mendes postures up and lands a big shot to Sata's brow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sata tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mendes cracks Sata with a solid left hand.
Sata wants to sweep here but Mendes controlling him for the moment.
Mendes tries to free his leg and advance position but Sata is retaining full guard.
Mendes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mendes is in close to Sata's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sata trying to control the position.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Sata keeps moving.
Sata is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mendes tries to free his leg and advance position but Sata is retaining full guard.
Mendes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sata on the ground.
Sata is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mendes tries to free his leg and advance position but Sata is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Akiro Sata was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sata doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendes circles away.
Sata moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mendes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sata stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries for a takedown but Sata sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sata stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sata wants it to stay on the feet.
Mendes shoots in but Sata avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendes swats away the attempt to clinch by Sata.
Sata lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mendes backs up against the cage.
Sata cracks Mendes with an open hand slap.

Mendes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sata on his heels. He'll look to pass Sata's guard now, I'm sure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sata bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mendes's guard.
Mendes has a closed guard, preventing Sata from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sata is controlling him.
Mendes seems keen to control Sata's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Akiro Sata.
I think Sata has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akiro Sata!
Akiro Sata made sure to mention his sponsor, FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) in his post fight interview.