PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Learned Astronomer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Musashi Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kato's choice of entrance music: 神風. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Astronomer
vs
Kato

189 cm
24
189 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

188 cm
26
179 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ultra Fight Gear

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Learned Astronomer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Musashi Kato!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kato tries to clinch but Astronomer moves out of range.
Kato throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Astronomer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kato was well out of range. Poor timing from Astronomer.
Kato checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Musashi Kato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kato chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kato throws a body kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Astronomer. Kato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kato looks to throw the jab but Astronomer is out of range.
Astronomer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nice shot by Kato.
Kato lands a nice looking body shot.

Kato closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Astronomer to the mat! Astronomer manages to get full guard.
Astronomer 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kato accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Astronomer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kato is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Astronomer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Astronomer has escaped and now he's on top!
Kato tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kato keeping full guard, as Astronomer tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kato is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kato wants to sweep here but Astronomer controlling him for the moment.
Kato controlling Astronomer's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Astronomer tries to clinch up but Kato circles away and keeps his distance.
Kato tries a head kick but it misses.
Kato connects with an inside leg kick.
Kato lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kato throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kato misses with a hook to the body
and Astronomer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kato misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kato jabs at Astronomer's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato lands a lovely overhand right.
A low kick from Astronomer misses

and Kato counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Astronomer's guard now.
Astronomer working a defensive guard here.
Astronomer looking for a sweep. Not yet Astronomer, not yet.
Kato trying to control but Astronomer is working from the bottom.
Kato missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Astronomer working a defensive guard here.
Astronomer keeping full guard, as Kato tries to pass.
Kato trying to control the position from guard on top but Astronomer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kato throws a strike but Astronomer rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Astronomer tries to free his leg and advance position but Kato is retaining full guard.
Kato trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kato seems keen to control Astronomer's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kato keeping full guard, as Astronomer tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musashi Kato dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Astronomer looks to land a left hand but Kato moved out of range nicely.
Astronomer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Astronomer fails to land with a series of punches.
Astronomer throws a low kick but Kato moves out of range easily.
Kato blocks a jab.
Kato checks a leg kick nicely.
Kato connects with an inside leg kick.
Kato with a lazy takedown attempt
and Astronomer counters with a low kick, right behind Kato 's knee.
Nice shot by Kato.
Kato scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Astronomer.
Kato with a jab.
Astronomer misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kato misses with a looping left.
Kato avoids the body shot from Astronomer.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kato. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Astronomer throws a low kick but Kato avoids it.
Kato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kato throws a body punch but Astronomer moves out of range.
Kato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kato avoids the head kick by Astronomer.
Musashi Kato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kato throws a body kick that misses.
Kato fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Astronomer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Astronomer lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kato.
Astronomer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kato keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kato chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A swing and a miss from Kato.
Kato cracks a nice hook into Astronomer's ribs.
Astronomer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kato is fending him off so far but Astronomer persists. Nope, Kato circles away and we're back to standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kato keeps Astronomer at a distance using the push kick.
Astronomer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kato turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Astronomer 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.
Astronomer throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kato turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Astronomer on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kato. Kato obviously looking to wear him down.
Astronomer lands with a straight right. Kato didn't see that one coming.
Astronomer avoids the head kick by Kato.
Kato takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Astronomer is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kato uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Astronomer has time to react.
Astronomer takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Astronomer takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Kato cracks the inside of Astronomer's front leg.
Kato uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Astronomer.
Kato tries to clinch but Astronomer moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Astronomer takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kato looks to score with a jab to the body but Astronomer is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Astronomer takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kato slips a straight right by Astronomer.
Astronomer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kato lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Kato closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kato lands a nice forearm strike.
Kato looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Astronomer is avoiding damage well.
Kato landing a few strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kato trying to control the action but Astronomer is working from the bottom.
Kato in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musashi Kato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Astronomer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kato thumps Astronomer with a low kick.
Kato bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Astronomer's head.
Kato fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kato thows a body kick. Astronomer tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Kato lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Learned Astronomer has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A bone on bone clash there as Astronomer blocks the leg kick.
Kato looks to score with a jab to the body but Astronomer is just out of range.
Nice body punch from Kato.
Astronomer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kato doesn't manage to clinch there - Astronomer circles away.
Astronomer throws a hook but Kato blocks it.
Astronomer wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato fails with the takedown
and Astronomer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Astronomer throws a poor cross that misses

and Kato counters with a nice double leg into side control. Astronomer won't be happy with that.
Kato is working Astronomer over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kato misses with the ground and pound.
Astronomer parries the strikes from Kato easily there. Kato is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Astronomer to escape.
Astronomer is not content to let Kato control the position.
Astronomer can't do much from the bottom here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sloppy strikes there by Kato.
Learned Astronomer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer tries to bench press Kato off him but Kato keeps the position.
Kato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sloppy strikes there by Kato.
Kato looks up at the clock and then as Astronomer takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kato smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Kato trying to control the action but Astronomer is working from the bottom.
Astronomer sneaks back into half guard.
Astronomer is looking for a sweep. Kato is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Astronomer trying to control but Kato postures up.
Astronomer won't allow Kato to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato throwing shots but Astronomer is blocking nicely.
Astronomer wants to improve his position but Kato is controlling well.
Kato trying to mount his opponent but Astronomer defends it.
Astronomer trying to hold on to Kato's head to control him but Kato postures up.
Kato throws a strike but Astronomer avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Kato with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kato trying to control the position from guard on top but Astronomer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Musashi Kato has got the better of the ground game so far.
Astronomer looking for a sweep. Not yet Astronomer, not yet.
Kato is pushing down on Astronomer's leg trying to pass to half guard. Astronomer is fighting to maintain full guard but Kato has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato wants to pass to mount but Astronomer is defending the position.
Astronomer wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kato in particular looking to stall.
Astronomer is looking to control Kato's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Astronomer avoid being mounted?
Kato missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Astronomer keeps working.
Kato seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
Musashi Kato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kato 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Musashi Kato!
Musashi Kato took to the mic in his post fight interview and said '"I did not come to this fight with 100% energy. I was busy on the flight joining the mile high club." [JLP's wife jumps in the cage & embraces Kato. No doubt he beat that up into sushi. Musashi slaps that ass & shoos her out the cage. Karter can see the look on your face as you read this]'.