PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Davor Langerholc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuomi Sakata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Langerholc comes to the cage accompanied by Hypocrisy - Reincarnation. Sakata has chosen Ketsunoke vs Shirinoke by Gintama OST as his entrance music. Davor Langerholc had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Langerholc
vs
Sakata

180 cm
24
208 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

183 cm
23
220 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

DJs Locker

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Davor Langerholc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mitsuomi Sakata!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Sakata misses.
Langerholc blocks a jab.
A big left from Sakata misses.
Sakata misses with a low kick.
Langerholc ducks under a wild hook from Sakata.
Sakata throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Langerholc avoids the head kick by Sakata.
Langerholc blocks a head kick by Sakata.
Sakata throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakata misses with the combination.
Sakata throws a jab when Langerholc was well out of range.
Sakata misses with an uppercut. Langerholc saw that one coming.
Sakata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakata feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Langerholc's calf.
Sakata throws a hook but Langerholc avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakata connects with a right hand. Langerholc shakes it off.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sakata.
Langerholc has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sakata throws the left hand but Langerholc avoids the punch easily.
Sakata misses with a leg kick

and Langerholc counters with a single leg into guard. Sakata didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakata has momentary wrist control but Langerholc slips an elbow through the middle.
Langerholc passes into half guard.
Sakata on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Langerholc scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Langerholc is working for a kimura but Sakata is defending it quite comfortably.
Sakata wants to get back to his feet.
Langerholc wants to take a breather but Sakata is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langerholc throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sakata is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Langerholc's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Langerholc's back!
Sakata struggling to keep hold of the position.
Sakata nearly escaped from the position there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Langerholc rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakata tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Langerholc is looking for a sweep. Sakata is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakata seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Langerholc does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sakata wants to stand up but Langerholc has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Langerholc tries to get to full guard but Sakata has control of the leg.
Sakata is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Langerholc manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakata passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sakata wants to stand but Langerholc has his arm trapped.
Langerholc wants to control but Sakata postures up.
Langerholc tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakata trying to control the action but Langerholc is working from the bottom.
Langerholc gets back to half guard.
Langerholc has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Langerholc is looking for a sweep. Sakata is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakata wants to stand up but Langerholc manages to regain full guard.
Langerholc tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Langerholc looking to control.
Sakata wants to get up but he can't break Langerholc's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sakata stopping the sweep attempt from Langerholc.
Sakata looking to pass the guard.
Langerholc is pulling down on Sakata's head. It's preventing any offense from Sakata, at least for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakata has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Langerholc is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sakata tries to score with a low kick but Langerholc moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuomi Sakata dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sakata swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mitsuomi Sakata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakata misses with a straight right.
Langerholc slips under a jab.
Sakata misses with a hook.
Sakata looks to land a left hand but Langerholc moved out of range nicely.
Langerholc moves out of range of the body kick.
Sakata throws a body punch but Langerholc moves out of range.
Langerholc avoids the body shot from Sakata.
Sakata bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Langerholc uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sakata.
Sakata swinging wildly here.
Sakata throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sakata looks for the body kick but Langerholc saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakata throws a body kick that misses.
Sakata misses with an uppercut. Langerholc saw that one coming.
Sakata takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sakata, as that shot connected.
Sakata throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Langerholc.
Sakata misses with a body kick.
Langerholc walks into a left hand.
Sakata tries a head kick but it misses.
Sakata throws a lazy uppercut

and Langerholc counters with a shoot takedown. Sakata fights it but they end up in guard.
Sakata controls Langerholc momentarily but Langerholc frees himself.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Langerholc missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Langerholc trying to control but Sakata is working from the bottom.
Sakata looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langerholc passes Sakata's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sakata is trying to stand.
Langerholc scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Langerholc seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sakata wants to get back to his feet.
Sakata is breathing heavily.
Langerholc lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sakata avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Langerholc.
Sakata is trying to stand back up but Langerholc is controlling him
Sakata on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sakata wants to get back to his feet.

Langerholc is working for a submission of some sort.
Sakata wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Langerholc is looking to advance position but Sakata won't allow it.
Langerholc stalling.
Sakata is looking to improve his position.
Langerholc throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Langerholc is trying to work for a kimura but Sakata is defending well.
Langerholc working over Sakata with some ground and pound. Sakata looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Langerholc prevents Sakata from improving his position.
Sakata wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakata slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Langerholc stops Sakata from standing up.
Sakata is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sakata wants to stand up but Langerholc is controlling him.
Langerholc wants to control from the top but Sakata keeps moving.
Langerholc keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sakata's head.
Langerholc postures up and lands a big shot to Sakata's brow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Langerholc working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Langerholc's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Langerholc scoring with punches to the head and body.
Langerholc wants to control from the top but Sakata keeps moving.
Sakata has momentary wrist control but Langerholc slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Davor Langerholc will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sakata connects with a single shot there.
Sakata misses with a looping left.
Sakata pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakata throws a hook to the side of Langerholc's head but Langerholc sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakata throws a looping overhand right but Langerholc ducks down to avoid it.
Sakata throws a head kick that misses.
Sakata lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sakata misses with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Sakata throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Langerholc moves out of range as Sakata strikes.
Sakata misses with a hook

and Langerholc counters with a shoot takedown. Sakata fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Langerholc is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Langerholc won't allow Sakata to sweep him here.
Sakata takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Langerholc trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Langerholc landing some decent shots from guard.
Langerholc lands a couple of elbows.
Sakata has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Langerholc has passed into side control.
Sakata is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Langerholc asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Langerholc scoring with punches and elbows.

Langerholc looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Langerholc wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakata keeps working.
Sakata is trying to get back to his feet.
Langerholc connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sakata some visible discomfort.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakata wants to get back to his feet.

Langerholc working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakata tries to escape but Langerholc is in control.
Langerholc lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sakata is looking to regain half guard here but Langerholc keeps moving and retains side control.
Langerholc is looking to take a break and control but Sakata is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Langerholc prevents Sakata from escaping the position.

Langerholc wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sakata, who protects the arm well.
Sakata takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Langerholc landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Langerholc looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Sakata's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Langerholc lands some shots froms side control.
Langerholc prevents Sakata from escaping the position.
Sakata tries to buck Langerholc off but Langerholc is having none of it.
Sakata taking punishment in the form of punches.
Langerholc lands some shots froms side control.

Langerholc is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sakata is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Langerholc lands a nice forearm strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Sakata's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Langerholc lands a nice forearm strike.
Sakata is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sakata is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Langerholc is controlling him well.
Sakata is trying to control Langerholc's posture but Langerholc avoids it.

Langerholc tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sakata takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Langerholc connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sakata some visible discomfort.
Langerholc is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sakata will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Langerholc working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Davor Langerholc showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Langerholc has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Davor Langerholc!