PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Blaze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaito Saruwatari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blaze's entrance music is Monster by Skillet. A fine choice. Saruwatari comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Guerilla Radio kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Johnny Blaze is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Blaze
vs
Saruwatari

188 cm
21
212 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

186 cm
32
214 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Zombie Nutrition - LOD

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Blaze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kaito Saruwatari!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saruwatari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Blaze was well out of range. Poor timing from Saruwatari.

Blaze fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saruwatari, pushing him back against the cage.
Blaze misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Saruwatari fails to land.
Saruwatari scores with a shot to the side of Blaze's head.
Saruwatari avoids the elbow strike from Blaze, against the cage.
Saruwatari has a couple of punches blocked by Blaze.
Blaze lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Kaito Saruwatari has been cut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saruwatari.
A head punch on the inside from Blaze fails to land.
Saruwatari managing to block the knees to the body from Blaze.
Blaze misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari lands a nice uppercut.
Saruwatari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saruwatari tries a body shot but Blaze blocks it.

Saruwatari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saruwatari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Decent striking displayed by Saruwatari there.
Saruwatari lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blaze circles away quickly and effectively.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No joy there for Saruwatari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saruwatari misses with a two punch combination.
Saruwatari blocks a low kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blaze has Saruwatari up against the cage in a clinch.
Blaze lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Saruwatari misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saruwatari takes an elbow to the forehead.
Saruwatari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saruwatari can't find room to land a body shot as Blaze controls the action.
Blaze creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nice body punch from Saruwatari.
Blaze has Saruwatari pressed against the cage, preventing Saruwatari from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saruwatari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saruwatari misses with the head strike.
A short body shot lands from Blaze as the two fighters clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blaze throws a head punch that misses.
Blaze misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saruwatari.
Blaze throws a punch but it's blocked by Saruwatari.
Blaze creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Blaze misses with a short punch on the inside.
Blaze tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Saruwatari goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saruwatari avoids a wild elbow strike from Blaze.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari scores with a nice hook to the head.
Saruwatari misses with the head strike.
Saruwatari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blaze tries to throw a body punch but Saruwatari avoids it by throwing Blaze back against the cage.
Saruwatari has had enough of the clinch but Blaze keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Saruwatari's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Saruwatari lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Saruwatari misses with a short punch on the inside.
Saruwatari blocks a body shot from Blaze.
Blaze misses with some punches.
Blaze misses with a hook from the clinch.
Blaze tries to land a knee to the head but Saruwatari blocks with his arms.
Saruwatari is working Blaze over against the cage.
Saruwatari misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blaze lands an elbow inside that Saruwatari shrugs off.
Saruwatari tries a body shot but Blaze blocks it.
Saruwatari lands a hook that snaps the head of Blaze backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Saruwatari.
Blaze throws an elbow that misses.
Saruwatari misses with the head strike.
Blaze keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Saruwatari's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari throws a punch but it's blocked by Blaze.
Saruwatari gets through Blaze's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Saruwatari blocking some punches.
Saruwatari tries a body shot but Blaze blocks it.

Saruwatari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Blaze takes the fight into the clinch.
Saruwatari misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saruwatari.
Blaze blocks an uppercut.
Blaze tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Saruwatari manages to break the clinch.
Saruwatari throws a hook but Blaze avoids it easily.

Blaze clinches up against the cage.
Blaze misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blaze has a couple of punches blocked by Saruwatari.
Saruwatari is trying to break the clinch but Blaze has him pressed against the cage.
Blaze takes a shot to the head.
Blaze tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saruwatari's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Saruwatari manages to break the clinch.
Blaze throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Blaze moves into range and clinches up with Saruwatari.
Saruwatari blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Blaze fails to land.
Blaze misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saruwatari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Blaze pushes off an throws an elbow but Saruwatari leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Blaze is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saruwatari is defending well for now.
Saruwatari blocks an elbow strike from Blaze.
Saruwatari misses with some punches.
Blaze misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Blaze tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saruwatari makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Blaze looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A hook to the body from Saruwatari.
Blaze missing with knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Saruwatari.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaito Saruwatari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kaito Saruwatari's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saruwatari throws an overhand right that lands on Blaze's shoulder, as Blaze tries to avoid the shot.
Saruwatari scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Blaze misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saruwatari blocks a head kick by Blaze.
Nice uppercut lands for Saruwatari. That snapped Blaze's head back.

Blaze closes the distance and clinches.
Blaze has a couple of punches blocked by Saruwatari.
A short uppercut from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari misses with a punch to the body.
Saruwatari blocks an uppercut.
Blaze swings wildly with an uppercut but Saruwatari uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short left from Blaze.
Blaze swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Blaze creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Saruwatari lands a hook that snaps the head of Blaze backwards.
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!
Blaze misses with some punches.
Saruwatari blocks a body shot from Blaze.
A nice left hand lands by Saruwatari.
Saruwatari lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saruwatari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saruwatari stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Blaze closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saruwatari managing to block the knees to the body from Blaze.
Blaze misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saruwatari.

Saruwatari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Saruwatari in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Blaze looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Blaze takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Blaze misses with a body kick.
Saruwatari blocks a head kick by Blaze.
Saruwatari loads up on a big right hand but Blaze slips the punch.
Saruwatari connects with a jab.

Blaze forces Saruwatari back against the cage and clinches.
Blaze tries a body shot but Saruwatari blocks it.
Blaze tries a knee to the head but Saruwatari blocks it.
Saruwatari misses with a body punch.
Blaze throws an elbow that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Blaze creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blaze lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze with a knee to the head.
Blaze lands with a left to the head.
Saruwatari misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari is trying to break the clinch but Blaze is controlling him.
Saruwatari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Blaze doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Still in the clinch, Saruwatari scores with a nice short uppercut.
Saruwatari swings wildly with an uppercut but Blaze uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saruwatari stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Blaze just misses with a elbow thrown towards Saruwatari's brow.
Saruwatari stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Saruwatari lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Blaze blocks a body shot from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Saruwatari breaks from the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Saruwatari.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Saruwatari cracks Blaze with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Saruwatari lands a jab to the nose.
Sloppy strikes from Saruwatari. Those never looked like landing.

Blaze drives through and clinches with Saruwatari against the cage.
Blaze fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kaito Saruwatari seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Blaze blocks an uppercut.
Blaze's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Saruwatari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saruwatari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Blaze misses with the head strike.
A short left from Saruwatari.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saruwatari tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blaze's elbow.
Blaze swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saruwatari blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Saruwatari fails to land.
Blaze throws a punch but it's blocked by Saruwatari.
Good body shot from Saruwatari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A frustrated look appears on Saruwatari's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Blaze misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saruwatari.
Blaze blocks an uppercut.
Saruwatari lands a right hand.
Blaze misses with an elbow over the top.
Blaze misses with some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Saruwatari.
Saruwatari looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Saruwatari breaks from the clinch.
Blaze keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saruwatari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saruwatari with a nice cross.
Sloppy strikes from Saruwatari. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saruwatari connects with a crisp jab.
Saruwatari looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blaze tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Blaze clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaito Saruwatari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kaito Saruwatari's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Saruwatari throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saruwatari looks to score with a jab to the body but Blaze is just out of range.
Blaze ducks under a wild hook from Saruwatari.

Blaze rushes Saruwatari and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saruwatari scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saruwatari.
Saruwatari avoids a wild elbow strike from Blaze.
Blaze misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blaze trying to land knees to the body.
Saruwatari throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Blaze on the inside.
Saruwatari blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blaze lands a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saruwatari tries to work over Blaze's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Saruwatari manages to break the clinch.

Blaze moves into the clinch successfully.
A short body shot lands from Saruwatari as the two fighters clinch.
Blaze fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blaze misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze misses with a body punch.
Saruwatari blocking some punches.
A shot in the inside from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari blocks a body shot from Blaze.
Saruwatari misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saruwatari takes an elbow to the temple.
Blaze misses with some punches.

Saruwatari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Blaze darts in and clinches Saruwatari up against the cage.
Saruwatari throws a punch but it's blocked by Blaze.
Blaze tries a body shot but Saruwatari blocks it.
Saruwatari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saruwatari lands a shot to the body.
Saruwatari lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Blaze or not.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saruwatari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Saruwatari.

Saruwatari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saruwatari shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Blaze eats them both and turns towards Saruwatari to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kaito Saruwatari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saruwatari scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari fails to land with a series of punches.
Saruwatari lands with a nice body punch.
Saruwatari connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A jab from Saruwatari does it's job there.
Saruwatari scores with a one two! Blaze had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Saruwatari scores with a nice strike.
A left and a right from Saruwatari both land. Nice combination.
Blaze is looking to slow Saruwatari down with leg kicks.
Saruwatari scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Blaze avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Blaze bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Blaze throws a head kick but Saruwatari moves out of range.
Saruwatari throws a series of punches but Blaze moves out of range.
Saruwatari lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blaze circles away quickly and effectively.
Blaze dodges the punch combination from Saruwatari.
Blaze throws a head kick but Saruwatari moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze lands a head kick. Saruwatari smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Blaze takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Saruwatari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saruwatari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaze manages to avoid it.
Blaze scores with a head kick.
Saruwatari looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnny Blaze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Blaze rushes Saruwatari and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Blaze blocking some punches.
Blaze throws an elbow that misses.
Saruwatari lands with a right to the head.
Blaze tries a body shot but Saruwatari blocks it.
Blaze blocks an uppercut.
Blaze lands a damaging elbow.
Still in the clinch, Saruwatari scores with a nice short uppercut.
Saruwatari can't find room to land a body shot as Blaze controls the action.
Saruwatari tries a body shot but Blaze blocks it.
Saruwatari can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze blocks a punch to the side of the head.
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!
Saruwatari misses with a body punch.
Blaze tries to work over Saruwatari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Saruwatari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Blaze drives through and clinches with Saruwatari against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saruwatari.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Blaze.

That has opened up Kaito Saruwatari's cut even more.
Blaze blocking some punches.
Blaze blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saruwatari has a couple of punches blocked by Blaze.
Blaze prevents a body shot from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari presses Blaze against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Saruwatari prevents a body shot from Blaze.
Saruwatari tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blaze's elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saruwatari lands with a left to the head.
Blaze swings wildly with an uppercut but Saruwatari uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blaze lands a hook that snaps the head of Saruwatari backwards.
Kaito Saruwatari is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blaze swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaito Saruwatari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saruwatari 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaito Saruwatari!
After winning the bout, Kaito Saruwatari thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.