PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between King Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuhiro Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tatsuhiro Sato will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Vasquez
vs
Sato

156 cm
19
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

172 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, King Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tatsuhiro Sato!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sato gets a double leg takedown into Vasquez's guard.
Vasquez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sato throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sato controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vasquez can't keep his opponent in guard - Sato advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Vasquez is not content to let Sato control the position.

Sato is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Vasquez to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sato is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Vasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Vasquez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sato working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vasquez wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vasquez is keeping the position for now.
Sato slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Sato tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Vasquez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sato controlling the position from side mount.
Vasquez is looking for a sweep.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Vasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sato is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vasquez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sato trying to control the position but Vasquez is working away.

Sato tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sato has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Vasquez is looking for a sweep.
Vasquez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vasquez is trying to improve his position.
Sato trying to control the action but Vasquez is working from the bottom.
Vasquez is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato taking a breather here.
Vasquez is trying to get back to half guard.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Vasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vasquez tries to bench press Sato off him but Sato keeps the position.
Sato moves into full mount!
Sato trying to control but Vasquez is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Vasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Sato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vasquez is breathing heavily.
Vasquez stopping the sweep attempt from Sato.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sato looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sato 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatsuhiro Sato dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sato tries to clinch but Vasquez is having none of it.
Vasquez really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Vasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Sato.
Sato with a poor takedown

and Vasquez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sato is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Vasquez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Vasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sato closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Vasquez manages to get back to half guard.

Vasquez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sato looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sato is breathing heavily.
Vasquez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vasquez.
Tatsuhiro Sato has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasquez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sato is aware though and is defending well.
Sato advances position into side control!
Vasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
Vasquez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sato's best efforts.
Sato stalling.
Vasquez is trying to get back to full guard.
Sato is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sato is working for a kimura but Vasquez is defending it quite comfortably.
Vasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sato missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vasquez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sato is controlling the pace.
Sato passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Vasquez!
Vasquez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sato on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez working to try and regain half guard.
Sato looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sato controlling the pace for now.
Vasquez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sato trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vasquez is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Sato looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Vasquez is looking to improve his position but Sato isn't that keen on the idea.
Sato tries to control but Vasquez wriggling away.
Vasquez wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Sato avoiding Vasquez 's attempts to control his hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sato working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Vasquez is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Sato has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Vasquez taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tatsuhiro Sato!