PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daigo Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Lee Pettimore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sato comes to the cage accompanied by japanese war music. Pettimore is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Copperhead Road. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sato
vs
Lee Pettimore

170 cm
26
145 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

160 cm
20
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

SP Ultimate Nutrition

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daigo Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Lee Pettimore!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Pettimore swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pettimore thows a body shot but no joy.
Sato defending well as Pettimore loads up on a big left hand.
John Lee Pettimore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pettimore on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pettimore misses with a looping right.
Sato shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Pettimore thows a body shot but no joy.
Pettimore's coach down at Kamehameha Fight Club was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Pettimore's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Pettimore throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sato sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Sato takes the fight into the clinch.

Sato turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pettimore wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Sato tries for a kimura but Pettimore is defending well.

Sato is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pettimore has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sato wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pettimore, who protects the arm well.

Sato is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pettimore knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sato looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sato working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sato throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Pettimore is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sato looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Sato is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pettimore has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pettimore regains half guard there - taking advantage of Sato's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Sato is working for a kimura but Pettimore is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato slips a nice elbow through Pettimore's hands, connecting with Pettimore's forehead.
Sato missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sato is trying to control the action in half guard but Pettimore is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sato takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Sato is trying to work for a kimura but Pettimore is defending well.
Sato keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sato is looking to advance position but Pettimore won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daigo Sato dominated that round.
That's time! Sato's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sato lands with an overhand left.
Good shot there by Pettimore.
Sato throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sato throws out a powerful jab.
Sato walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Sato is rocked!
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!
Pettimore misses with a lunging right hand
and Sato counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Oh Sato is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've been told by Sato's head coaches at Team Butcher Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Pettimore throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Pettimore throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sato counters with a nice uppercut.
Pettimore misses with a hook

and Sato moves into the clinch.
Pettimore blocks an elbow strike from Sato.

Pettimore breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sato bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sato slips under a jab.
Pettimore misses with a right hand
and Sato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pettimore jabs Sato to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Pettimore rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Sato counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pettimore is trying to break the clinch but Sato is controlling him.
Pettimore tries to circle away but Sato has him pinned against the cage.

Pettimore breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pettimore misses with a hook. Sato ducked under it nicely.
Pettimore throws a lazy uppercut
and Sato counters with a left and a right that stings Pettimore.
Pettimore swings widly with a right hand
and Sato counters with an inside leg kick.
Pettimore throws the left hand but Sato avoids the punch easily.
Sato throws a jab when Pettimore was well out of range.
Sato throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pettimore throws a shot from downtown. Sato moves away and avoids it.
Pettimore rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Sato counter with a right hand.
Pettimore throws a poor cross that misses
and Sato counters with a straight right hand.
Pettimore swings widly with a right hand
and Sato counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
John Lee Pettimore seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pettimore misses with a left hand
and Sato counters with a low kick, right behind Pettimore 's knee.
Sato fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pettimore is out of range.
Sato seems to have got his legs back now.
Pettimore might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Pettimore misses with a double jab
and Sato counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sato steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pettimore.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettimore looks to land a right hand but Sato moved out of range.
Sato is looking to slow Pettimore down with leg kicks.
Sato defending well as Pettimore loads up on a big left hand.
Pettimore ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sato moves away.

Sato gets a takedown into half guard.

Sato is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pettimore defends it well.

Sato is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pettimore has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sato wants to control but Pettimore is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettimore really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sato. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sato is looking for a kimura here.
Sato is stalling here. Pettimore is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sato seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Pettimore has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sato is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato is trying to control Pettimore's posture but Pettimore avoids it.
Sato is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pettimore tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Lee Pettimore will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pettimore throws a hook but Sato blocks it.
Pettimore is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

Sato looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Pettimore!
Sato tries to move into full mount but can't pass Pettimore's legs.

Sato tries for a kimura but Pettimore is defending well.

Sato tries for a kimura but Pettimore is defending well.
Sato working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sato is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Pettimore is trying to escape and Sato transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Pettimore is forced to tap! Nice work there by Sato! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Daigo Sato!
After winning the bout, Daigo Sato thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.