PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Katsuro Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esteban Scott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Scott has chosen Scotty Doesn't Know as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Esteban Scott enters the cage!

Sato
vs
Scott

187 cm
37
196 lbs
37 - 20 - 0

188 cm
27
195 lbs
9 - 1 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

Fury Nutrition Inc.
SP Ultimate Nutrition

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 37 - 20 - 0, fighting out of London, Katsuro Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Esteban Scott!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato misses with an attempted mid kick.
Scott checks a low kick from Sato.
Scott scores with a jab to the jaw.
Scott tries to land a front kick but Sato steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Scott connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Scott misses with a body kick.
Scott throws a good cross that connects.
Scott checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Scott tries to land a front kick but Sato steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sato half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Scott bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sato's head backwards.
Scott throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott throws a head kick that misses.
Sato misses with a leg kick.
Sato throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sato misses with a body kick.
Sato gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Scott counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato misses with a body shot
and Scott counters with a slapping leg kick.
Scott has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Scott cracks the inside of Sato's front leg.
Scott fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Scott waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sato.
Scott doesn't manage to clinch there - Sato circles away.
Scott steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sato.
Sato shoots in looking for a takedown but Scott manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sato's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sato scoring well with a low kick there.
Sato ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Scott throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sato.

It looks like Katsuro Sato has been cut.

Scott clinches up against the cage.
Sato pushes Scott back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Scott lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sato backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sato blocks an uppercut.
Scott lands a left hand.
Sato tries to circle away but Scott has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sato lands a takedown into guard.
Scott preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scott tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sato is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Scott is controlling Sato's posture.
Scott is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scott pulls Sato in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sato bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Scott's head backwards.
Scott lands with a kick to the temple. Sato shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Scott steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sato.
Sato throws the left hand but Scott avoids the punch easily.
Sato fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sato cracks the inside of Scott's front leg.
Sato misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Scott.
Scott misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Scott misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato checks a low kick from Scott.
Sato lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Scott avoids the body shot from Sato.
Sato tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Scott keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Scott throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Scott moves out of range as Sato throws a body kick.
Sato misses with a head kick.
Scott throws a leg kick
and Sato counters with a solid body kick.
Scott connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sato throws a chopping leg kick but Scott manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Scott throws a shot to the body.
Scott lands a leg kick that knocks Sato off balance momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Scott dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Katsuro Sato's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Scott ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Scott uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sato.
Scott fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sato is out of range.
Sato throws a wild body kick that Scott sees coming a mile off.
Sato shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Scott drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sato defends it well.
Sato lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Scott at a distance.
Sato is looking to land body kicks.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sato.
Scott let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sato throws the kick towards the body but Scott avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sato or perhaps it was just good defense by Scott, which made it look bad.
Scott avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Scott 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.
Sato on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Scott. Scott obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Scott swings for the body but Sato moves out of range.
Sato attempts a counter takedown but Scott avoids it well and moves away.
Scott scores with a nice strike.
Scott throws a sloppy head kick
and Sato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sato fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Katsuro Sato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Scott is looking to score with low kicks.
Sato moves out of range as Scott throws a body kick.
It appears Sato was looking to counter with a kick there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sato paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Scott blocks the body kick.
Scott misses with a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Scott. Those never looked like landing.
Sato avoids the head kick by Scott.
Scott is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sato rather than just go for the knockout.
Some bone on bone action there as Sato checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Esteban Scott seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Scott uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sato.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Scott tries to counter by closing the distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sato is defended easily by Scott.
Scott raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Scott throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Scott looks to throw a body kick
letting Sato counter with a right hand.
Scott tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Scott tries to land a leg kick but Sato saw it coming and moves away.
Scott tries a head kick but it misses.
Scott misses with a low kick.
Scott swings for the body but Sato moves out of range.
Scott lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato misses with a body kick.
Scott misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sato lands with a kick to the temple. Scott shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sato tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Scott tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Scott throws a hook but Sato avoids it easily.
Scott stuffs the takedown.
Scott throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sato lands a nice looking body shot.
A head kick misses from Scott.
Sato throws a hook but Scott blocks it.
Sato misses with a body kick.
Scott throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sato lands a nice looking body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sato.
Sato checks a leg kick nicely.
Scott is looking to land body kicks.
Scott throws a chopping leg kick but Sato manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Scott misses with a wild body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sato.
Scott keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Scott swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sato throws a low kick, looking for Scott's leg but Scott calmly moves out of range.
Scott swings for the body but Sato moves out of range.
Scott fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sato.
Sato thuds his right hand into Scott's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Scott misses with a head kick.

Sato closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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 Katsuro Sato will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Katsuro Sato's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Scott shoots in looking for a takedown but Sato manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Scott's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sato drops down looking for a counter takedown but Scott sprawls and moves away.
Sato scores with a jab. Scott acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sato fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Scott throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sato.
Scott throws a quick inside leg kick.
Scott swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Good leg kick by Scott there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A looping hook to the body misses from Scott. Sato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sato will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Good leg kick by Scott there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott tries to land a leg kick but Sato saw it coming and moves away.
Sato attempts a counter takedown but Scott avoids it well and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sato.
Scott keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Scott unleashes a big counter combination but Sato bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Scott connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott looks for the body kick but Sato saw that one coming.
Sato half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Scott is looking to clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sato.
Sato throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Scott lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sato throws a sloppy head kick
and Scott counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sato is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sato is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Scott ducks right into an uppercut from Sato.
Sato bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Scott's head backwards.
Scott throws a sloppy head kick and Sato moves out of range easily.
Sato is looking to land body kicks.
A big left from Sato misses.
Sato thows a left - swing and a miss!
Scott throws a jab but it's blocked by Sato.
Sato feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Scott.
Sato misses with a body shot.
Scott throws a body kick that misses.
Sato changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sato connects with a leg kick. Scott looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato misses the jab.
Scott fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sato appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sato checks a leg kick nicely.
It looked like Sato was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Scott.
Sato fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Scott looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Scott gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sato.
Scott throws a lazy body kick

and Sato counters with a takedown into side control.
Scott prevents Sato from moving into mount.
Scott wants to control but Sato postures up.
Sato in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato misses with the ground and pound.
Sato sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Scott is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

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!
Sato in side control, throwing shots but Scott defends.
Scott manages to get back to half guard.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Scott is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Scott wants to improve his position but Sato is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Scott trying to control but Sato postures up.
Sato tries to pass the half guard into mount. Scott knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sato not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice body kick there by Sato.
Sato throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sato swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sato throws a body shot but no joy.
Scott fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sato.

And that's the end of the fight!
Katsuro Sato showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sato 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katsuro Sato!
In his post fight interview, Katsuro Sato gave a big smile as he said 'I'm just that good!'.