PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takahiro Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rusev Hungary (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sato comes to the cage accompanied by Kodo Drums. Rusev Hungary will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sato
vs
Hungary

154 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
24
130 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takahiro Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rusev Hungary!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hungary but Hungary pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sato tries to clinch but Hungary moves out of range.
Hungary lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sato fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hungary lands the left hand.
Sato tries for a takedown but Hungary circles away easily

and Hungary holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahiro Sato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hungary is trying to force a seperation but Sato has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hungary wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hungary is looking to break free of the clinch but Sato has double underhooks.
Hungary is trying to force a seperation but Sato has the dominant position.
Sato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hungary blocks an elbow strike from Sato.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hungary is looking to break free of the clinch but Sato has double underhooks.

Sato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hungary is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sato changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hungary tries to avoid it but Sato manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hungary to the ground. Hungary escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Sato shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sato wants to free his trapped foot but Hungary is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sato stalling away here and it's allowed Hungary to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sato drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hungary looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hungary looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hungary!

Sato struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hungary wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hungary sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sato is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hungary tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sato can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hungary in side control, throwing shots but Sato defends.
Sato tries to buck Hungary off but Hungary is having none of it.
Sato can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hungary asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Sato tries to buck Hungary off but Hungary is having none of it.
Sato tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Hungary easily slips into full mount!
Hungary throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Sato swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Sato is working to get back to half guard.
Sato manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Hungary content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hungary is trying to work for a kimura but Sato is defending well.

Sato looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hungary throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hungary is looking to take a break and control but Sato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sato regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sato seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Sato working for a triangle but Hungary defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusev Hungary dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sato fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sato tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hungary sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sato somewhat.

Sato drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Sato is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hungary knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Hungary is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hungary is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sato throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Hungary works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Sato misses with a head shot. Hungary uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sato gets to his feet. Hungary looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hungary scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Hungary was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sato tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hungary swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sato closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A jab from Hungary finds it's way through Sato's defenses.
Sato tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hungary defends well and Sato ends up having to push Hungary into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahiro Sato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sato's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hungary connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sato scrambles back to his feet.
Hungary lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hungary swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sato.
Sato could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hungary cracks Sato with an open hand slap.
Hungary has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hungary scores with a one two! Sato had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hungary throws out a powerful jab.
Hungary looks to land a combination but Sato avoids it well.
Hungary lands with a hook. Sato tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hungary ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Hungary gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hungary lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sato backwards.
Hungary looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sato is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hungary is trying to break the clinch but Sato is controlling him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Sato breaks from the clinch.

Sato drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hungary is not content to let Sato control the position.
Sato in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sato looks up at the clock and then as Hungary takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sato smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hungary 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 slows the pace down.
Hungary regains half guard there - taking advantage of Sato's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusev Hungary showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sato takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hungary is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hungary misses with a wild combination.
A combination from Sato does no damage.
Sato shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hungary defends it nicely.
Sato shoots for a takedown but Hungary saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahiro Sato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sato has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hungary swinging wildly here.
Hungary's corner calls for a 1-2. Hungary obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sato doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hungary counters with a series of strikes. Sato will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sato takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hungary moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rusev Hungary seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sato on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hungary throws a right and a left that Sato avoids nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Hungary. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hungary.
Hungary will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hungary lands with a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hungary avoids it really well and circles away.
Hungary lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hungary keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hungary with a nice cross.
Sloppy strikes from Hungary. Those never looked like landing.
Hungary throws a right hand that Sato ducks under and follows up with a left that Sato also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hungary swivels and escapes.
Hungary tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sato misses with a takedown attempt - Hungary sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hungary defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sato.
Sato's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hungary connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sato scrambles back to his feet.

Hungary darts in and clinches Sato up against the cage.
Hungary is trying to push Sato away but Sato has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sato wants a takedown.
Sato is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hungary is defending well.
Sato looking for a takedown.
Hungary is trying to push Sato away but Sato has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sato tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hungary smiles and moves away.
Sato takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hungary scores with a jab.
Hungary connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sato. Sato circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sato on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sato doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hungary counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hungary connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hungary shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sato but Sato pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takahiro Sato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sato tries for a takedown but Hungary sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hungary cracks Sato with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rusev Hungary comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hungary winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 26:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rusev Hungary!
Takahiro Sato was interviewed post fight and said 'I apologize to my family and fans for letting you down this evening. But like a true warrior I look at this loss as a way to get better and drive forwards..... to victory!'.