PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey Dixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsuro Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dixon comes to the cage accompanied by Dark Tranquillity - Iridium. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dixon
vs
Sato

187 cm
33
203 lbs
24 - 16 - 2

187 cm
39
196 lbs
39 - 22 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

KAISER

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 24 - 16 - 2, fighting out of New York, Joey Dixon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Katsuro Sato!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sato dives in and scores a takedown into Dixon's guard.
Sato postures up and lands a big shot to Dixon's brow.
Dixon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sato manages to get himself to full guard.

Dixon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sato keeping moving, preventing Dixon from controlling successfully.
Dixon throwing strikes but missing.
Dixon pushing down on Sato's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dixon is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sato works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sato wants to sweep here but Dixon controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon looking to sit in guard and control but Sato gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've been hearing good reports from Dixon's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Dixon will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Sato with a nice head shot there.
Sato works over Dixon with some ground and pound from guard.
Sato trying to control the position from guard on top but Dixon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sato stopping the sweep attempt from Dixon.
Dixon is working hard here to advance position.
Dixon controls Sato momentarily but Sato frees himself.
Sato with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dixon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sato prevents Dixon from getting back to his feet.
Dixon keeping moving, preventing Sato from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sato lands a couple of elbows.
Dixon can't keep his opponent in guard - Sato advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dixon keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Sato throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sato landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sato throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon is holding on to half guard well.
Sato wants to pass to mount but Dixon is defending the position.
Sato blocks the strikes from Dixon.
Sato thows a huge punch but Dixon dodges it nicely.
Sato missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dixon trying to hold on to Sato's head to control him but Sato postures up.
Sato prevents Dixon from improving his position.
Sato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dixon keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dixon checks the leg kick.
Sato dodges the punch combination from Dixon.
Dixon lands with a right hand.

It looks like Katsuro Sato has been cut.
Dixon on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dixon takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dixon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dixon takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sato shoots for a double leg takedown but Dixon sprawls well. He's pushed Sato's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dixon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sato manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dixon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sato manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sato lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sato moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sato throws a low kick but it's checked well by Dixon.

Dixon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sato throws a punch but it's blocked by Dixon.
Dixon prevents a body shot from Sato.
Sato lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sato will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dixon up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuro Sato dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Katsuro Sato's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sato scores with a shot to the body.
Dixon throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Sato to counter with a crisp jab.
Sato checks a leg kick.
Sato misses with a straight right.
Katsuro Sato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dixon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sato throws a body shot but no joy.
A little feinted left hand from Dixon on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sato throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dixon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Joey Dixon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good leg kick by Sato there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sato misses with a straight right.
Sato scores with a body shot.
Sato scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sato slips a jab and a cross from Dixon.
Sato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dixon connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sato momentarily.
Dixon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sato manages to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dixon throws an overhand right that lands on Sato's shoulder, as Sato tries to avoid the shot.
Dixon lunges at Sato with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sato's hand.
Dixon tries to close the distance and clinch but Sato swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon wants to clinch up but Sato keeps it at a distance.
Dixon doesn't manage to clinch there - Sato circles away.
Dixon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sato misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Sato drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sato preventing the sweep.
Sato wants to pass the guard but Dixon is keeping the position.
Dixon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dixon is controlling Sato's posture.
Sato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dixon wants to sweep but no luck.
Sato throwing strikes from guard but Dixon blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dixon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sato looking to pass the guard.
Sato throwing strikes but missing.
Sato trying to control the position from guard on top but Dixon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sato.
Dixon swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sato counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sato walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dixon checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sato missing with a left hand there. Dixon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sato throws a shot from downtown. Dixon moves away and avoids it.
Sato throws a hook but Dixon avoids it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dixon scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sato lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dixon.

Sato breaks from the clinch.

Dixon instigates a clinch.
Sato lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dixon backwards.
Dixon swings wildly with an uppercut but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.

Sato gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Dixon regains guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sato accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dixon looking for a sweep. Not yet Dixon, not yet.
Dixon trying to keep a closed guard but Sato is proving a slippery customer.

Dixon has his feet on Sato's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A telegraphed right hand from Sato misses the target.
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!
Dixon tries to clinch up but Sato circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sato tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dixon tries to counter with a takedown but Sato is quick to defend against it.
Dixon throws a jab when Sato was well out of range.
Dixon wants to clinch.
Dixon darts in looking for a takedown but Sato gets double underhooks and turns Dixon into the cage.
Sato throws a looping overhand right but Dixon ducks down to avoid it.
Dixon fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sato has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sato throws a body shot but no joy.
Sato throws a big shot that misses.
Dixon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Dixon scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Dixon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sato is not content to let Dixon control the position.
Dixon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sato's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Katsuro Sato will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Katsuro Sato's cut.
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 cracks a nice hook into Dixon's ribs.
Dixon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sato circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dixon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sato connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Dixon darts in and clinches Sato up against the cage.
Dixon has a couple of punches blocked by Sato.
Sato is looking to control Dixon's arms but Dixon gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sato has his back to the cage.
Dixon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sato lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dixon backwards.
Dixon throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Dixon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sato's elbow.
Dixon working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Sato on the inside.
Sato goes for a takedown attempt but Dixon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sato fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Dixon on the side of the head.
Dixon fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Satos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sato misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dixon.
Sato moves out of range of the strikes.
Sato drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Dixon defends it well.
Dixon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dixon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sato manages to avoid it.
Dixon connects with a nice looking jab.
Sato with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Dixon walks into a jab.
Dixon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dixon tries to clinch up but Sato circles away and keeps his distance.
Sato with the counter takedown but Dixon avoids it easily.
Dixon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Dixon pushes Sato up against the cage in a clinch.
Sato prevents a body shot from Dixon.

Sato has picked Dixon up - he's going for a ride! Sato dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dixon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sato working Dixon over with strikes.
Sato wants to pass the guard but Dixon is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dixon is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Dixon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sato.
Dixon on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dixon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dixon keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Still in half guard, Sato seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato trying to control from half guard but Dixon is working away.
Dixon is trying to get back to full guard.
Dixon wants to control but Sato is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dixon walks into a straight right hand from Sato.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sato. Dixon does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Sato misses.

Dixon pushes Sato up against the cage in a clinch.
Dixon misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dixon.

Sato has picked Dixon up - he's going for a ride! Sato dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sato winds up and cracks Dixon with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sato is thwarting Dixon's attempts to control the position.
Katsuro Sato has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon tries to get to full guard but Sato has control of the leg.

Sato is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dixon sees it coming and defends easily.
Sato working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Dixon slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dixon lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sato working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Katsuro Sato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sato 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katsuro Sato!
Katsuro Sato made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I'm just that good!'.