PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between IP Freely (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akiro Sata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freely comes into the arena with The Trooper blaring out of the sound system. Sata has chosen Onward to Victory! as his entrance music. IP Freely has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Freely
vs
Sata

160 cm
34
140 lbs
25 - 18 - 1

171 cm
31
143 lbs
18 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Fast

Zenith Nutrition (160q)
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, IP Freely!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akiro Sata!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sata misses with a right hand
letting Freely counter with a right hand.

Freely shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Freely showed some decent athleticism there.
Freely takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Freely is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Freely is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sata throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Freely is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Freely controlling his opponent.
Sata working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freely lands a nice shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sata is wriggling around trying to escape.
Freely lands with some strikes.
Sata is squirming around, avoiding Freely's attempts to control the action.
Freely pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sata has given up his back. Will we see Freely going for some submissions?
Sata wants to get back to his feet.
Freely is trying to stick to Sata's back but Sata is turning into Freely. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Freely's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Sata.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sata won't allow Freely to sweep him here.
Sata being controlled here momentarily.
Freely might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Freely looking for a guillotine here but Sata defends easily.
Freely working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sata.
Freely looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
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!
Sata postures up.
Freely keeping full guard, as Sata tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sata trying to control the position from guard on top but Freely is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Freely is trying to keep Sata in close.
Sata trying to control the position from guard on top but Freely is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Freely manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sata manages to get himself to full guard.

We've been hearing that Freely has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Sata trying to strike off his back.
Freely stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sata swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Freely scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sata has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Freely has passed into side control.
Sata tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Freely wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Freely working away.
Sata throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Freely prevents Sata from escaping the position.
Freely lands a decent elbow from side control.

Freely wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sata, who protects the arm well.
Freely working away.
Sata is looking to regain half guard here but Freely keeps moving and retains side control.
Sata struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sata misses with a body shot.
Sata keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Freely is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sata's half guard.
Freely wants to pass the guard but Sata is defending well.
Freely wants to control but Sata is keeping him busy.
Freely is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sata can do to turn this around?
Freely prevents Sata from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Freely wants to work for an arm triangle but Sata is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ground and pound from Freely.
Freely working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Sata's thigh. Sata counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Freely pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sata is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freely wants to control from the top but Sata keeps moving.

Sata looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Freely has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Freely throws a big elbow that misses.
Freely passes Sata's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Freely seems to be working for a kimura but Sata defends the submission attempt.
Freely passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freely trying to control but Sata is having none of it.

Sata has left one of his arms exposed and Freely doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Sata screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). IP Freely!
IP Freely retains his bantamweight title!
After the big win, IP Freely made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Arcticus University: London and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.