PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rudolph Gilliam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haku Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haku Sato has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rudolph Gilliam's chin.

Gilliam
vs
Sato

223 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rudolph Gilliam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Haku Sato!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gilliam enables Sato to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gilliam manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sato tries to free his leg and advance position but Gilliam is retaining full guard.
Gilliam looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sato trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilliam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sato might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gilliam haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gilliam is keeping the position for now.

Gilliam throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gilliam avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gilliam will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gilliam throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gilliam wants to get back to his feet but Sato is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gilliam working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sato.

Gilliam had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sato defends it easily.
Gilliam keeping moving, preventing Sato from controlling successfully.
Sato tries to free his leg and advance position but Gilliam is retaining full guard.
Sato won't allow Gilliam to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Sato moves into the clinch.

Sato drags the fight down to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sato manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Sato closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gilliam gets back to half guard.

Gilliam looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sato gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Sato throws a nice inside leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Sato.
Gilliam feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sato closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gilliam tries to get to full guard but Sato has control of the leg.
Sato prevents Gilliam from standing back up.
Sato sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gilliam defending well though.

Gilliam looking for submissions off his back.
Sato throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gilliam looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gilliam is not content to let Sato control the position.
Gilliam avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sato.
Gilliam wants to get back to his feet.
Gilliam is trying is best to control the position here.

Gilliam is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sato pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sato in particular looking to stall.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gilliam pushes Sato off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haku Sato dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gilliam takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Sato drives through with a takedown into Gilliam's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Sato. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Sato working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Gilliam has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sato can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gilliam is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sato loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sato got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gilliam has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sato has managed to get both his arms back between Gilliam's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato tries to free his leg and advance position but Gilliam is retaining full guard.
Gilliam wants to stand and escape but Sato is having none of it.
Haku Sato has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sato wants to control from the top but Gilliam keeps moving.

Gilliam looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gilliam wants to sweep but no luck.

Gilliam had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sato defends it easily.
Sato sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gilliam trying to strike off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Gilliam gets tackled into the cage by Sato. Sato maintains the clinch.

Sato has Gilliam pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sato pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gilliam tumbling to the mat - Sato dives into Gilliam's guard.

Gilliam is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sato is aware though and is defending well.
Gilliam is looking to stand up but Sato isn't so interested in that idea.
Sato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gilliam looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gilliam really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sato wants to control from the top but Gilliam keeps moving.

Sato stands and steps away. Gilliam gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sato clinches.

Sato breaks the clinch.
Sato misses with a head kick.
As Sato tries to get set, Gilliam tries to push him back and clinch up but Sato manages to avoid the attempt.
Gilliam tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sato sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gilliam somewhat.

Sato moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sato has clasped his hands together around Gilliam's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Gilliam is trying to buck Sato off.
Gilliam can't do much from the bottom here.
Gilliam tries to escape but Sato is in control.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Gilliam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sato has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haku Sato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gilliam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gilliam tries to sprawl but Sato drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sato thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gilliam's head.
Gilliam trying to hold on to Sato's head to control him but Sato postures up.
Sato thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gilliam looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gilliam slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gilliam looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gilliam is looking for a triangle but Sato pushes his legs off easily.
Sato wants to control from the top but Gilliam keeps moving.
Sato postures up.
Sato trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilliam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gilliam is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Gilliam escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sato gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gilliam wants to stand and escape but Sato is having none of it.

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

Sato shoots in and gets a takedown into Gilliam's guard.
Sato wants to control from the top but Gilliam keeps moving.

Gilliam throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gilliam is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sato is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato trying to control but Gilliam is working from the bottom.
Gilliam wants to stand and escape but Sato is having none of it.
Gilliam keeping full guard, as Sato tries to pass.
Sato wants to control from the top but Gilliam keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sato won't allow Gilliam to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gilliam shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sato as he avoids it easily.

Sato looking to score a takedown here. Gilliam is defending well but Sato drives through and ends up in Gilliam's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gilliam has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sato off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Rudolph Gilliam has been cut.

Sato shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gilliam is looking to escape.
Gilliam works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gilliam has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sato can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sato thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haku Sato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sato has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haku Sato!