PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Masaaki Mori (ranked 7242 p4p, 753 weight class) and Mickey Sapolu (ranked 7388 p4p, 765 weight class). Mori comes to the cage accompanied by りんだりんだ. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mori
vs
Sapolu

185 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
223 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masaaki Mori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mickey Sapolu!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Columbo Gatti and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sapolu moves into the clinch.

Mori breaks the clinch.

Sapolu closes the distance and pushes Mori back into the cage.
A knee to the head by Sapolu.
Sapolu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mori's efforts to push away.

Mori breaks from the clinch.
Mori takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Good leg kick by Sapolu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mori displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sapolu throws out the jab.
Sapolu throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Sapolu rushes Mori and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sapolu scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A knee to the head by Sapolu.
Mori has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mori takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sapolu lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapolu with a knee to the head.
Mori has had enough of the clinch but Sapolu keeps him there for the moment.

Mori's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mori gets tackled into the cage by Sapolu. Sapolu maintains the clinch.
Mori is trying to break the clinch but Sapolu is controlling him.
Mori is trying to break the clinch but Sapolu has him pressed against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Sapolu.
Mori wants to break free but Sapolu has control.
Sapolu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mori blocks it with crossed arms.
Mori wants to get back to striking at distance but Sapolu won't allow it.
Sapolu lands a knee to the head.
Sapolu landing knees to the head.

Mori is rocked!
Sapolu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sapolu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mori has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Mori's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mori tries to keep at a distance but Sapolu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sapolu looking to throw knees to the head but Mori is blocking nicely.
Sapolu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mori's face.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sapolu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sapolu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sapolu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mori blocks it with crossed arms.
Mori wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sapolu has him pressed against the cage.
Sapolu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mori can't break the clinch.
Sapolu misses with a knee to the head.
Mori tries to circle away but Sapolu has him pinned against the cage.
Sapolu misses with a knee strike.
Mori blocks a body shot from Sapolu.
Mori misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapolu looking to throw knees to the head but Mori is blocking nicely.

Sapolu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sapolu misses with a series of wild punches.

Sapolu closes the distance and pushes Mori back into the cage.
Sapolu scores with a knee to the head.
Sapolu misses with a knee to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sapolu.
Sapolu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mori's face.
Mori digs a right hand into Sapolu's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sapolu's gas tank.
Sapolu misses with a knee strike.
Mori wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sapolu looking to throw knees to the head but Mori is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapolu misses with a knee strike.
Sapolu tries to land a knee to the head but Mori blocks with his arms.
Sapolu lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sapolu looking to throw knees to the head but Mori is blocking nicely.
Sapolu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mori has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sapolu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sapolu tries a knee to the head but Mori blocks it.
Mori prevents a body shot from Sapolu.
Sapolu tries a knee to the head but Mori blocks it.
Sapolu misses with a knee to the head.
Sapolu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mori blocks it with crossed arms.
Sapolu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Sapolu.
Mori wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Sapolu dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sapolu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mori.
Sapolu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sapolu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Mori scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mori escapes and gets back to his feet.
Sapolu throws a big shot that misses.
Sapolu throws a sloppy head kick and Mori moves out of range easily.
Masaaki Mori is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sapolu scores with a punch to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapolu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mori manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sapolu connects with a leg kick. Mori looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Sapolu has closed the distance and engaged Mori in a clinch.
Mori working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mori tries to break free but Sapolu pushes him back against the cage.
Sapolu connects with a knee to the head.
Sapolu tries to throw a body punch but Mori avoids it by throwing Sapolu back against the cage.
Sapolu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mori has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sapolu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mori has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mori wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sapolu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mori stalling against the cage.
Sapolu tries a body shot but Mori blocks it.
Mori tries to break free but Sapolu pushes him back against the cage.
Sapolu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mori's efforts to push away.
Sapolu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mori's face.
Sapolu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sapolu tries to work over Mori's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapolu is trying to drag Mori to the mat but Mori just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mori working aggressively here.
Sapolu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mori's efforts to push away.
Sapolu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sapolu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mori blocks it with crossed arms.
Sapolu misses with a punch to the body.
Sapolu with a knee to the head.
Mori throws an elbow but it misses.
Mori looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sapolu misses with a knee strike.
Sapolu misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapolu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mori wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mori is trying to force a seperation but Sapolu has the dominant position.
Sapolu struggles to land a body shot inside as Mori controls his hands.
Sapolu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mori's efforts to push away.
Mori can't break the clinch.
Mori takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mori is looking to break free of the clinch but Sapolu has double underhooks.
Sapolu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mori working hard to break the clinch.
Sapolu is working Mori over against the cage.
Mickey Sapolu seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Mori breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sapolu wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapolu tries to clinch up.
As Sapolu looks to move away, Mori throws a big counter combo but Sapolu just gets out of the way.
Sapolu looks to score with a jab to the body but Mori is just out of range.
Mori lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Good leg kick by Sapolu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sapolu wants to clinch up but Mori keeps it at a distance.
Sapolu misses with a hook. Mori ducked under it nicely.
Mori's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sapolu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mori scrambles back to his feet.
Mori circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sapolu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mori seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sapolu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Sapolu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sapolu takes the fight into the clinch.
Sapolu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mori is trying to force a seperation but Sapolu has the dominant position.
Mori misses with a body punch.
Sapolu misses with a knee strike.

Mori manages to break the clinch.

Sapolu closes the distance and clinches.
Sapolu struggles to land a body shot inside as Mori controls his hands.
Sapolu landing knees to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mori is trying to push Sapolu away but Sapolu has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mori blocks a body shot from Sapolu.
Good body shot from Mori.
Sapolu misses with a punch to the body.
Sapolu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapolu keeps control of Mori as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mori has had enough of the clinch but Sapolu keeps him there for the moment.
Mori working hard to break the clinch.

Sapolu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mori looks to land a body kick but Sapolu moved away.
Sapolu steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Mori.
Sapolu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mori paws at him with a jab and circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Sapolu.
Mori stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Mickey Sapolu has been cut.
Mori walks into a left hand.
Mickey Sapolu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sapolu closes the distance and pushes Mori back into the cage.
Mori tries to circle away but Sapolu has him pinned against the cage.
Sapolu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mori working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapolu tries a knee to the head but Mori blocks it.
Mori wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sapolu has him pressed against the cage.
Sapolu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mori has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mori takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sapolu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sapolu cracks Mori with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sapolu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mori has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mori wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sapolu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mori's efforts to push away.
Sapolu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mori blocks it with crossed arms.
Sapolu is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sapolu misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapolu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mori's face.
Sapolu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mori's face.
Sapolu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mori wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sapolu has him pressed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Sapolu.
Mickey Sapolu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mori has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sapolu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mori has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Mori breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sapolu darts in and clinches Mori up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapolu blocks the elbow strike.
Sapolu tries to work over Mori's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mori wants to break free but Sapolu has control.
Mori is trying to break free.
Sapolu has Mori pressed against the cage, preventing Mori from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sapolu lands a knee to the head.
Mori misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sapolu lands a body shot.
Masaaki Mori has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mori tries to land a knee to the head but Sapolu blocks with his arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Sapolu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sapolu 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey Sapolu!
In defeat, Masaaki Mori stepped up to the mic, saying 'ごめんなさい、もっと強いになりたいですよ ! '.