PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kai Perkins (ranked 1397 p4p, 148 weight class) and Takumi Sagaki (ranked 1340 p4p, 142 weight class). Sagaki is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Crazy Nights - Loudness. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Perkins
vs
Sagaki

173 cm
24
152 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

172 cm
25
147 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kai Perkins !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Takumi Sagaki!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, John Mangel and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Perkins misses.
Sagaki tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sagaki walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Perkins checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Perkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sagaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It looked like Perkins was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sagaki.
Perkins throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sagaki dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Perkins . That did some damage!
Perkins throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sagaki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sagaki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sagaki misses with a left hand
and Perkins counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagaki misses with an uppercut.
Sagaki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sagaki throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagaki throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Perkins with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Perkins misses with a straight right.
Sagaki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Perkins leaves Sagaki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sagaki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sagaki throws a head kick that misses
and Perkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Perkins moves into range and clinches up with Sagaki.
Sagaki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Sagaki manages to pull guard.

Sagaki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Perkins defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sagaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sagaki trying to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sagaki has his foot on Perkins 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Perkins works his way back into a safe position though.

Sagaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Perkins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sagaki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Perkins has managed to get both his arms back between Sagaki's legs - danger averted.
Perkins tries to stand but Sagaki is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sagaki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Perkins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Perkins would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sagaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Perkins wants to get up but he can't break Sagaki's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Perkins decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sagaki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Perkins stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sagaki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagaki throws an off balance right hand
enabling Perkins to counter with a crisp jab.

Sagaki drives through with a takedown into Perkins 's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sagaki throwing strikes from guard but Perkins blocks nicely.
Perkins wants to get back to his feet but Sagaki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Sagaki has gone for a leg lock! Perkins slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sagaki's guard.

Sagaki is looking for a triangle here but Perkins uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Perkins 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.

Kai Perkins dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sagaki takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Perkins has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sagaki.
Sagaki throws a leg kick
letting Perkins counter with a right hand.
Sagaki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Perkins defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagaki thows a leg kick but Perkins checks it
and Sagaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sagaki turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sagaki moves out of range as Perkins throws a body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sagaki. Perkins shrugs it off though.
Takumi Sagaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagaki dives in for a single leg takedown but Perkins sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Perkins swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Perkins throws a big shot that misses.
Sagaki throws a sloppy head kick
and Sagaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Sagaki dives in and scores a takedown into Perkins 's guard.
Perkins wants to get back to his feet but Sagaki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Perkins keeping moving, preventing Sagaki from controlling successfully.
Sagaki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Takumi Sagaki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sagaki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagaki throws an elbow that misses. Perkins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sagaki's guard. Nice move by Perkins !

Sagaki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Perkins defends well.
Perkins tries to stand but Sagaki is controlling from the bottom.
Sagaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Perkins stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Perkins tries to sprawl but Sagaki drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Perkins has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Sagaki is on him like a limpet, forcing Perkins back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Sagaki drags the fight down to the ground.

Sagaki looking for a guillotine here but Perkins defends easily.

Sagaki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Perkins defends it easily.
Perkins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sagaki can do to turn this around?

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sagaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Sagaki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Perkins passes into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sagaki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Perkins stands up and waves to Sagaki to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Perkins dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Perkins checks a leg kick nicely.
Sagaki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Perkins .
Sagaki will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
An attempted straight right counter from Perkins misses the target.
Perkins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Perkins attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sagaki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Perkins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagaki throws a front kick aimed at Perkins 's knee but Perkins avoids it well.
Sagaki throws a leg kick
and Perkins counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sagaki misses with a lunging right hand
and Perkins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sagaki has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Sagaki misses with a lunging right hand
and Perkins counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkins looks to land a right hand but Sagaki moved out of range.
Sagaki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sagaki throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sagaki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
It looked like Perkins wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sagaki.
Perkins throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sagaki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Perkins .
Sagaki misses the jab.
Perkins misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagaki tries for a takedown but Perkins circles away easily
and Perkins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Takumi Sagaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Perkins leaves Sagaki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sagaki tries for a takedown but Perkins circles away easily
and Perkins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kai Perkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takumi Sagaki.
Sagaki takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sagaki throws a leg kick
and Perkins counters with a stiff right hand.

Sagaki is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sagaki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sagaki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sagaki is still in real trouble! Can Perkins finish him?
Sagaki wants to control but Perkins is keeping him busy.
Sagaki seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkins is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Sagaki throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Perkins is trying to buck Sagaki off.
Sagaki trying to control the position but Perkins is working away.
Perkins is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sagaki in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's four 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.
Sagaki working the head and body with strikes.
Sagaki throws an elbow but Perkins slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sagaki with the ground and pound but Perkins regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Perkins has one foot on Sagaki's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Sagaki throws a leg kick but Perkins checks it.
Perkins half committed to a counter leg kick.
Sagaki tries for a takedown but Perkins circles away easily
and Perkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kai Perkins is winning the standup battle so far.
Sagaki connects with the punch.
Perkins fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sagaki.
Sagaki moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kai Perkins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Perkins , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kai Perkins !
A determined Kai Perkins didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!