PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Masa Sanada (ranked 23 p4p, 3 weight class) and Chris Steve (ranked 37 p4p, 4 weight class). Masa Sanada had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sanada
vs
Steve

180 cm
32
174 lbs
27 - 7 - 2

175 cm
29
181 lbs
33 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Conviction

Bloodsport clothing
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 7 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Sanada!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Steve!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve lands with a straight right. Sanada didn't see that one coming.
Steve is looking to clinch but Sanada is avoiding it.
Steve darts in trying to clinch
and Sanada counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Chris Steve has been cut.
Sanada pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Steve jabs Sanada right on the nose. Sanada blinks but takes it well.
Steve wants to clinch.
Sanada is looking for a counter combo.

Steve has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Steve.
Steve fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sanada.
Steve tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sanada manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve connects with an inside leg kick.
Steve moves out of range of the strikes.
Steve thuds a left hand into Sanada's body.
Sanada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Sanada on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've been told by Sanada's head coaches at Rings Russia that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sanada keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice shot lands for Steve.
Good leg kick by Steve there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nice cross by Steve.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sanada.
Sanada throws a series of punches but Steve moves out of range.
A slow jab from Steve misses its intended target.
Steve keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sanada.
Sanada jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steve's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sanada connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Steve scrambles back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Steve has Sanada up against the cage in a clinch.
Steve keeps control of Sanada as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve lands a shot to the body.
Steve throws an elbow but it misses.
Steve lands with a short shot to the head.
Steve keeps control of Sanada as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sanada wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Steve lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Sanada breaks from the clinch.
Chris Steve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve swings for the body but Sanada moves out of range.
Steve misses with a few strikes there.
Steve takes a swing at Sanada's ribcage but misses.
A quick step to the side and Sanada tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steve throws a body punch but Sanada moves out of range.
Steve catches Sanada with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Steve has managed to clinch.
Steve tries to work over Sanada's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steve cracks Sanada with a nice body shot.
Steve lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Sanada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanada is looking to counter punch.
Steve pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Steve throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Steve darts in and clinches Sanada up against the cage.
Steve tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steve tries to throw a body punch but Sanada avoids it by throwing Steve back against the cage.
Steve doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sanada blocks an uppercut.
Steve lands an elbow just above Sanada 's eye.

It looks like Masa Sanada has been cut.

Sanada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steve waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sanada.
The fighters circle momentarily. Steve darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sanada takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sanada looks to land a right hand but Steve moved out of range.
Steve lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Steve misses with an uppercut. Sanada saw that one coming.
Steve tests Sanada's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steve slips a straight right by Sanada.
Steve slips under a jab.
Sanada takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Steve does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Steve is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Sanada had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

Steve pushes Sanada up against the cage in a clinch.

Sanada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Steve has taken the fight to the clinch.
Steve misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steve has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Sanada seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Steve can turn it around.

Sanada breaks the clinch.
Steve throws out a loose jab but Sanada uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanada swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Steve rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sanada counters with a stiff right hand.
Steve tries to clinch but Sanada moves out of range.
Steve is looking to clinch but Sanada is avoiding it.
Steve lands with a good body shot.
Sanada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Steve dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Steve on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steve. Sanada does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Sanada was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Steve.
Sanada ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sanada ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sanada doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sanada fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steve manages to avoid it.
Sanada steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Steve. That one must have hurt.
Steve throws a sloppy head kick and Sanada moves out of range easily.
Sanada throwing a counter right hand but Steve manages to avoid it.
Steve closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sanada counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanada's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Steve connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sanada scrambles back to his feet.
Steve is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sanada.
Sanada throws a hook but Steve blocks it.
Steve throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steve tries to clinch but Sanada is having none of it.
Sanada throwing a counter right hand but Steve manages to avoid it.
Chris Steve seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Steve wants to clinch.
A jab from Sanada misses.
Sanada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.
Sanada throwing a counter right hand but Steve manages to avoid it.
Sanada misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steve.
Sanada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.
Steve lands with a nice body punch.
Steve throws a leg kick which misses Sanada's front leg but catches the back leg as Sanada tries to avoid it.
Steve takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sanada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.
Steve has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Steve misses with a looping right.
Sanada was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve throws a jab when Sanada was well out of range.
Steve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steve looks to land a right hand but Sanada moved out of range.
Steve throws a lazy right hand but Sanada sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Steve tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sanada manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheers as Sanada lands an impressive looking overhand right. Steve doesn't seem phased though.
Steve looks to clinch
and Sanada makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanada misses with a looping left.
Sanada lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Steve backs up against the cage.

That has opened up Chris Steve's cut even more.
Good work by Sanada as he checks the leg kick.
Steve's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sanada under the eye.
Steve cracks Sanada with a right hand to the side of the head.
Steve tries to clinch up.
A slow jab from Sanada misses its intended target.
Steve wants to counter with a clinch but Sanada pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sanada stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Steve fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sanada has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Steve throws a body punch but Sanada moves out of range.
Sanada appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Steve misses with a looping right.
Steve walks into a straight right hand from Sanada.
Sanada throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sanada throws a hook to the side of Steve's head but Steve sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Steve swings for the body but Sanada moves out of range.
Steve slips a jab from Sanada.
Sanada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Steve throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sanada counters with a stiff right hand.
Steve moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jab, jab by Sanada - just one landing.
Sanada walks into a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Steve closes the distance and clinches.

Sanada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.
Sanada throws a shot to the body.
Sanada has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Steve slips under a jab.
Steve doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanada circles away.
Sanada looks to throw the jab but Steve is out of range.
Steve is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Steve with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Steve bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steve misses with a straight left.

Steve clinches.
Sanada prevents a body shot from Steve.
Steve misses with some punches.
Steve tries to work over Sanada's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sanada wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chris Steve will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steve closes the distance and clinches.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sanada is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Steve misses with a body punch.
Steve lands with a short shot to the head.
Sanada blocks a body shot from Steve.
Steve prevents Sanada from breaking the clinch.
Sanada blocking some punches.
Steve prevents Sanada from breaking the clinch.
Steve scores with a hook to the body.
Steve lands an uppercut.
Chris Steve seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steve.
Sanada prevents a body shot from Steve.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanada has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sanada manages to break the clinch.

Steve takes the fight into the clinch.
Sanada working hard to break the clinch.
Sanada prevents a body shot from Steve.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanada is trying to break the clinch but Steve has him pressed against the cage.
Steve tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sanada's elbow.
Steve presses Sanada against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steve lands with a light punch inside.
Sanada tries to circle away but Steve has him pinned against the cage.

Sanada breaks the clinch.
Steve thows a body kick. Sanada tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Steve fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanada manages to avoid it.
Steve connects with the punch.
Steve is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Steve darts in and clinches Sanada up against the cage.
Sanada is trying to force a seperation but Steve has the dominant position.
A body shot lands from Steve.

Sanada breaks the clinch.

Steve has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Steve.
A right handed body shot lands from Steve.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steve is working Sanada over against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Steve.
Steve tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Steve on the inside.
Steve tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sanada's elbow.
Steve working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sanada wants to break the clinch but can't.
Steve scores with a hook to the body.
Steve lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sanada backwards.
Steve misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steve scores with a shoulder strike.
Steve goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steve lands an elbow that stopped Sanada in his tracks for a moment.
Steve tries a body shot but Sanada blocks it.
Sanada takes an elbow to the forehead.

Sanada is rocked!
Sanada is looking to break free of the clinch but Steve has double underhooks.
Oh Sanada is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sanada seems to have got his legs back now.
Sanada wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Steve lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Steve tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sanada's elbow.
A frustrated look appears on Sanada's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Steve doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steve lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steve.
Steve misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Sanada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steve throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steve fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sanada ducks under a wild hook from Steve.
Sanada is looking to counter punch.
Steve wants to clinch
and Sanada counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Steve drives through and clinches with Sanada against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanada controls his hands.

Sanada manages to break the clinch.
Sanada looks to score with a jab to the body but Steve is just out of range.
Steve tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanada was well out of range. Poor timing from Steve.
Steve wants to clinch up but Sanada keeps it at a distance.
Sanada connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steve throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sanada takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sanada swats away the attempt to clinch by Steve.
Sanada misses with a straight right.
Steve looks to clinch
letting Sanada counter with a right hand.
Sanada throws a big shot that misses.
Steve 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.

Chris Steve really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sanada scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Steve throws a lazy head kick
and Sanada counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Steve defending well as Sanada loads up on a big left hand.
Steve moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Steve throws an off balance right hand
and Sanada counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sanada avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It looked like Sanada wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Steve walks into a stiff left hand from Sanada.

Steve gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Steve lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Steve lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sanada.
Steve lands an elbow inside.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Steve lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sanada backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left hand lands to the body for Steve.
A short body shot lands from Steve as the two fighters clinch.
Sanada takes an elbow to the temple.
A right handed body shot lands from Steve.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve presses Sanada against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Steve throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sanadas head.
Sanada wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Steve.
Sanada wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steve.
Steve lands a damaging elbow.
Steve tries to work over Sanada's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sanada is trying to force a seperation but Steve has the dominant position.
Sanada is trying to break the clinch but Steve is controlling him.
Steve can't find room to land a body shot as Sanada controls the action.
Steve is working Sanada over against the cage.
Steve can't find room to land a body shot as Sanada controls the action.
Steve lands a left hand.
Steve pushes Sanada back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Steve lands a shot to the body.
Sanada is trying to break free.
Steve lands a nice shot to the body.
Sanada has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve tries to work over Sanada's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steve digs a right hand into Sanada's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sanada's gas tank.
Steve doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steve lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Steve cracks Sanada with a nice body shot.
Steve lands a body shot in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve lands a body punch in the clinch.
Steve lands a right hand.
Still in the clinch, Steve scores with a nice short uppercut.
Steve working aggressively here.
Steve throws an elbow that misses.
Steve lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Steve stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Steve.
Steve lands a body shot in the clinch.
Steve tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sanada's elbow.
Sanada is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A hook to the body from Steve.
Steve tries to work over Sanada's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve has Sanada pressed against the cage, preventing Sanada from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Steve tries to throw a body punch but Sanada avoids it by throwing Steve back against the cage.
Steve lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Steve misses with an elbow strike.
Steve pushes off an throws an elbow but Sanada leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanada controls his hands.
Steve keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sanada's efforts to push away.
Steve goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steve lands an elbow that stopped Sanada in his tracks for a moment.

Masa Sanada's cut is getting worse.
Steve scores with a nice hook to the head.
Steve misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right handed body shot lands from Steve.
Sanada takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sanada wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sanada.
Steve keeps control of Sanada as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Steve.
A right handed body shot lands from Steve.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve lands with a left to the head.
Steve digs a right hand into Sanada's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sanada's gas tank.
Steve lands a left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steve lands a big right hand that drops Sanada! The killer instinct kicks in and Steve finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Steve!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chris Steve!
Chris Steve is the new welterweight champion!
Chris Steve seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.