PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takumi Sagaki (ranked 1644 p4p, 2234 weight class) and Derek Vinyard (ranked 102 p4p, 132 weight class). Sagaki comes to the cage accompanied by One Piece - AMV - We Are! (Full Song). Takumi Sagaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sagaki
vs
Vinyard

172 cm
30
147
17 - 6 - 0

167 cm
31
145
19 - 11 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Takumi Sagaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Vinyard!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice jab there from Vinyard.
Vinyard throws a solid leg kick but Sagaki takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Vinyard.
Vinyard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sagaki.
Sagaki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Vinyard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vinyard throws the left hand but Sagaki avoids the punch easily.
Vinyard misses with a low kick.
Sagaki lands with a right hand.
Vinyard swinging wildly here.
Sagaki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Vinyard.
Sagaki moves out of range of the strikes.
Sagaki feinted with a counter takedown.
Vinyard throws a shot from downtown. Sagaki moves away and avoids it.
Sagaki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinyard throws a hook but Sagaki avoids it easily.
Vinyard with a jab.
Vinyard throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A low kick from Vinyard misses

and Sagaki counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Vinyard!
Sagaki creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Vinyard is trying to control Sagaki's posture but Sagaki avoids it.
Sagaki postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vinyard tries to bench press Sagaki off him but Sagaki keeps the position.
Vinyard taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Vinyard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sagaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vinyard, who protects the arm well.

Sagaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vinyard, who protects the arm well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sagaki misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagaki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sagaki tries to score with some ground and pound. Vinyard controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sagaki is chipping away with strikes.
Vinyard is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sagaki is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Sagaki looking to ground and pound but Vinyard is blocking nicely.
Sagaki looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Sagaki with a couple of short strikes.
Vinyard regains half guard.
Sagaki throwing shots but Vinyard is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagaki looks to land a strike but Vinyard avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sagaki passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sagaki has control of an arm but Vinyard manages to advance to Sagaki's back!
Vinyard controlling from the back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Derek Vinyard will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A kick lands to the mid section there for Sagaki.
A swing and a miss from Vinyard.
An inside leg kick from Vinyard misses.
Vinyard misses with a low kick as Sagaki jumps back.
Vinyard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sagaki moves away.
Sagaki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Vinyard sprawls and moves away.
Vinyard takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Derek Vinyard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Vinyard.
Sagaki thuds his right hand into Vinyard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinyard slaps away a takedown attempt from Sagaki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vinyard appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Derek Vinyard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vinyard lands a leg kick that knocks Sagaki off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinyard stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sagaki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vinyard.
Vinyard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sagaki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sagaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sagaki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vinyard misses with a wild combination.
Vinyard stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sagaki moves out of range of the strikes.
Sagaki tries to land a leg kick but Vinyard saw it coming and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard with a nice cross.
Vinyard misses with a body punch

and Sagaki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sagaki postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vinyard is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sagaki, into his guard.

Takumi Sagaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sagaki keeping moving, preventing Vinyard from controlling successfully.
Vinyard looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard controlling from the top position.

Sagaki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vinyard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sagaki is pulling down on Vinyard's head to control his posture.
Vinyard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sagaki is trying to control the position but Vinyard postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Vinyard trying to control but Sagaki is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vinyard stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Vinyard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Vinyard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Vinyard. Those never looked like landing.
Sagaki tries to bum rush Vinyard with a series of wild strikes but Vinyard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vinyard misses with a body kick.
Sagaki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Vinyard sprawls and moves away.
Vinyard catches Sagaki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Vinyard looks to throw the jab but Sagaki is out of range.
Sagaki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sagaki with the inside leg kick.
Vinyard throws the left hand but Sagaki avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagaki slips a jab from Vinyard.
Sagaki's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vinyard connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sagaki scrambles back to his feet.
Vinyard throws an overhand right that lands on Sagaki's shoulder, as Sagaki tries to avoid the shot.
Sagaki changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Vinyard throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinyard throws a leg kick

and Sagaki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vinyard's guard.
Sagaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vinyard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sagaki throws a strike but Vinyard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Vinyard controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sagaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vinyard trying to control the position from guard on top but Sagaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vinyard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard postures up.
Vinyard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Vinyard looking to pass the guard.
Vinyard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sagaki's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vinyard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vinyard takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Derek Vinyard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Derek Vinyard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sagaki throws a chopping leg kick but Vinyard manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vinyard! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard lands with a nice combination. Sagaki backs away looking to recover.
Sagaki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vinyard throws out the jab.
Vinyard throws a hook but Sagaki avoids it easily.
Sagaki throws a jab but it's blocked by Vinyard.
Sagaki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vinyard checks a leg kick.
Takumi Sagaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sagaki feints and then cracks Vinyard's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Vinyard down.
Sagaki chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vinyard can pounce on him.
Vinyard misses with an uppercut. Sagaki saw that one coming.
Sagaki feinted with a counter takedown.
Vinyard fakes the leg kick and cracks Sagaki in the body.
Vinyard dips to his left and cracks Sagaki with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Vinyard lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Vinyard keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vinyard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sagaki.
It seemed like Vinyard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sagaki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Vinyard throws a hook to the side of Sagaki's head but Sagaki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sagaki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Vinyard.
Vinyard scores with a shot to the body.

Vinyard closes the distance and clinches.
Sagaki misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vinyard.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vinyard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Vinyard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vinyard 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Vinyard!
Derek Vinyard seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.