PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matsu Sazuki (ranked 4418 p4p, 3434 weight class) and Sam Willson (ranked 0 p4p, 469 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Sazuki
vs
Willson

177 cm
25
220
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
210
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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, Matsu Sazuki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Willson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sazuki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sazuki stops Willson from standing up.
Sazuki 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.
Sazuki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Willson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sazuki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sazuki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sazuki prevents Willson from getting back to his feet.
Willson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Willson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sazuki defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Willson enables Sazuki to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Willson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willson can't keep his opponent in guard - Sazuki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sazuki lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sazuki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sazuki is thwarting Willson's attempts to control the position.
Sazuki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Willson looking for submissions off his back.
Sazuki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sazuki tries to pass to full mount but Willson defends it.
Willson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Sazuki seems content to control.
Willson trying to control from the bottom.
Sazuki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Sazuki is working for a submission of some sort.
Sazuki wants to pass the guard but Willson is defending well.
Willson is pressing down on Sazuki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sazuki postures up in Willson's guard and throws a big left but Willson blocks it.
Sazuki is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sazuki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sazuki seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Willson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sazuki.
Sazuki controls from within his opponent's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sazuki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four 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.

Sazuki shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Willson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Willson has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Sazuki is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Sazuki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Willson is defending well.

Willson manages to pull guard.
Sazuki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sazuki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Sazuki goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Willson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sazuki but great work by Willson.
Sazuki sneaks back into half guard.
Sazuki gets full guard.
Sazuki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Willson can do to turn this around?

Sazuki working for a triangle but Willson defends it easily.
Willson controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willson is fighting to break Sazuki's control of his arms but Sazuki is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sazuki is looking to sweep but instead, Willson has passed into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sazuki is looking for a sweep. Willson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sazuki trying to control here.
Sazuki controlling the position well.
Sazuki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sazuki trying to control but Willson postures up.
Sazuki is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sazuki stuffs the takedown attempt from Willson. Willson gets slowly back to his feet.

Sazuki shoots in and gets a takedown into Willson's guard.

Willson has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Sazuki is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Willson breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sazuki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sazuki prevents Willson from standing back up.
Sazuki controlling the pace.
Sazuki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sazuki thows an elbow strike that misses. Willson gets hold of full guard and has managed to get a loose guillotine attempt. Sazuki doesn't seem too bothered but Willson quickly shifts his position and has tightened the hold! Sazuki is in big trouble now - he's going a funny colour - he's tapping out! Nice finish there! Sazuki really should have spotted the danger earlier though... either incompetence or over-confidence has resulted in a big L on his record.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sam Willson!
After the fight, Sam Willson was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.