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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Geo Versu (ranked 1500 p4p, 1075 weight class) and Masa Saitoh (ranked 229 p4p, 157 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 180 cm
43
214
17 - 10 - 0 |
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182 cm
23
205
8 - 4 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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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 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Geo Versu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Saitoh!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Steve Smith.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Versu leaves Saitoh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Versu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Saitoh connects with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Versu misses the target.
Versu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Some bone on bone action there as Saitoh checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Saitoh lands a right hook to the body.
Versu has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Tran MMA Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Versu throws a leg kick that is checked
and Saitoh counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saitoh lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Versu down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An elbow from Saitoh crashes against the mat.
Versu parries the strikes from Saitoh easily there. Saitoh is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Versu to escape.
Saitoh creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Versu on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Versu tries to get out of the position.
Saitoh postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitoh slows the pace down.
Saitoh working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Saitoh tries to score with some ground and pound. Versu controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Saitoh postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Saitoh working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The referee asks Saitoh politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Saitoh prefers to stall for the moment though.
Saitoh trying to control the position but Versu is working away.
Saitoh grinds an elbow into Versu's temple.
Versu is not content to let Saitoh control the position.
Saitoh content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Versu is avoiding damage well.
Saitoh trying to control the action but Versu is working from the bottom.
Saitoh landing a few strikes.
Saitoh staying calm.
Versu regains half guard, as Saitoh was trying to land strikes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Versu is refusing to be controlled, as Saitoh sits in half guard.
Saitoh throwing shots but Versu is blocking nicely.
Saitoh thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Saitoh thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Versu's head.
Saitoh lands strikes from half guard.
Saitoh sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Versu defending well though.
Saitoh wants to free his trapped foot but Versu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Saitoh throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Versu's head.
Ground and pound from Saitoh.
Nice strikes from Saitoh there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saitoh controlling the action here.
Saitoh wants to control but Versu is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saitoh working over Versu with some ground and pound. Versu looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Saitoh sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Versu defending well though.
Saitoh sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Versu defending well though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Masa Saitoh 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.
Versu looks to land a left hand but Saitoh moved out of range nicely.
Saitoh cracks Versu with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Good exchange - Versu coming out on top.
Versu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Saitoh misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Versu.
Saitoh scores with a decent looking hook.
Jab, jab by Versu - just one landing.
Saitoh moves into range and connects with a jab.
Versu walks into a jab.
Saitoh ducks under a wild hook from Versu.
Saitoh defending well as Versu loads up on a big left hand.
Saitoh scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saitoh dives in and scores a takedown into Versu's guard.
Saitoh postures up in Versu's guard and throws a big left but Versu blocks it.
Saitoh has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Saitoh is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Versu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Versu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saitoh.
Masa Saitoh has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saitoh is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Saitoh scoring with punches to the head and body.
Saitoh throwing strikes but missing.
Versu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saitoh.
Saitoh working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saitoh throws a big right hand that misses.
Versu keeping full guard, as Saitoh tries to pass.
Saitoh has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saitoh lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Versu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saitoh content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Versu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saitoh loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Saitoh distracts Versu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Saitoh trying to control the position from guard on top but Versu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saitoh is looking to work some ground and pound but Versu has wrist control.
Saitoh trying to control but Versu is working from the bottom.
Saitoh postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Versu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saitoh on the ground.
Saitoh missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saitoh is looking to work some ground and pound but Versu has wrist control.
Saitoh trying to control but Versu is working from the bottom.
Saitoh forces his way into half guard.
Versu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saitoh.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Saitoh not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Saitoh not doing much here.
Saitoh missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Saitoh is nestled in close to Versu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Saitoh not doing much here.
Saitoh trying to control from half guard but Versu is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Masa Saitoh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Versu misses with a wild body shot.
Saitoh slips a jab from Versu.
Saitoh changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Saitoh checks a leg kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Saitoh misses.
Versu misses with a body shot.
Versu throws a low kick but Saitoh moves out of range easily.
Saitoh doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Saitoh fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nice shot by Saitoh.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saitoh. Versu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saitoh listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Saitoh dives in and scores a takedown into Versu's guard.
Saitoh throwing strikes from guard but Versu blocks nicely.
Saitoh lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Saitoh trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitoh postures up in Versu's guard and throws a big left but Versu blocks it.
Versu being controlled here, momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saitoh accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Versu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saitoh 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.
Saitoh loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Versu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saitoh.
Geo Versu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saitoh distracts Versu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Saitoh cracks Versu with a solid left hand.
Saitoh is working Versu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Saitoh lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Saitoh engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Saitoh passes Versu's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Saitoh missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Saitoh throwing shots but Versu is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Saitoh there.
Masa Saitoh is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh is figuring out what he wants to do next.
That's four 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.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Saitoh has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Saitoh closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Versu did well to prevent Saitoh getting side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, Saitoh seems content to control.
Saitoh is continuing to stall.
And that's the end of the fight!
Masa Saitoh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saitoh has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masa Saitoh!
After the big win, Masa Saitoh made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Silverguard Outfitters 🛡 and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
37% |
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