PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Masa Saitoh (ranked 234 p4p, 238 weight class) and Loratcho Bradock (ranked 32 p4p, 33 weight class). Bradock comes into a darkened arena with his song building. BRUNO MARTINI - LIVING ON THE OUTSIDE kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Loratcho Bradock told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Saitoh
vs
Bradock

182 cm
24
205
11 - 5 - 0

190 cm
31
225
17 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Saitoh!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Loratcho Bradock!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saitoh keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bradock throws a shot from downtown. Saitoh moves away and avoids it.
Nice defenses there by Saitoh.
Saitoh swings widly with a right hand
and Bradock counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bradock wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bradock misses with a wild body shot.
Saitoh moves out of range as Bradock strikes.
Bradock ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saitoh moves away.
As Bradock looks to move away, Saitoh throws a big counter combo but Bradock just gets out of the way.
Bradock throws a push kick but Saitoh slaps the foot to one side.
We've been hearing reports that Saitoh has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Saitoh ducks right into an uppercut from Bradock.
No joy there for Saitoh, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A little jabbing left from Bradock on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bradock listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bradock looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bradock has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Saitoh is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Saitoh misses with a wild body shot.
Saitoh misses with an uppercut.
Saitoh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bradock looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bradock throws a body punch but Saitoh moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitoh loads up on a big right hand but Bradock slips the punch.
Bradock connects with a crisp jab.
Loratcho Bradock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saitoh lands with an overhand left.
Bradock pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bradock throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Saitoh sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Saitoh moves away from the strike by Bradock.
Bradock takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Saitoh throws a hook to the side of Bradock's head but Bradock sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Saitoh throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bradock sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bradock let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bradock misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saitoh.
Bradock is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bradock tests Saitoh's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bradock staying out of range there.
Bradock connects with a crisp jab.
Loratcho Bradock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bradock. Saitoh does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bradock throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Saitoh. That snapped Bradock's head back.
Saitoh scores with a punch to the head.
Bradock fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saitoh manages to avoid it.
Saitoh appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Bradock misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saitoh misses with a body shot.
Saitoh misses with a straight right.
A little jabbing left from Bradock on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bradock scores with a punch to the head.
Saitoh misses with the combination.
A swing and a miss from Saitoh.
Bradock bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Saitoh swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bradock counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bradock scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Saitoh throws a hook but Bradock avoids it easily.
Bradock lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Saitoh circles away quickly and effectively.
Bradock throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jab by Saitoh.
Saitoh stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bradock.
Saitoh checks a leg kick.
Bradock slips a jab from Saitoh.
Bradock swings for the body but Saitoh moves out of range.
Saitoh blocks the body kick.
Bradock scores with a jab to the body.
Saitoh takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Saitoh misses the target.
Bradock throws a lazy uppercut

and Saitoh counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Saitoh.
Saitoh in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saitoh controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bradock preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saitoh with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bradock lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Saitoh wants to sweep here but Bradock controlling him for the moment.
Saitoh striking off his back but it's not causing Bradock any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saitoh lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Saitoh trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Loratcho Bradock dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bradock misses with a few strikes there.
A quick step to the side and Saitoh tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saitoh chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bradock can pounce on him.
Bradock throws a poor cross that misses
and Saitoh counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Saitoh throws a nice looking combination but Bradock bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Saitoh defending well as Bradock loads up on a big left hand.
Bradock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bradock looks to score with a jab to the body but Saitoh is just out of range.
Saitoh connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bradock's hands.
Bradock throws a looping overhand right but Saitoh ducks down to avoid it.
Bradock connects with a jab.
Saitoh slips a straight right by Bradock.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bradock slaps away a takedown attempt from Saitoh, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saitoh slips under a jab from Bradock.
Saitoh lands a jab to the nose.
A left lands for Saitoh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bradock.
Saitoh jabs Bradock right on the nose. Bradock blinks but takes it well.
Saitoh shoots in and drives through. Bradock sprawls well.
Bradock doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Bradock dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bradock lands the left hand.
Saitoh tries to move into range but Bradock moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Bradock.
Bradock throws a lazy body kick

and Saitoh counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saitoh throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bradock is staying active underneath Saitoh, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Saitoh keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bradock is looking to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bradock can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saitoh wants to pass the guard but Bradock is defending well.
Saitoh sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bradock defending well though.
Nice strikes from Saitoh there.
Saitoh lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Saitoh working Bradock over with strikes.
Saitoh throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saitoh not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Saitoh scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bradock taking some punishment here, with Saitoh in his half guard.
Saitoh works his foot free and advances to mount.
Saitoh looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Saitoh dominating with strikes here.
Bradock is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bradock takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Saitoh working Bradock over with strikes here.
The referee warns Bradock that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh looking to finish Bradock with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bradock!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee warns Bradock that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bradock manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Bradock on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bradock really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saitoh. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saitoh is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saitoh lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Saitoh scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Saitoh landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Saitoh takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bradock misses the jab.

Saitoh shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Saitoh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bradock keeps working.
Saitoh missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Saitoh lands with a punch from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bradock avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saitoh.
Bradock wants to get back to full guard but Saitoh has mounted him!
Saitoh pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitoh dominating with strikes here.
Saitoh with good strikes from the mount here!
Saitoh lands a heavy elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saitoh fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Bradock is rocked!
Saitoh softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Bradock is out cold! Saitoh jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Masa Saitoh!
Masa Saitoh retains his light heavyweight title!
Masa Saitoh managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Silverguard Outfitters 🛡, into his post fight interview.