PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Minerva Wulf (ranked 161 p4p, 320 weight class) and Pee Wee Sasaki (ranked 11 p4p, 24 weight class). Wulf comes into the arena with Sanctus Dominus blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wulf
vs
Sasaki

150 cm
28
145
17 - 9 - 0

168 cm
28
142
20 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Minerva Wulf!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pee Wee Sasaki!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wulf moves into range and clinches up with Sasaki.

Sasaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wulf takes a swing at Sasaki's ribcage but misses.
Wulf tries to close the distance and clinch but Sasaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Wulf throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sasaki was covering up waiting for the punch and Wulf finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Wulf might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Wulf tries to free his leg and advance position but Sasaki is retaining full guard.
Wulf trying to control but Sasaki is working from the bottom.
Sasaki being controlled here, momentarily.
Wulf postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wulf wants to control from the top but Sasaki keeps moving.
Wulf tries to free his leg and advance position but Sasaki is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wulf wants to control from the top but Sasaki keeps moving.
Sasaki pulls Wulf in close to prevent any damage.
Wulf scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wulf is looking to pass into half guard but Sasaki pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sasaki is in guard.

Wulf looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sasaki is one step ahead there.
Wulf trying to keep a closed guard but Sasaki is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wulf is working an open guard so Sasaki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Wulf misses with a body shot
and Sasaki counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sasaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sasaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Wulf is looking to clinch but Sasaki is avoiding it.
Pee Wee Sasaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wulf swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sasaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sasaki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wulf is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sasaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sasaki blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sasaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sasaki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Sasaki manages to break the clinch.
Sasaki scores with a leg kick.
Wulf moves out of range of the body kick.
Sasaki thuds his right hand into Wulf's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sasaki on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Minerva Wulf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body punch from Wulf.
Wulf throws a shot to the body.
Wulf throws a body punch but Sasaki moves out of range.
Sasaki only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Sasaki throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Wulf tries to counter with a takedown but Sasaki is quick to defend against it.

Wulf has managed to clinch.
Wulf creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Wulf throws a punch but it's blocked by Sasaki.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wulf creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sasaki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Sasaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Wulf.
Sasaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sasaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wulf misses the shot to the body.
Wulf keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sasaki turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sasaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Wulf gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Sasaki breaks the clinch.
Wulf pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sasaki needs to keep his hands up - Wulf had a free shot at his head there.
A jab from Wulf does it's job there.
Wulf connects with a body shot.
Sasaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wulf throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Wulf pushes Sasaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Wulf drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sasaki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Minerva Wulf will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A slow jab from Wulf misses its intended target.

Wulf closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sasaki did well to prevent Wulf getting side control.
Sasaki trying to hold on to Wulf's head to control him but Wulf postures up.
Sasaki desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Wulf trying to control from half guard but Sasaki is working away.
Wulf working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Sasaki's thigh. Sasaki counters though and makes it back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wulf with a nice head shot there.
Wulf pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sasaki is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wulf sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sasaki wants to sweep here but Wulf controlling him for the moment.
Wulf trying to move into half guard but instead Sasaki has managed to sweep!

Wulf throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Wulf is trying to control the position but Sasaki postures up.
Wulf is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Wulf wants to control but Sasaki passes easily into half guard.

Sasaki escapes and gets back to his feet.
Pee Wee Sasaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wulf looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Wulf closes the distance and clinches.
Wulf leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sasaki misses with a punch on the inside.
Sasaki swings wildly with an uppercut but Wulf uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wulf lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wulf blocks an uppercut.
Wulf misses with some punches.
Wulf swings wildly with an uppercut but Sasaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wulf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wulf taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sasaki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sasaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sasaki scores with a shoulder strike.
Wulf misses with the head strike.
Sasaki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sasaki.
Wulf lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Pee Wee Sasaki has been cut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wulf.
Sasaki pushes Wulf back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wulf lands a nice uppercut.
Wulf is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wulf lands with a short shot to the head.
Sasaki working aggressively here.
Wulf fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sasaki breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wulf wants to clinch
and Wulf takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wulf staying out of range there.
Sasaki throws a good cross that connects.
Wulf moves to clinch but Sasaki breaks away
and Sasaki counters with a good low kick that Wulf was not able to check.
Wulf tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sasaki defends well and Wulf ends up having to push Sasaki into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sasaki swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Wulf pushes off an throws an elbow but Sasaki leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sasaki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sasaki is trying to break free.
Wulf swings wildly with an uppercut but Sasaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wulf's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Sasaki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wulf keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pee Wee Sasaki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Pee Wee Sasaki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Wulf tries to clinch but Sasaki moves out of range.
Sasaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sasaki tries to land a leg kick but Wulf saw it coming and moves away.
Wulf appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Sasaki throws out a powerful jab.
Wulf misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sasaki.
A jab from Sasaki misses.
Sasaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wulf tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wulf throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wulf drops his hands momentarily and Sasaki takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sasaki throws a hook to the side of Wulf's head but Wulf sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Wulf clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sasaki swings wildly with an uppercut but Wulf uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sasaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Wulf won't allow it.

Sasaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab from Wulf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sasaki takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Wulf wants to clinch up but Sasaki keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Sasaki misses the target.
Wulf misses with a hook.
Sasaki misses the shot to the body.
Sasaki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Wulf has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Wulf throws a body kick that misses
and Sasaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sasaki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sasaki scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Wulf tries to clinch but Sasaki is having none of it.
Wulf misses with a lunging right hand
and Sasaki counters with a nice leg kick.
Wulf blocks a head kick by Sasaki.
A low kick from Sasaki is predictable there

and Wulf counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sasaki!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wulf works to advance to full mount. Sasaki defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wulf pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Wulf tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wulf can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sasaki is looking to escape.

Wulf jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sasaki is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sasaki and Wulf has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Wulf looking to control but instead Sasaki has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Wulf wants to take a breather but Sasaki is having none of it.
Wulf moves into full mount! Sasaki won't be happy about that!
Wulf is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wulf looking to ground and pound but Sasaki is blocking nicely.
Sasaki gets back to half guard.
Sasaki controlling the position well.
Wulf content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Wulf is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Sasaki working a defensive guard here.
Wulf tries to free his leg and advance position but Sasaki is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sasaki keeping moving, preventing Wulf from controlling successfully.
Wulf pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sasaki is keeping the position for now.
Wulf is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wulf stands and throws Sasaki's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wulf tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Wulf is looking to take a break and control but Sasaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Pee Wee Sasaki just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Pee Wee Sasaki's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sasaki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sasaki throws a low kick but Wulf moves out of range easily.

Wulf bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Wulf crashes against the mat.
Sasaki is not content to let Wulf control the position.
Wulf misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wulf throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sasaki is not content to let Wulf control the position.
Sasaki is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wulf tries to score with some ground and pound. Sasaki controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wulf works to advance to full mount. Sasaki defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Wulf throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Wulf can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sasaki is looking to escape.
Wulf is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sasaki is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Minerva Wulf overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wulf controlling from mount.
Wulf is trying to control here but Sasaki has managed to regain half guard.
Wulf takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Wulf has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Wulf is trying to control. Sasaki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sasaki is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Wulf throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wulf wants to take a breather but Sasaki is having none of it.
Wulf passes to side control.
Wulf is looking to take a break and control but Sasaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wulf tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Wulf thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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.
Wulf sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sasaki is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Wulf wants to control for a moment but Sasaki uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Sasaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wulf is nestled in close to Sasaki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Wulf is looking to advance position but Sasaki won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Minerva Wulf had his way with Pee Wee Sasaki in that round.
The cut man is working on Pee Wee Sasaki's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Wulf fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wulf tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sasaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sasaki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wulf scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sasaki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wulf throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Wulf shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sasaki's guard.
Sasaki wants to sweep here but Wulf controlling him for the moment.
Wulf not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wulf trying to control the position from guard on top but Sasaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wulf passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wulf misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sasaki can't do much from the bottom here.

Wulf is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sasaki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wulf has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wulf misses with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Sasaki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wulf tries to advance position but instead Sasaki slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's two 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.
Wulf looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Wulf not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sasaki is trying to maintain the position but Wulf is very close to passing his half guard.
Sasaki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wulf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wulf is just content to waste time from the top position. Sasaki takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sasaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wulf looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wulf trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sasaki manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Wulf is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wulf content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sasaki is controlling Wulf's trapped leg to prevent Wulf from advancing to side control.
Wulf controlling the pace.
Wulf looks to land a strike but Sasaki avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Wulf trying to control but Sasaki is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sasaki has Wulf pulled in close to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Minerva Wulf showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wulf has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 49:47
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 49:47
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Minerva Wulf!
Minerva Wulf retains his bantamweight title!
A relieved looking Minerva Wulf thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Pee Wee Sasaki stepped up to the mic, saying 'Back to the gym...'.