PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshima Nagasaki (ranked 200 p4p, 242 weight class) and Masa Saitoh (ranked 23 p4p, 33 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nagasaki might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Ground Zero (MOP). 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.

Nagasaki
vs
Saitoh

193 cm
32
206
23 - 11 - 0

182 cm
29
205
18 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

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 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hiroshima Nagasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Saitoh!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saitoh scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Hiroshima Nagasaki has been cut.
Nagasaki ducks right into an uppercut from Saitoh.

Saitoh fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nagasaki sprawls well initially but Saitoh persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Saitoh is keen to just control but Nagasaki is a slippery customer.
Nagasaki wants to stand back up but Saitoh manages to pass into side control.
Nagasaki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saitoh on the ground.
Nagasaki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Saitoh wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Saitoh lands an elbow.
Saitoh has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Saitoh tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Nagasaki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Saitoh's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saitoh seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nagasaki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nagasaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitoh thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nagasaki's head.
Saitoh trying to control the action but Nagasaki is working from the bottom.
Nagasaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nagasaki taking some punishment here, with Saitoh in his half guard.
Nagasaki's coaches at League of Shadows MMA have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Saitoh is looking to take a break and control but Nagasaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saitoh controlling the pace.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Saitoh missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two 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 content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Saitoh jabs Nagasaki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Saitoh paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Hiroshima Nagasaki's cut is getting worse.
Nagasaki throws a shot from downtown. Saitoh moves away and avoids it.
Saitoh cracks Nagasaki with an open hand slap.
Saitoh ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hiroshima Nagasaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nagasaki is looking to clinch but Saitoh is avoiding it.

Saitoh throws a left that rocks Nagasaki and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Saitoh dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Nagasaki regain composure!

Nagasaki is rocked!
Saitoh cracks Nagasaki with a big elbow.
Oh Nagasaki is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Jeez, Hiroshima Nagasaki's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Hiroshima Nagasaki's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Masa Saitoh!
A very excited looking Masa Saitoh made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.