PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshi Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hajime Saito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sato comes to the cage accompanied by In The Morning. This should be fireworks!

Sato
vs
Saito

185 cm
19
203 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
193 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Knockout power

Terror-Trition: Video Proven 155Q for $49 [†CoE†]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hiroshi Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hajime Saito!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saito rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sato moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Saito throws a shot to the body.
Sato slips a straight right by Saito.
Sato chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sato ducks under a wild hook from Saito.
Sato misses with an uppercut.
Sato swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sato avoids the body shot from Saito.
Saito throws a hook but Sato avoids it easily.

Saito is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sato's half guard.
Sato wants to get back to full guard.
Sato is trying to maintain the position but Saito is very close to passing his half guard.
Saito is pressing down on Sato's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sato is holding on for now.
Saito wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sato keeps working.
Sato is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Saito jumps into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Sato's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Saito is trying to move to mount but Sato reverses beautifully and ends up in Saito's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Saito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sato was well out of range. Poor timing from Saito.
Sato throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Saito stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sato.

Saito shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sato is trying to defend but Saito finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Saito is keen to just control but Sato is a slippery customer.
Saito frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Saito moves to the back position.
Saito keeps control of the position as Sato tries to break free.

Saito tightening his grip on Sato, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saito is looking to control Sato but Sato is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Saito is trying to stick to Sato's back but Sato is turning into Saito. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Saito's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Sato.

Saito throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sato uses it to pass to side control.
Saito tries to bench press Sato off him but Sato keeps the position.
Sato gets to mount! Saito was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Saito working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sato looking to control but Saito is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Saito is looking to improve his position but Sato isn't that keen on the idea.
Sato wants to stand but Saito is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Sato controlling from the full mount.

Sato stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Sato tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Saito is able to avoid easily.
Hiroshi Sato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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.
Sato avoids the body shot from Saito.
Sato ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sato was well out of range. Poor timing from Saito.
Saito shoots for a double leg takedown but Sato sprawls well. He's pushed Saito's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice cross by Sato.
Sato looks to score with a jab to the body but Saito is just out of range.
Sato slips a straight right by Saito.
Sato misses with a hook. Saito ducked under it nicely.

Saito shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sato moves into full guard.
Saito is pushing down on Sato's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sato is fighting to maintain full guard but Saito has managed to sneak the leg through.

Saito is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sato wants to control but Saito is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sato scoring well with a low kick there.
Saito blocks a head kick by Sato.
Sato avoids the body shot from Saito.
Saito throws a body punch but Sato moves out of range.
Saito swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saito throws the left hand but Sato avoids the punch easily.
Saito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sato.
Saito ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sato moves away.
No luck for Saito with that takedown attempt.
Hajime Saito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saito checks a leg kick nicely.
Sato misses the shot to the body.
Sato misses with an uppercut. Saito saw that one coming.
Saito blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato lands a right hook to the body.
Sato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saito was well out of range. Poor timing from Sato.
Nice body kick from Sato.
Sato uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saito.
Sato takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Saito swings for the body but Sato moves out of range.
Saito throws an overhand right that lands on Sato's shoulder, as Sato tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saito thows a body shot but no joy.
Sato throws a nice outside leg kick.

Saito fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sato sprawls well initially but Saito persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Saito tries to pass to full mount but Sato defends it.
Saito is keen to just control but Sato is a slippery customer.
Saito tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sato knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Saito looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Saito is breathing heavily.
Saito is keen to just control but Sato is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato gets back to full guard.
Sato is adopting a defensive guard.
Sato trying to keep a closed guard but Saito is proving a slippery customer.
Saito wants to pass the guard but Sato is keeping the position.
Saito trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sato manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Saito controls Sato momentarily but Sato frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saito has a closed guard, preventing Sato from standing up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saito is on top in guard.
Sato pulls Saito in close to prevent any damage.
Saito passes into half guard.

Saito is looking for a kimura but Sato is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saito to get the leverage.
Sato is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saito trying to control from half guard but Sato is working away.
Sato moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato managing to control the position.
Saito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sato is keeping the position for now.
Sato is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Saito passes Sato's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sato is in trouble now - Saito has advanced to mount!

Saito working for a submission but Sato is keeping him at bay.
Saito wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hajime Saito will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Sato's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sato scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Saito shoots in for a takedown but Sato shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Saito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sato.
Saito looks to throw the jab but Sato is out of range.
Sato throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saito shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sato as he jumps to the side.
Saito looks for a takedown but Sato sprawls well.
Hiroshi Sato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hajime Saito.
Saito looks to land a right hand but Sato moved out of range.

Saito scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Saito is trying to control. Sato wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sato trying to hold on to Saito's head to control him but Saito postures up.
Hajime Saito has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sato tries to roll over but Saito keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saito is pressing down on Sato's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sato is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Saito trying to pass the guard but Sato defending well.
Saito stalling.
Saito prevents Sato from improving his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sato staying out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saito. Sato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saito fails with a takedown attempt.
Sato looks to land a left hand but Saito moved out of range nicely.
Hiroshi Sato 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.
Saito throws out a loose jab but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saito shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sato but Sato pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sato throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Sato defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saito.
Saito shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sato but Sato pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saito takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sato slaps away a takedown attempt from Saito, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Saito or perhaps it was just good defense by Sato which made him look bad.
Saito walks into a straight right hand from Sato.
Saito is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sato.
Sato avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sato throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sato scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Saito doesn't seem bothered though.
Sato lands a nice hook to Saito's body. Saito takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato lands with a straight right. Saito didn't see that one coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sato.
Saito chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sato can pounce on him.
Sato looks for the body kick but Saito saw that one coming.
Sato fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Saito.
Sato pushes Saito away with a front kick.
Sato lands a head kick!
Sato ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sato throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Sato lands a nice leg kick that just misses Saito's sensitive parts.
Saito on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sato. Sato obviously looking to wear him down.
Saito shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sato as he avoids it easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sato, right into the meat.
Saito moves out of range of the body kick from Sato.
Sato misses the shot to the body.
A big right from Saito misses.
Sato uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saito.
Sato moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato throws a front kick that sends Saito stumbling back into the cage.
Sato scores with a leg kick.
Sato throws a head kick but Saito moves out of range.
Sato uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saito.
Sato throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saito.
Saito throws a big shot that misses.
Saito lands with a nice body punch.
Sato throws a jab but it's blocked by Saito.
Sato scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato throws out a leg kick but Saito moves out of range and Sato only half commits.
Saito tries for a takedown but Sato sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Saito avoids the body shot from Sato.
Saito avoids the head kick by Sato.
Saito throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sato. That's going to slow Saito down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hajime Saito is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sato ducks under a wild hook from Saito.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroshi Sato showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saito has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Hajime Saito!