PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anus Saukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xandro Paulo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saukko has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Saukko
vs
Paulo

225 cm
23
130 lbs
2 - 12 - 0

172 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anus Saukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xandro Paulo!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Paulo forces Saukko back against the cage and clinches.
Saukko looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Paulo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Paulo closes the distance and clinches.

Paulo breaks the clinch.
Saukko throws a right hand that Paulo ducks under and follows up with a left that Paulo also avoids with ease.

Paulo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Paulo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Paulo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Paulo is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Paulo moves into the clinch.

Paulo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Paulo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Saukko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Saukko tries to get out of the position.
Paulo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Paulo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukko being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four 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.
Paulo trying to control the position from guard on top but Saukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Paulo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Xandro Paulo wasn't active enough on the ground.

Paulo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Paulo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Saukko really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Paulo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Saukko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xandro Paulo 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.

Paulo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Paulo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Saukko wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Paulo.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Paulo jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Saukko manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A lull in the action here as Paulo stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saukko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Paulo on the ground.
Paulo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saukko keeps working.

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.
Paulo misses with the ground and pound.
Saukko trying to remain calm as Paulo controls from the top position.

Xandro Paulo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Paulo gets a takedown into half guard.
Paulo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saukko keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Paulo there.

Paulo wants to work for an arm triangle but Saukko is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Paulo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Paulo thows a huge punch but Saukko dodges it nicely.
Paulo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Paulo controlling the pace.
Paulo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paulo passes to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xandro Paulo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Paulo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Paulo lands a head shot.
Saukko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Paulo gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paulo controlling from side mount.

Paulo decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Paulo shoots for a double leg takedown but Saukko sprawls well. He's pushed Paulo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulo throws the kick towards the body but Saukko avoids it.
Paulo tries to clinch there but Saukko circles away.
Paulo throws a head kick but Saukko moves out of range.

Paulo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Saukko tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Paulo is in Saukko's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Paulo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Saukko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Paulo scoring with punches to the head and body.

Paulo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Anus Saukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saukko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Paulo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saukko as he avoids it easily.
Anus Saukko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xandro Paulo.
Paulo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Paulo.
Paulo scores with a one two! Saukko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A head kick misses from Paulo.

Paulo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Paulo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Paulo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Paulo controlling his opponent.
Xandro Paulo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Paulo trying to control but Saukko is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukko stops Paulo from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Paulo wants to control the pace but Saukko is squirming around nicely.

That's four 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.
Paulo controlling his opponent.
Paulo misses with a head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xandro Paulo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Paulo 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xandro Paulo!