PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nelson Liriano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kumina Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Liriano
vs
Sato

167 cm
28
169 lbs
17 - 6 - 1

167 cm
23
167 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Nelson Liriano!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kumina Sato!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liriano misses with a right hand

and Sato counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Liriano is controlling Sato's posture.
Sato is looking to work some ground and pound but Liriano has wrist control.
Sato is looking to work some ground and pound but Liriano has wrist control.
Liriano keeping full guard, as Sato tries to pass.
Sato wants to control from the top but Liriano keeps moving.
Liriano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sato trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Sato drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Liriano dives on top into guard.
Liriano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Sato working for a triangle but Liriano defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sato is looking for a triangle but Liriano pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liriano trying to control the position from guard on top but Sato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
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.
Liriano gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sato wants to control from the top but Liriano keeps moving.
Sato trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Liriano manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Sato is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Liriano throws a sloppy body shot

and Sato decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Liriano's guard.
Liriano looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sato landing some decent shots from guard.
Liriano lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sato!
Sato is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liriano controlling from mount.
Sato can't escape the position.

That's two 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.
Sato tries to hold on but Liriano pushes him away.
Sato really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liriano looking to control but Sato is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sato is wriggling around trying to escape.
Liriano controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Liriano misses with the combination.
Liriano jabs at Sato's body.
Liriano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sato moves away.
Sato takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Liriano misses with an uppercut

and Sato counters with a takedown into side control.
Liriano is looking to reverse the position.
Sato wants to control but Liriano is keeping him busy.

Sato tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The strikes coming from Sato are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato happy to just control the position for now.
Sato misses with the ground and pound.
Sato working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Liriano is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sato 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.
Sato sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Liriano is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sato trying to control the action but Liriano is working from the bottom.
Liriano is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liriano keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sato thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sato sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Liriano is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Liriano is trying to control Sato's posture but Sato avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Sato.
Liriano dodges the ground and pound from Sato.
Sato trying to control the position but Liriano is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sato tries for a kimura but Liriano is defending well.
Check out the look on Sato's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sato tries to advance to mount but Liriano denies him.

Sato thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The referee asks Sato politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Sato prefers to stall for the moment though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Liriano stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sato.
Liriano misses with a lunging right hand

and Sato counters with a takedown into side control.
Sato postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Liriano is looking to regain half guard here but Sato keeps moving and retains side control.
Sato in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sato tries to advance to mount but can't.
Liriano is looking for a sweep.
Sato is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Liriano will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Sato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liriano keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato is trying to move to mount but Liriano reverses beautifully and ends up in Sato's guard.
Kumina Sato has got the better of the ground game so far.
Liriano is stalling in the full guard.

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.
Liriano trying to control the position from guard on top but Sato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Sato looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Liriano has picked Sato up and slammed him! Sato can't keep hold of the triangle and Liriano manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liriano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sato keeps working.
Sato sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

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.
Liriano wants to free his trapped foot but Sato is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sato is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sato trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Liriano misses with a shot to the body
and Sato counters with a good low kick that Liriano was not able to check.
Liriano throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sato counters with a nice body kick.
Liriano swings widly with a right hand

and Sato counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Liriano!
Liriano regains half guard.

Sato seems to be working for a kimura but Liriano defends the submission attempt.
Sato wants to free his trapped foot but Liriano is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Liriano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sato tries to pass the half guard into mount. Liriano knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sato is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Liriano won't allow Sato to pass to mount.
Liriano tries to roll over but Sato keeps him under control.
Sato throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two 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.
Sato keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sato trying to pass the guard but Liriano defending well.
Sato is trying to control the action in half guard but Liriano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kumina Sato is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sato content to control rather than advance.

Kumina Sato has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Liriano digs a good body shot into Sato's ribs.
Nice cross by Liriano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato moves forwards but Liriano connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Liriano misses with a wild body shot.
Sato tries for a takedown but Liriano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Liriano throws a lazy uppercut
and Sato counters with a solid body kick.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Sato gets a clinch.
Liriano is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sato prevents a body shot from Liriano.
Liriano misses with a body punch.
Sato working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sato softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sato tries to throw a body punch but Liriano avoids it by throwing Sato back against the cage.
Sato prevents a body shot from Liriano.
Nelson Liriano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liriano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Liriano swings wildly with an uppercut but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Liriano misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liriano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sato as Liriano tries to tie him up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sato.
Liriano swings wildly with an uppercut but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Liriano can't find room to land a body shot as Sato controls the action.
Sato lands with a right to the head.
Liriano lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Sato.
Liriano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Liriano tries to break the clinch but Sato is controlling the position.
Liriano cracks Sato with a nice body shot.
Liriano misses with a body punch.

Sato breaks from the clinch.
Liriano misses with a shot to the body
and Sato counters with a nice leg kick.
Sato throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Sato darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kumina Sato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sato winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 45:50
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 45:50
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kumina Sato! Kumina Sato retains his lightweight title!