PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaito Saruwatari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donald Gaskins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saruwatari's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Andrea Bocelli - Time To Say Goodbye. Gaskins has chosen Killing In The Name Of as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saruwatari
vs
Gaskins

186 cm
25
214 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

188 cm
19
213 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

[WOT] Inner Beast Nutrition And Laundry
Torment Fightwear

5th Round Clothing
TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kaito Saruwatari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Donald Gaskins!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saruwatari tries a head kick but it misses.
Gaskins lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gaskins shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kaito Saruwatari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Saruwatari there.
Gaskins thuds his right hand into Saruwatari's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gaskins attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Saruwatari moves into range and clinches up with Gaskins.
Gaskins is pressed up against the cage. Saruwatari has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gaskins down to the mat. Gaskins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Saruwatari moves into range and clinches up with Gaskins.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gaskins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gaskins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Saruwatari has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gaskins avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Saruwatari prevents a body shot from Gaskins.
Nice body punch from Saruwatari - that landed with a thud.
Gaskins lands a body punch in the clinch.

Gaskins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaskins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A leg kick checked by Saruwatari.
Saruwatari throws a sloppy head kick and Gaskins moves out of range easily.
Saruwatari pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gaskins is out of range and Saruwatari settles back down.
Gaskins is looking to land body kicks.
Gaskins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saruwatari moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saruwatari throws a head kick that misses.
Gaskins looks to score with a jab to the body but Saruwatari is just out of range.
Saruwatari is looking to land body kicks.
A jab from Saruwatari finds it's way through Gaskins's defenses.
Some bone on bone action there as Gaskins checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gaskins misses with a low kick.
Gaskins throws a body punch but Saruwatari moves out of range.
Saruwatari's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Gaskins connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Saruwatari scrambles back to his feet.

It looks like Kaito Saruwatari has been cut.
Saruwatari tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Gaskins drops Saruwatari with a beautiful combination! Saruwatari stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Gaskins is looking for the KO!

Saruwatari is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saruwatari cracks Gaskins with a right hand to the side of the head.
Oh Saruwatari is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A leg kick checked by Saruwatari.
Saruwatari seems to have got his legs back now.
Gaskins does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Saruwatari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saruwatari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gaskins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gaskins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saruwatari is looking to clinch but Gaskins is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saruwatari gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saruwatari has a couple of punches blocked by Gaskins.
Saruwatari is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaito Saruwatari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saruwatari tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gaskins's elbow.
Saruwatari drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gaskins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gaskins has a couple of punches blocked by Saruwatari.
A right handed body shot lands from Gaskins.
Saruwatari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gaskins.
A nice left hand lands by Gaskins.
Saruwatari can't find room to land a body shot as Gaskins controls the action.
Gaskins working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Saruwatari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gaskins lands with a short shot to the head.
Gaskins lands a body punch.
Saruwatari is breathing heavily.
Saruwatari blocking some punches.
Gaskins lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gaskins lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Saruwatari backwards.

Gaskins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gaskins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaskins takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A big left from Gaskins misses.
Gaskins misses with a low kick.
Gaskins does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gaskins throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Saruwatari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saruwatari moves out of range as Gaskins throws a body kick.
Gaskins looks to land a combination but Saruwatari avoids it well.
Saruwatari walks into a straight right hand from Gaskins.
Gaskins throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gaskins looks for the body kick but Saruwatari saw that one coming.
Saruwatari just misses with a punch to the body.
Saruwatari avoids the head kick by Gaskins.
Saruwatari avoids the head kick by Gaskins.

Saruwatari clinches up against the cage.
Gaskins lands with a left to the head.
Saruwatari tries to score a body lock takedown but Gaskins shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gaskins backwards.
Saruwatari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gaskins lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saruwatari pushes Gaskins back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Saruwatari working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gaskins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Saruwataris head.
Gaskins blocking some punches.
Saruwatari scores with a shot to the side of Gaskins's head.
Saruwatari blocking some punches.
A short body shot lands from Saruwatari as the two fighters clinch.

Saruwatari has hold of one of Gaskins's legs. Gaskins is fighting the takedown attempt but Saruwatari gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gaskins is trying to control the position but Saruwatari postures up.
Saruwatari postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saruwatari looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gaskins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Donald Gaskins will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kaito Saruwatari's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gaskins tries to clinch there but Saruwatari circles away.
Gaskins throws a hook but Saruwatari blocks it.
Gaskins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saruwatari manages to avoid it.
Gaskins tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Saruwatari is able to avoid easily.
Gaskins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Saruwatari instigates a clinch.
Good body shot from Saruwatari.
Gaskins's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Saruwatari lands a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saruwatari misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gaskins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kaito Saruwatari has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gaskins misses with the head strike.
Saruwatari lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gaskins backwards.
Gaskins misses with a punch to the body.
Saruwatari tries to throw a body punch but Gaskins avoids it by throwing Saruwatari back against the cage.
Gaskins working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Saruwatari gets through Gaskins's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gaskins can't find room to land a body shot as Saruwatari controls the action.
Gaskins has a couple of punches blocked by Saruwatari.
Gaskins tries a body shot but Saruwatari blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaskins tries to break the clinch but Saruwatari is controlling the position.
Gaskins lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Saruwatari backwards.
Gaskins takes a shot to the head.
Saruwatari blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saruwatari throws a punch but it's blocked by Gaskins.
A short right from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari scores with a hook to the body.
Gaskins is breathing heavily.

Saruwatari has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gaskins clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Gaskins is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Gaskins covering up well under a barage of strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Saruwatari controlling the positon.
Gaskins is really stuck here.
Saruwatari controlling the position well here. Gaskins rolled but Saruwatari kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Gaskins just trying to survive but Saruwatari is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari missing with punches from the back.
Gaskins trying to control the action but Saruwatari just sinks the hooks in.
What can Gaskins do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Saruwatari 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.
You can see the frustration on Gaskins's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Gaskins is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Saruwatari missing with punches from the back.
Saruwatari really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Gaskins.
Gaskins tries to escape but Saruwatari has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari misses with punches from the back.
Gaskins manages to reverse the position and now he's in Saruwatari's guard. Nice work there by Gaskins.
Saruwatari utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gaskins preventing the sweep.

Saruwatari uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A good leg kick by Gaskins.
Gaskins tries to score with a low kick but Saruwatari moves his leg out of the way.
Saruwatari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saruwatari takes one to the chin there.
Gaskins throws a hook but Saruwatari avoids it easily.

Saruwatari gets a clinch.
Gaskins stops a takedown attempt from Saruwatari.
A hook to the body from Saruwatari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Saruwatari is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gaskins is defending well.
Saruwatari throws a head punch that misses.
Saruwatari throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gaskinss head.
Saruwatari has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Gaskins misses with a punch to the body.
Saruwatari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gaskins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short body shot lands from Saruwatari as the two fighters clinch.
Saruwatari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gaskins's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Saruwatari lands with a right to the head.
Saruwatari softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gaskins swings wildly with an uppercut but Saruwatari uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Saruwatari fails to land.
Saruwatari misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saruwatari lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gaskins backwards.
Gaskins throws a punch but it's blocked by Saruwatari.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saruwatari.

Gaskins breaks the clinch.
Gaskins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaito Saruwatari dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kaito Saruwatari's cut.
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!

Saruwatari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gaskins moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gaskins tried to score with a low kick but Saruwatari checks it.
Saruwatari feints and then cracks Gaskins's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gaskins down.
Saruwatari misses with a two punch combination.
Gaskins checks the leg kick nicely there.
Gaskins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saruwatari throws a head kick that misses.
Saruwatari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saruwatari with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gaskins to score with a decent uppercut.
Saruwatari checks a low kick from Gaskins.
Saruwatari connects with a solid leg kick.
Saruwatari misses with an uppercut. Gaskins saw that one coming.
Saruwatari throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gaskins misses the shot to the body.
Saruwatari throws a chopping leg kick but Gaskins manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gaskins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saruwatari on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gaskins cracks the inside of Saruwatari's front leg.
Gaskins chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Saruwatari can pounce on him.
Saruwatari connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Saruwatari gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gaskins.
Gaskins throws a leg kick which misses Saruwatari's front leg but catches the back leg as Saruwatari tries to avoid it.
A good leg kick by Gaskins.
Gaskins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saruwatari shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gaskins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Saruwatari clinches with his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gaskins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gaskins tries to work over Saruwatari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gaskins is trying to break the clinch but Saruwatari has him pressed against the cage.
Gaskins has a couple of punches blocked by Saruwatari.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gaskins.
Gaskins lands a nice shot to the body.
Saruwatari tries a body shot but Gaskins blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Gaskins.
Saruwatari misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saruwatari keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gaskins's efforts to push away.
Saruwatari changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gaskins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Saruwatari fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gaskins checks it well.
Gaskins lands a jab to Saruwatari's midsection.
Saruwatari missing with a left hand there. Gaskins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gaskins tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Saruwatari throws a low kick but Gaskins moves out of range easily.
Saruwatari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gaskins stalks Saruwatari and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Saruwatari's face. Saruwatari staggers backwards, shaken.
Gaskins tries to clinch there but Saruwatari circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saruwatari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari loads up on a big right hand but Gaskins slips the punch.
Saruwatari throws a push kick but Gaskins slaps the foot to one side.
Gaskins lands with a nice body punch.
Saruwatari tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gaskins manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saruwatari checks a leg kick.
Saruwatari wants to clinch.
Saruwatari sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Gaskins throws a low kick but Saruwatari moves out of range easily.
Gaskins connects with the punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saruwatari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gaskins throws a big shot that misses.
Saruwatari ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gaskins moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saruwatari tries to close the distance and clinch but Gaskins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gaskins, right into the meat.
Saruwatari misses the shot to the body.
Saruwatari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saruwatari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gaskins throws a head kick but Saruwatari moves out of range.
Gaskins throws a body kick that misses.
Gaskins swats away the attempt to clinch by Saruwatari.
Gaskins throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saruwatari throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gaskins misses the shot to the body.
Saruwatari throws a right and a left that Gaskins avoids nicely.
Saruwatari tried to score with a low kick but Gaskins checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donald Gaskins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gaskins 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donald Gaskins!
Donald Gaskins seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.