PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiragata Saito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gray Fullbuster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiragata Saito has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Saito
vs
Fullbuster

176 cm
23
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hiragata Saito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gray Fullbuster!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fullbuster gets the takedown into side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fullbuster misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Fullbuster throws a strike aimed at the side of Saito's head but Saito avoids it well.
Saito is looking for a sweep.
Fullbuster scores with a couple of short elbows.
Fullbuster sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Saito is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Fullbuster trying to control the position but Saito is working away.
Saito being controlled for a moment.
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.
Fullbuster trying to control the action but Saito is working from the bottom.
Saito takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

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.
Saito prevents Fullbuster from improving position.
Fullbuster is looking to take a break and control but Saito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gray Fullbuster hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Fullbuster shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fullbuster landing strikes from the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fullbuster trying to control but Saito is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saito is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Saito in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Fullbuster looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saito takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Fullbuster dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fullbuster closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fullbuster misses with the ground and pound.

Fullbuster goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Saito has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Fullbuster but great work by Saito.
Saito tries to stand but Fullbuster is controlling his head.
Saito really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fullbuster is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Saito is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Fullbuster tries to hold on but Saito postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fullbuster really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Fullbuster looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Fullbuster is desperately trying to get back to 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.
Fullbuster regains half guard.
Gray Fullbuster has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fullbuster controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Hiragata Saito wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Fullbuster drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fullbuster takes a little break here. Saito wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Fullbuster trying to control the action but Saito is working from the bottom.
Saito dodges the ground and pound from Fullbuster.

That's four 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.
Fullbuster working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Saito's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fullbuster wants to control but Saito is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Fullbuster showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fullbuster looking to score a takedown here. Saito is defending well but Fullbuster drives through and ends up in Saito's guard.
Saito wants to stand up but Fullbuster is controlling him.
Saito is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hiragata Saito.

Fullbuster closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Saito did well to prevent Fullbuster getting side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fullbuster tries to pass to full mount but Saito defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saito trying to hold on to Fullbuster's head to control him but Fullbuster postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Fullbuster throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saito on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Saito tries to get out of the position.
Fullbuster is taking a breather. Saito says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hiragata Saito wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Fullbuster shoots in and bounces Saito off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hiragata Saito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gray Fullbuster is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fullbuster showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Saito keeping full guard, as Fullbuster tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hiragata Saito.

Fullbuster throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Saito was covering up waiting for the punch and Fullbuster finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fullbuster is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Fullbuster shoots in and bounces Saito off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Saito being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Fullbuster closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Saito did well to prevent Fullbuster getting side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fullbuster content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gray Fullbuster comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fullbuster 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gray Fullbuster!