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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsuro Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 178 cm
33
175 lbs
34 - 13 - 0 |
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187 cm
30
196 lbs
21 - 9 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin |
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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
34 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frank Esposito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Katsuro Sato!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and Phil Schofield.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato throws out a loose jab but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sato thumps Esposito with a low kick.
Sato wants to land a leg kick but Esposito is out of range.
A low kick from Sato is predictable there
and Esposito counters with an outside leg kick.
Katsuro Sato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sato scores with a jab.
Esposito fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Sato misses the target.
Esposito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sato manages to avoid it.
Sato dips to his left and cracks Esposito with an uppercut!
Esposito fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sato has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Esposito swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sato doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Esposito counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito throws an off balance right hand
and Sato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Esposito throws a lazy right hand but Sato sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sato moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Esposito misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sato avoids a kick to the body.
Esposito tries to close the distance and clinch but Sato swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Sato.
Sato fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Esposito fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sato.
Esposito cracks a nice hook into Sato's ribs.
Sato throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A big left from Sato misses.
Esposito fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato blocks a leg kick.
Frank Esposito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sato showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Esposito.
Esposito gets caught flat footed, as Sato shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Esposito trying to control the position.
Sato throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Esposito works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sato postures up.
Esposito is pulling down on Sato's head. It's preventing any offense from Sato, at least for the moment.
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 Frank Esposito.
A clash of legs there as Esposito blocks the low kick.
Sato misses with a low kick.
Sato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Esposito is looking to clinch.
Sato takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sato tries to land a leg kick but Esposito saw it coming and moves away.
Esposito fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sato misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sato's calf.
Sato throws a leg kick that misses.
Sato moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Esposito uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sato.
Esposito scoring well with a low kick there.
Esposito just misses with a punch to the body.
Sato misses with a wild body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sato checks a leg kick.
Sato fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Esposito looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sato throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sato takes one on the chin but seems OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Frank Esposito will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Esposito throws a solid leg kick but Sato takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Esposito.
Sato tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Esposito is able to avoid easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sato. Esposito does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sato looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sato throws a leg kick
and Esposito counters with a straight right hand.
Sato thows a left - swing and a miss!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Esposito.
Esposito throws the kick towards the body but Sato avoids it.
Sato throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Esposito stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Esposito misses with a jab, cross combination.
Esposito misses with a body kick.
Sato lands with a thumping leg kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato thows a left - swing and a miss!
Esposito thows a leg kick but Sato checks it
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sato looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sato throws a leg kick but Esposito sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sato throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Esposito rushes Sato and presses him up against the cage.
Sato jumps guard but Esposito turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Frank Esposito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsuro Sato.
Esposito connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sato's face.
Esposito landing knees to the head.
Esposito lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sato tries to work over Esposito's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Esposito.
Esposito blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sato prevents a body shot from Esposito.
Sato misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esposito goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Esposito lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sato ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sato no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sato has his foot on Esposito's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Esposito works his way back into a safe position though.
Sato being controlled here, momentarily.
Esposito got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sato has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Esposito has managed to get both his arms back between Sato's legs - danger averted.
Sato looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Esposito has picked Sato up and slammed him! Sato can't keep hold of the triangle and Esposito manages to pass to side control!
Sato is trying to get back to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Esposito trying to control the position but Sato is working away.
Sato is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Esposito taking a breather here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref stands the fighters back up because Frank Esposito just wasn't active enough.
Esposito fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sato checks it well.
Sato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Esposito throws a leg kick but Sato moved away.
Esposito throws a lazy right hand but Sato sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Esposito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sato.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esposito looks to throw the jab but Sato is out of range.
Sato throws a hook but Esposito avoids it easily.
Sato misses with an uppercut. Esposito saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Frank Esposito will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Esposito chopping away at his opponent's legs.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Esposito here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Esposito tries to land a leg kick but Sato saw it coming and moves away.
Sato uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Esposito.
Sato takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sato pivots, looking for a leg kick but Esposito is out of range and Sato settles back down.
Esposito lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sato shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sato misses with a hook to the body
and Esposito cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sato shoots in but no luck this time.
Sato misses with a hook.
Sato fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Esposito checks it well.
Sato misses the shot to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sato.
Sato misses with a low kick as Esposito jumps back.
Sato scores with a head kick. Esposito tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Sato takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sato is looking to score with low kicks.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Esposito.
Sato throws a leg kick that is checked
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Esposito scores with a push kick.
Esposito throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito throws out a powerful jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Esposito.
Esposito clobbers Sato with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Esposito is trying to maintain the position but Sato is very close to passing his half guard.
Esposito controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Esposito regains full guard. Nicely done.
Esposito is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Esposito manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sato manages to get himself to full guard.
Esposito has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sato wants to control the position but Esposito says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Katsuro Sato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito wants to pass the guard but Sato is defending well.
Sato works his way to full guard. Good work.
Esposito works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Frank Esposito is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esposito seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sato does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sato wants to get back to full guard but Esposito has passed into side control.
Sato is looking to regain half guard here but Esposito keeps moving and retains side control.
Esposito wants to control for a moment but Sato uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Esposito is controlling the pace.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Esposito missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sato looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sato is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Esposito's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Esposito's back!
And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Esposito showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Esposito has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Esposito!
A very excited looking Frank Esposito rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
65% |
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