PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Alexander Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ukyo Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smirnov
vs
Sato

173 cm
31
144 lbs
28 - 16 - 1

175 cm
33
140 lbs
25 - 16 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ukyo Sato!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov misses with a left hand
and Sato counters with a low kick, right behind Smirnov 's knee.
Smirnov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Nights Watch MMA Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Sato lands with a cross.
Sato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smirnov dips to his left and cracks Sato with an uppercut!
Sato misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smirnov.
Sato stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smirnov.
Smirnov defending well as Sato loads up on a big left hand.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smirnov.

It looks like Ukyo Sato has been cut.
Smirnov cracks Sato with a right hand to the side of the head.
Smirnov throws a hook but Sato avoids it easily.
Sato scores with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Smirnov connects with a leg kick. Sato looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sato.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sato. That's going to slow Smirnov down.
Sato throws a hook but Smirnov avoids it easily.
Smirnov missing with a left hand there. Sato was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smirnov throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov throws a head kick that misses.
Smirnov lands a glancing blow to the side of Sato's head.
Smirnov cracks Sato with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Smirnov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Smirnov. Sato shrugs it off though.
Smirnov with a hook.
Smirnov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A telegraphed right hand from Smirnov misses the target.
Sato avoids the head kick by Smirnov.
Smirnov lands with an overhand left.
Smirnov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sato on the side of the head.
Smirnov thuds a left hand into Sato's body.
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!
Sato swings for the body but Smirnov moves out of range.
Smirnov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smirnov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smirnov misses with a hook. Sato ducked under it nicely.
Smirnov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sato scores with a push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Smirnov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sato bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smirnov's head backwards.
Smirnov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smirnov cracks the inside of Sato's front leg.
That kick from Sato tenderised Smirnov's leg. Smirnov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Smirnov tries to score with a low kick but Sato moves his leg out of the way.
Sato throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smirnov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smirnov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sato throws a nice head kick!
Smirnov takes one on the button.

Smirnov is rocked!
Smirnov misses with a right hand
and Sato counters with a body kick.
Sato lands a head shot.
Sato moves out of range as Smirnov strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smirnov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sato manages to avoid it.
Sato shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Smirnov eats them both and turns towards Sato to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Oh Smirnov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sato takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sato moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
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 Alexander Smirnov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ukyo Sato's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sato throws a head kick that misses.
Smirnov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smirnov lands a right hook to the body.
Smirnov throws out a powerful jab.
Sato stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Smirnov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smirnov misses with an uppercut. Sato saw that one coming.
A big right from Smirnov misses.
Sato blocks a jab.
Sato moves away from the strike by Smirnov.
Alexander Smirnov is winning the standup battle so far.
Sato avoids the head kick by Smirnov.
Smirnov throws a jab but it's blocked by Sato.
Sato fakes the leg kick and cracks Smirnov in the body.
Sato throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big left from Smirnov misses.
Smirnov blocks a head kick by Sato.
Smirnov throws a jab when Sato was well out of range.
Smirnov misses with an uppercut
and Sato counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Smirnov connects with a nice looking jab.
Sato displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smirnov throws out the jab.
Sato cracks Smirnov with a perfect right hand that drops him to the mat! Smirnov is sitting up but I can't see if he's OK from my position. The referee's count has reached 5,6,7 and Smirnov is still not up. Can he make it? 8,9,10! He's out! Smirnov could not beat the count!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Ukyo Sato!