PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dean Mills (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiroshimo Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mills
vs
Sakamoto

178 cm
23
163 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

168 cm
24
167 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dean Mills!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroshimo Sakamoto!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakamoto has a takedown stuffed.
Mills looks to score with a jab to the body but Sakamoto is just out of range.
Mills checks a leg kick.
Mills misses with a kick to the body.
Mills throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sakamoto.
Mills throws the left hand but Sakamoto avoids the punch easily.
Mills throws a body kick, spinning off balance
enabling Sakamoto to counter with a crisp jab.
Sakamoto moves out of range of the body kick.
Mills looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sakamoto fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mills lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sakamoto at a distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sakamoto.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakamoto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sakamoto moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Mills feints and then cracks Sakamoto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sakamoto down.
Mills misses with a body shot.
Mills misses with a low kick as Sakamoto jumps back.
Nice body kick from Sakamoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mills lands a really nice looking cross but Sakamoto seems unphased.
Sakamoto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Dean Mills has been cut.
Sakamoto throws a body shot but no joy.
Sakamoto swings for the body but Mills moves out of range.
Sakamoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mills.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sakamoto lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mills has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mills and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mills throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sakamoto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mills to score with a decent uppercut.
Sakamoto misses with an uppercut. Mills saw that one coming.
Mills lands with a hook. Sakamoto tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sakamoto with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sakamoto looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sakamoto misses with a kick to the body.

Mills gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mills blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mills misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mills tries to throw a body punch but Sakamoto avoids it by throwing Mills back against the cage.
Sakamoto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sakamoto is working for takedown but Mills is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mills scores with a hook to the body.
Mills misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Sakamoto scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sakamoto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sakamoto.
Mills blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sakamoto lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sakamoto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sakamoto taking a breather.
Sakamoto looking to stall.

Sakamoto manages to break the clinch.
Mills uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sakamoto has time to react.
Mills misses with a body kick.
Sakamoto walks into a stiff left hand from Mills.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills throws a hook but Sakamoto blocks it.
Sakamoto steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Mills throws a big shot that misses.
Sakamoto connects with a crisp jab.
Mills thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sakamoto lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Dean Mills seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mills checks the leg kick.
Mills thuds a left hand into Sakamoto's body.

Sakamoto drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
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.
Mills is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mills managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakamoto is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mills working a defensive guard here.
Sakamoto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakamoto looking to sit in guard and control but Mills gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakamoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mills tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakamoto is retaining full guard.
Mills won't allow Sakamoto to sweep him here.
Mills scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hiroshimo Sakamoto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dean Mills's cut.
That's time! Mills's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mills lands a jab to the head.
Mills plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mills thuds his shin into the meat of Sakamoto's side.
Mills takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mills 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.
Sakamoto uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mills has time to react.
Sakamoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Mills is just out of range.
Mills is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sakamoto.
Mills takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sakamoto is looking to chop away at Mills's legs.
Nice straight punches there by Mills. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mills.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mills misses with a shot to the body
and Sakamoto counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mills thinking.
Mills misses with a low kick.
Sakamoto on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
The crowd cheers as Sakamoto lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mills doesn't seem phased though.

Sakamoto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sakamoto is looking to stall here but Mills recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mills throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sakamoto escapes and throws Mills's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sakamoto looking to control but instead Mills has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Mills is not content to let Sakamoto control the position.
Sakamoto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mills is looking to improve his position.

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.
Sakamoto not doing much here.
Mills wants to get back to full guard.
Sakamoto scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mills is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sakamoto scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sakamoto is keen to just control but Mills is a slippery customer.
Mills is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Mills looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mills wants to control but Sakamoto is keeping busy.
Sakamoto trying to control from half guard but Mills is working away.

That's four 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.
Sakamoto working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sakamoto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sakamoto working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sakamoto throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Mills to regain full guard.
Mills wants to get back to his feet but Sakamoto passes into half guard.
Mills is looking for a sweep. Sakamoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakamoto scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sakamoto seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
My spies in Masaru Fighting Systems II inform me that Sakamoto has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hiroshimo Sakamoto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sakamoto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroshimo Sakamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dean Mills's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mills takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Sakamoto thuds his shin into the meat of Mills's side.
Mills misses with a hook
and Sakamoto counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mills's knee momentarily.
A shot to the body from Sakamoto misses
and Mills counters with a right hand to the body.
Sakamoto lands a slapping body shot.
Mills fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sakamoto pivots, looking for a leg kick but Mills is out of range and Sakamoto settles back down.
Sakamoto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mills scoring well with a low kick there.
Sakamoto missing with a left hand there. Mills was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mills moves out of range of the body kick from Sakamoto.
Hiroshimo Sakamoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sakamoto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sakamoto is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mills steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakamoto.
Sakamoto lands a nice hook to Mills's body. Mills takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mills fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakamoto manages to avoid it.
Sakamoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakamoto throws a wild body kick that Mills sees coming a mile off.
Sakamoto pushes Mills away with a front kick.
Sakamoto misses with a straight left.
Mills throws a low kick but Sakamoto moves out of range easily.
Sakamoto feints the counter takedown.
A good leg kick by Sakamoto.
Sakamoto lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice shot by Mills.
Mills stuns Sakamoto with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A slow jab from Mills misses its intended target.
Sakamoto throws a head kick but Mills moves out of range.
Mills ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mills misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mills uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakamoto.
Sakamoto misses with a looping left.
Mills blocks the body kick.
Dean Mills has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mills.
Mills throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakamoto is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Mills rather than just go for the knockout.
Sakamoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mills.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mills slips under a jab from Sakamoto.
Sakamoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mills blocks a head kick by Sakamoto.
A big left from Sakamoto misses.
Sakamoto lands a front kick.
Mills has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sakamoto finds it's way round the side to connect with Mills's head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mills.
Mills just misses with a punch to the body.
Mills looks for the body kick but Sakamoto saw that one coming.
Mills throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sakamoto.
Sakamoto throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Mills counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mills.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mills.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Mills.
Mills misses with some punches.
Mills will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Mills has a couple of punches blocked by Sakamoto.
Sakamoto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakamoto blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Sakamoto fails to land.
Mills goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Mills fails to land.
Mills trying to stall but Sakamoto improves his position.
Sakamoto throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Millss head.
Sakamoto misses with an elbow over the top.
Sakamoto blocking some punches.
Sakamoto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mills pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakamoto leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sakamoto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mills lands with a short shot to the head.
Sakamoto blocks an uppercut.
Sakamoto struggles to land a body shot inside as Mills controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Mills tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sakamoto's elbow.
Mills misses with an elbow over the top.
Hiroshimo Sakamoto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mills lands an uppercut.
Sakamoto is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakamoto.
Sakamoto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mills is keeping busy.
Sakamoto scores with a nice hook to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakamoto swings wildly with an uppercut but Mills uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mills.
Mills misses with a punch on the inside.
Sakamoto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mills's elbow.

Sakamoto breaks from the clinch.
Sakamoto blocks a head kick by Mills.
Mills backing away here, and Sakamoto unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hiroshimo Sakamoto.
I've got Sakamoto 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Hiroshimo Sakamoto!
After winning the bout, Hiroshimo Sakamoto thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.