PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Saitou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khai Sius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saitou comes to the cage accompanied by XENO. Takeshi Saitou has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saitou
vs
Sius

170 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

176 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

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 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Saitou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Khai Sius!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saitou darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Sius makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Sius defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saitou.
Sius is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Saitou moves into the clinch.
Sius is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Sius escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Saitou clinches with his opponent.
A nice left hand lands by Saitou.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saitou leaning against his opponent.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Saitou - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Saitou throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sius blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sius manages to break the clinch.

Saitou feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Saitou looking to pass the guard.
Saitou postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saitou keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sius's head.

Sius has his foot on Saitou's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saitou works his way back into a safe position though.
Saitou throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sius keeping moving, preventing Saitou from controlling successfully.
Saitou throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sius works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sius keeping moving, preventing Saitou from controlling successfully.
Saitou throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitou with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sius working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saitou.
Saitou with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Saitou passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Saitou working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sius is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Saitou connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sius some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitou looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sius is avoiding damage well.

Saitou is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sius has escaped the position, nice work there.
Saitou working the ground and pound but Sius is defending the strikes.
Saitou tries to advance position but instead Sius slips a leg back in to half guard.
Saitou thows a huge punch but Sius dodges it nicely.
Saitou not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Saitou 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.
Sius works his way to full guard. Good work.
Saitou stopping the sweep attempt from Sius.
Sius is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitou tries to roll over but Sius keeps him under control.
Saitou is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sius's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sius's back!

Saitou looking to break Sius's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Sius remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Saitou will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Saitou is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Sius up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Saitou dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Saitou shoots in looking for a takedown but Sius manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saitou's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Saitou shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sius as he avoids it easily.
Sius steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Saitou.
Saitou throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sius's waist but Sius gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Saitou off to one side.
Sius drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Saitou defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeshi Saitou. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Saitou closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saitou can't find room to land a body shot as Sius controls the action.
Saitou stalling the fight.

Saitou manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saitou wants to clinch but Sius slips to the side
and Sius counters with a two punch combo.
Takeshi Saitou is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saitou fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saitou tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sius paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sius defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saitou.
Sius steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Saitou.
Khai Sius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saitou fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Saitou fails with a takedown attempt.
Sius throws a counter combo.
Saitou fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As Saitou backs off Sius throws a huge counter combo but Saitou manages to avoid it all.
Saitou looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Saitou gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sius counters with a series of strikes. Saitou will be more careful next time no doubt.
Saitou gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sius counters with a series of strikes. Saitou will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitou tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sius defends well and Saitou ends up having to push Sius into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sius is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sius has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Saitou is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Saitou wants to clinch up but Sius keeps it at a distance.
Saitou sets himself, and Sius steps forward looking for the clinch! Saitou avoids it this time.
Saitou tries for a takedown but Sius circles away easily
and Sius counters with a left and a right that stings Saitou.
Saitou shoots and misses
and Sius counters with a series of strikes. Saitou will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saitou has his takedown stuffed
and Sius counters with a one-two to the body.
Sius circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sius counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sius circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sius counters with a left and a right that stings Saitou.
Saitou dives in for a single leg takedown but Sius sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sius throws a counter combo.
Saitou fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sius is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Saitou closes the distance but Sius moves to the side
and Sius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saitou tries to clinch up
and Sius counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitou goes for a double leg but Sius avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sius continues to drive forward.
Sius with the counter takedown but Saitou avoids it easily.
Sius displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Saitou.
Khai Sius seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saitou fails with the takedown
and Sius counters with a series of strikes. Saitou will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saitou tries to clinch
and Sius counters with a two punch combo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saitou is defended easily by Sius.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khai Sius showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sius blocks a head kick by Saitou.
Saitou doesn't manage to clinch there - Sius circles away.
Saitou shoots in looking for a takedown. Sius tries to sprawl out of it but Saitou keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sius manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sius is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Saitou misses with a body shot.
Saitou will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saitou looks to clinch
and Sius counters with a series of strikes. Saitou will be more careful next time no doubt.
Saitou shoots in for a double leg but Sius sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Despite the aggression on Sius's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeshi Saitou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saitou with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sius counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitou shoots in but Sius avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sius stuffs the takedown attempt from Saitou. Saitou gets slowly back to his feet.
Sius slaps away a takedown attempt from Saitou, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As Saitou backs off Sius throws a huge counter combo but Saitou manages to avoid it all.
Saitou tries for a takedown but Sius circles away easily
and Sius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saitou doesn't manage to clinch there - Sius circles away.
Sius is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sius keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitou fails with the takedown

and Sius counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Saitou wants to stand back up but Sius manages to pass into side control.
Saitou struggling a bit here.
Takeshi Saitou overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sius decides to stand back up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saitou misses with a takedown

and Sius counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitou keeps control of Sius as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Sius breaks from the clinch.
Saitou dives in for a single leg takedown but Sius sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Saitou tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sius defends well and Saitou ends up having to push Sius into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Saitou fails with the takedown.
Saitou tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sius defends well and Saitou ends up having to push Sius into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Saitou moves in looking to clinch but Sius pushes him off.
Sius steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Saitou.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sius stuffs the takedown.
Sius changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Saitou tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sius tries to counter with a clinch but Saitou shakes him off and moves away.
Saitou shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sius counters with a one-two to the body.
Saitou looks to clinch
and Sius counters with a series of strikes. Saitou will be more careful next time no doubt.
Saitou tries to clinch up but Sius circles away and keeps his distance.
Sius has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saitou misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sius unleashes a big counter combination but Saitou bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Saitou fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sius steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Saitou.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khai Sius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sius 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 27:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khai Sius!
A very excited looking Khai Sius made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.