PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Bean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sato might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to True Survivor - David Hasselhoff. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sato
vs
Bean

190 cm
24
197 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenji Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Bean!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Bruno Lombardi and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bean lands a jab-cross combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sato, as that shot connected.

It looks like James Bean has been cut.
Bean uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sato.
Sato fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bean has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bean throws a right and a left that Sato avoids nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bean.
Sato throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Bean drives through and clinches with Sato against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Bean escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sato has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bean finds it's way round the side to connect with Sato's head.
Sato throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sato swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bean lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bean misses the body punch
and Sato counters with a body kick that stops Bean in his tracks momentarily.
Sato moves in looking to clinch but Bean pushes him off.
Bean wants to counter the offense by Sato and move into the clinch position.
James Bean seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bean instigates a clinch.
Bean is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bean dodges an elbow strike from Sato.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sato has a couple of punches blocked by Bean.

Bean ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bean no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Bean is working an open guard so Sato takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sato throws an overhand right that lands on Bean's shoulder, as Bean tries to avoid the shot.
Kenji Sato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice straight punches there by Sato. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sato.

Bean instigates a clinch.

Sato breaks from the clinch.
Bean checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sato takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sato throws a right and a left that Bean avoids nicely.
Sato takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bean pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
That kick from Sato tenderised Bean's leg. Bean is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bean throws a jab when Sato was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bean takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bean. That's going to slow Sato down.
Sato throws a sloppy head kick and Bean moves out of range easily.
Bean fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sato scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Bean lands a jab to the head.
Sato checks a low kick from Bean.
It looked like Sato wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bean gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bean cracks Sato with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Bean tries to keep at a distance but Sato has taken the fight into the clinch.

Bean breaks the clinch.
Bean cracks the inside of Sato's front leg.
Bean lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato throws a head kick that misses.
Bean looks to land a left hand but Sato moved out of range nicely.

Bean pushes Sato up against the cage in a clinch.
Sato fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Bean breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bean pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bean throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Bean instigates a clinch.

Bean breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bean throws a series of punches but Sato avoids them all with ease.
Sato was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bean's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sato connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Bean scrambles back to his feet.

Bean pushes Sato up against the cage in a clinch.
Sato tries to stall but Bean uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bean scores with a shoulder strike.
Sato lands a nice elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bean's efforts to push away.

Bean's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Sato. Beautiful body shot.
Sato bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Bean has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Bean misses with a two punch combination.
Sato was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Sato wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sato closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Bean counter with a right hand.
Bean misses with a double jab.
Bean swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bean goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sato scores with a shot to the body.
Bean is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sato sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bean fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sato, pushing him back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Sato.
Sato blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Sato fails to land.
Bean is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sato is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bean dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Bean's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bean looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice jab there from Sato.
James Bean seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sato misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bean throws a poor cross that misses
and Sato counters with a left to the body.
Sato looks to throw the jab but Bean is out of range.
Bean getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bean checks a low kick from Sato.
Despite the aggression on Bean's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sato throws a lazy right hand but Bean sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sato works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bean lands with a hook. Sato tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sato avoids the body shot from Bean.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
An inside leg kick from Bean misses.
Bean keeps the fight on the outside.
Bean on the wrong end of a nice jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bean throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sato.
Sato swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bean counters with a nice body shot.
Sato is looking to clinch but Bean is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bean lands a nice shot that snaps Sato's head back.
Sato takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sato misses with a low kick as Bean jumps back.
Sato tries to clinch up but Bean circles away and keeps his distance.
Bean slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sato slips a jab and a cross from Bean.
Bean just misses with a punch to the body.
Bean misses with a straight left.
Bean lands a really nice looking cross but Sato seems unphased.
Sato turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bean comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bean throws a right and a left that Sato avoids nicely.
A good leg kick by Sato.
Bean with a poor takedown
and Sato counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bean has Sato up against the cage in a clinch.
Sato gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bean throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sato lands with a right hand.
Bean avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bean showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sato.
Despite the aggression on Bean's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sato tries to clinch up.
Sato misses with a straight left.
Bean throws a leg kick that misses.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bean misses with a double jab.
Bean takes a swing at Sato's ribcage but misses.
Sato slips a jab and a cross from Bean.
Sato misses with an uppercut.
Bean misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sato.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato takes a swing at Bean's ribcage but misses.
Bean scores with the left hand. Sato knows he should have avoided that one.
Bean throws a low kick but Sato avoids it.
Sato misses with a wild body shot.
Sato changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bean tries to move into range but Sato moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bean throws a right hand that Sato ducks under and follows up with a left that Sato also avoids with ease.
Nice defenses there by Sato.
Some wild striking there from Bean.
Sato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sato is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sato lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sato tries a low kick but Bean avoids it.
Sato dodges the punch combination from Bean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bean thuds his right hand into Sato's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bean, right into the meat.
Sato ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sato with a hook.

That has opened up James Bean's cut even more.
Sato throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bean sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sato takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bean looks to score with a jab to the body but Sato is just out of range.
A shot to the liver by Sato. Beautiful body shot.
Sato staying out of range there.
Bean misses with a body shot
and Sato counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Bean staying out of range there.
Sato scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sato misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bean.
Sato checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sato rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bean moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Bean.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Bean will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on James Bean's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sato connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bean. Bean circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Bean closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bean breaks from the clinch.
Bean with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sato tries to clinch but Bean is having none of it.
Bean swings for the body but Sato moves out of range.
Bean avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bean moves out of range as Sato throws a body kick.
A little jabbing left from Bean on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bean keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sato fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bean checks it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bean swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sato.
Sato takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bean misses with an uppercut.
Sato looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Bean blocks a head kick by Sato.
Some wild striking there from Sato.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Bean moves into range and clinches up with Sato.
Sato looking to stall.
James Bean seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sato tries to land a knee to the head but Bean blocks with his arms.

Sato breaks the clinch.
Bean scores with a jab.
Bean misses the shot to the body.
Sato appears to be looking for a big counter.
A nice combination there by Bean.
Bean throws a wild body kick that Sato sees coming a mile off.
Sato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bean was well out of range. Poor timing from Sato.
Bean slips a straight right by Sato.
Sato jabs at Bean's body.
Bean misses with a body shot.
James Bean 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big right from Sato misses.
Sato misses with a looping left.
Bean misses with a two punch combination.
Bean takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Bean displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bean throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Bean instigates a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Sato.
Sato looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Sato manages to break the clinch.
Bean avoids the head kick by Sato.
Bean wants to counter with a clinch but Sato pushes him away.
Sato avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bean throws a solid leg kick but Sato takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bean.
Sato fires out a quick counter leg kick but Bean just manages to avoid it.
Bean jabs Sato right on the nose. Sato blinks but takes it well.
Sato throws a head kick but Bean moves out of range.
Sato swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Bean counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato tries a body shot but Bean blocks it.
A short right from Sato.
Sato's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sato is trying to break the clinch but Bean has him pressed against the cage.
Sato lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bean blocks the elbow strike.
Bean blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
I was talking to Sato's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Sato lands with a right to the head.
Sato throws an elbow but it misses.
Kenji Sato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bean avoids the elbow strike from Sato, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sato swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bean keeps the fight on the outside.
Bean cracks Sato with a good jab.
Sato misses with a wild body shot.
Bean tries to bum rush Sato with a series of wild strikes but Sato uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A telegraphed right hand from Sato misses the target.
Sato misses with a body shot.
A shot to the liver by Bean. Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sato doesn't manage to clinch there - Bean circles away.

Bean scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee asks Bean politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bean prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sato defending against the ground and pound.
Sato tries to strike but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Bean.
Well Bean 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... James Bean!