PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Li Fen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hayatoshi Sakutara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Fen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Its The Final Countdown. 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?

Fen
vs
Sakutara

222 cm
22
277 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
265 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

RAGE Fightwear
Carnage Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Li Fen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hayatoshi Sakutara!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakutara scores a takedown into full mount!

Sakutara with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Fen is trying to escape the mount but Sakutara keeps good control and instead manages to take Fen's back.

Fen preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sakutara.
Sakutara should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Fen is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Sakutara gets his way!

Fen is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Sakutara gets his way!
Fen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Sakutara's guard. Nice work there by Fen.
Fen wants to stand but Sakutara is controlling his posture from full guard.
Fen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fen happy to just control the position for now.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Fen is looking to take a break and control but Sakutara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Fen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Fen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sakutara to his feet.
Sakutara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fen pinned against the cage. Fen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fen throws a sloppy head kick and Sakutara moves out of range easily.
Sakutara shoots in but Fen avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Fen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Sakutara throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Sakutara working for a triangle but Fen defends it easily.
Sakutara looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fen tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakutara is retaining full guard.
Fen sitting in guard here, content to control.

Sakutara is looking for a triangle but Fen pushes his legs off easily.
Sakutara keeping moving, preventing Fen from controlling successfully.
Sakutara looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakutara, not yet.

Sakutara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fen wants to control from the top but Sakutara keeps moving.
Fen wants to stand but Sakutara is controlling his posture from full guard.

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.
Sakutara lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fen!

Sakutara swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Fen is now in Sakutara's guard. A big mistake from Sakutara there, giving up the dominant position!
Sakutara keeping moving, preventing Fen from controlling successfully.
Fen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Sakutara is looking for a triangle here but Fen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Fen working away.
Sakutara manages to get back to half guard.
Sakutara is pressing down on Fen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sakutara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fen is one step ahead there.
Sakutara being controlled here, momentarily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sakutara looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakutara, not yet.
Fen wants to control from the top but Sakutara keeps moving.

Sakutara looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fen trying to control but Sakutara is working from the bottom.

Fen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fen wants to pass the guard but Sakutara is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Fen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Fen is looking for a kimura here.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Fen seems to be looking for submissions.

Sakutara actively working from the bottom here.
Fen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sakutara gets full guard.
Sakutara tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sakutara working for submissions but it's allowed Fen to get to half guard.
Sakutara gets back to full guard.
Fen trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakutara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sakutara looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Fen passes into half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Fen passes to side control.
Sakutara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sakutara is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sakutara gets back to half guard.
Sakutara is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fen's back!

Sakutara is looking for the choke from the back position but Fen is controlling his hands well.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Fen tries to escape the position.
Fen staying busy and making it hard for Sakutara to control.
Fen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Sakutara's guard. Nice work there by Fen.

Sakutara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fen is stalling in the full guard.
Fen forces his way into half guard.
Sakutara trying to control but Fen postures up.

Fen is trying to work for a kimura but Sakutara is defending well.
Sakutara is refusing to be controlled, as Fen sits in half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Fen wants to free his trapped foot but Sakutara is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Fen is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Sakutara has managed to free his arm - good work.

Fen seems to be looking for submissions.
Sakutara tries to get to full guard but Fen has control of the leg.
Sakutara is looking to control Fen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sakutara avoid being mounted?
Sakutara tries to get to full guard but Fen has control of the leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sakutara tries for a takedown but Fen circles away easily
and Fen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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 Li Fen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Fen takes a swing at Sakutara's ribcage but misses.

Fen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sakutara working a defensive guard here.
Sakutara is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sakutara looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sakutara wants to control but Fen is keeping him busy.

Sakutara is working for a submission of some sort.

Sakutara is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Sakutara is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakutara is looking for a kimura here.

Sakutara seems to be working for a kimura but Fen defends the submission attempt.

Sakutara looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Li Fen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakutara is keen to just control but Fen is a slippery customer.
Sakutara prevents Fen from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Sakutara is working for a kimura but Fen is defending it quite comfortably.
Sakutara passes to full mount!
Sakutara content just to control the position here.
Sakutara can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fen is looking to escape.

Sakutara looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Sakutara working for a guillotine from mount but Fen is in no mood to give up.
Fen regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakutara is keen to just control but Fen is a slippery customer.
Sakutara trying to mount his opponent but Fen defends it.

Sakutara seems to be looking for submissions.
Fen wants to improve his position but Sakutara is controlling well.
Sakutara passes the guard and advances to mount!

Sakutara moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Fen has worked his arm free - good work by Fen!
Fen regains half guard.
Fen is pressing down on Sakutara's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Fen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sakutara drops back, looking for a kneebar! Fen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Fen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Fen!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakutara manages to work his way to half guard, despite Fen's best efforts.
Fen controlling the action here.
Sakutara wants to control but Fen is keeping busy.

Sakutara is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Fen pulls his head out easily.
Sakutara wants to get back to full guard.

Sakutara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Fen is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Sakutara has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fen tries to stand and escape but Sakutara actually recovers to full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sakutara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fen is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fen connects with a looping right hand.
Li Fen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fen scores with a takedown into Sakutara's guard.
Sakutara wants to sweep here but Fen controlling him for the moment.
Fen trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakutara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fen postures up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Sakutara working for a triangle but Fen defends it easily.

Fen stands up and waves to Sakutara to follow him.
Sakutara avoids the head kick by Fen.
Fen shoots and misses

and Sakutara counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fen's guard now.
Sakutara is looking to advance position but Fen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Sakutara tries to hold on but Fen postures up.

Fen swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Li Fen!