PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hajime Saito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Hajime Saito has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Saito
vs
Lopez

185 cm
22
193 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hajime Saito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jay Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Saito looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saito fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Saito gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lopez taking a breather.

Lopez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Saito clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Saito rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Lopez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Saito looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Lopez.
Lopez prevents Saito from improving his position.
Lopez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lopez trying to control from Saito's half guard. Saito has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Lopez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lopez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez wants to pass the guard but Saito is keeping the position.

Saito throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Saito keeps moving.
Lopez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lopez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Saito is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lopez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lopez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saito keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.
Lopez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lopez connects with a nice short shot to Saito's temple.
Lopez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saito. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saito moves into full guard.
Lopez with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez postures up.
Saito manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lopez manages to get himself to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lopez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Saito trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lopez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Saito is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Saito is breathing heavily.
Lopez is striking but Saito is not phased and passes to half guard.
Lopez is pressing down on Saito's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Saito trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saito is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Saito from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Lopez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lopez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Lopez keeping full guard, as Saito tries to pass.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saito throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lopez's waist but Lopez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Saito off to one side.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lopez.
Lopez in side control lands a decent elbow.
Lopez scores with punches from side control.
Lopez grinds an elbow into Saito's temple.
Saito gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Lopez working the head and body with strikes.
Saito moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez chips away with some ground and pound.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Saito avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Saito looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lopez tries to free his leg and advance position but Saito is retaining full guard.
Lopez lands a couple of elbows.
Saito is trying to control the position but Lopez postures up.
Lopez connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Saito looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lopez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lopez in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Lopez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lopez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Saito manages to get back to half guard.
Lopez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Saito is staying active underneath Lopez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Saito is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lopez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lopez's back!
Saito keeps control of the position as Lopez tries to break free.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Lopez defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Lopez breaks Saito's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Saito working for a triangle but Lopez defends it easily.
Jay Lopez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lopez connects with a couple of short punches.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Saito keeps moving.
Lopez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Saito keeping full guard, as Lopez tries to pass.
Lopez won't allow Saito to sweep him here.
Lopez forces his way into half guard.
Saito makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Saito.
Lopez landing some decent shots from guard.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Saito keeps moving.

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.
Lopez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lopez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lopez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Saito's head.
Lopez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saito is keeping the position for now.
Lopez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saito works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saito is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Saito seems to be looking for submissions.

Saito is looking for a kimura here.
Lopez throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saito is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lopez defends it well.
Lopez is looking to improve his position.

Saito is trying to work for a kimura but Lopez is defending well.

Saito is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Saito seems to be looking for submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lopez instigates a clinch.
Lopez is trying to break free.

That's four 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.

Lopez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Saito takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lopez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Saito sneaks back into half guard.
Lopez lands strikes from half guard.

Saito is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Lopez pulls his head out easily.
Lopez slips a nice elbow through Saito's hands, connecting with Saito's forehead.
Lopez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Lopez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Saito moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jay Lopez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Saito gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lopez counters with a takedown into side control.
Lopez cracks Saito with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lopez trying to control the position but Saito is working away.
Lopez working the ground and pound but Saito is defending the strikes.
Saito sneaks back into half guard.
Lopez thows a huge punch but Saito dodges it nicely.
Saito manages to get to full guard.

Saito had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lopez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Saito Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lopez's back instead.
Lopez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Saito's guard. Nice work there by Lopez.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Saito looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saito is trying to control the position but Lopez postures up.
Lopez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Saito's head.

Saito escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Saito escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Saito keeping full guard, as Lopez tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lopez trying to control but Saito is working from the bottom.
Lopez passes Saito's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lopez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lopez is trying to control. Saito wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Saito is looking for a sweep. Lopez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saito is working hard here to advance position.
Saito wants to control but Lopez is keeping busy.
Lopez scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saito is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Lopez gets a takedown into half guard.
Lopez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Saito gets full guard.
Lopez postures up and lands a big shot to Saito's brow.
Lopez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saito is keeping the position for now.
Lopez with a flurry of punches that miss.

Saito has got his arm under Lopez's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Lopez has spun round into Saito's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saito working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lopez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lopez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lopez is in close to Saito's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lopez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Saito can't keep his opponent in guard - Lopez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nice strikes from Lopez there.
Saito regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lopez postures up and lands a big shot to Saito's brow.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saito is looking for a triangle but Lopez pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Lopez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lopez 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Lopez!