PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gnagis Starksson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazu Saku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gnagis Starksson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Starksson
vs
Saku

175 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gnagis Starksson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazu Saku!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Starksson gets caught flat footed, as Saku shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Saku drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Starksson dives on top into guard.
Saku wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Starksson stands up over Saku, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Saku 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.
Saku keeping moving, preventing Starksson from controlling successfully.
Starksson throws a big right hand that misses.
Starksson throwing strikes but missing.
Starksson works over Saku with some ground and pound from guard.
Starksson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saku keeping moving, preventing Starksson from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Starksson looking for a guillotine here but Saku defends easily.
Starksson is breathing heavily.
Starksson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Starksson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saku doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saku manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Saku tries to free his leg and advance position but Starksson is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Starksson keeping moving, preventing Saku from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Saku stops Starksson from standing up.
Saku wants to pass the guard but Starksson is keeping the position.
Saku is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Saku looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Saku trying to control but Starksson is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Starksson is on top in guard.
Saku keeping moving, preventing Starksson from controlling successfully.
Starksson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Saku looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Starksson works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Starksson decides to stand and escape the position.

Saku changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Starksson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Saku working away.

Saku is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Starksson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Starksson sneaks back into half guard.
Saku looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Starksson is trying to control but can't.
Starksson is refusing to be controlled, as Saku sits in half guard.
Starksson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saku tries to pass to full mount but Starksson defends it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Saku shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Starksson pinned against the cage. Starksson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Starksson tries for a takedown but Saku circles away easily

and Saku counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

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

Saku is working for a kimura but Starksson is defending it quite comfortably.

Saku seems to be looking for submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saku is looking to advance position but Starksson won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazu Saku dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Saku with a poor takedown

and Starksson counters with a single leg into guard. Saku didn't expect that.

Saku is rocked!
Starksson landing with the ground and pound.
Saku is still in real trouble! Can Starksson finish him?
Starksson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Starksson lands an elbow.
Saku is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Saku on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Starksson advances to full mount.
Starksson lands a nice shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starksson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Saku wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Saku is breathing heavily.
Starksson lands shots from the back.

Starksson is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Saku has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Saku is trapped and Starksson is scoring with shots to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Starksson is persistently looking for the submission but Saku is defending it well.
Starksson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Saku rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Starksson 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.
Gnagis Starksson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saku taking some punishment here, with Starksson in his half guard.
Starksson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Saku is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Starksson pulls his head out easily.

Starksson is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Saku is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gnagis Starksson!