PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Keizo Sawaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pernell Whittaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sawaki might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 'Kodo' by The Yoshida Brothers. Pernell Whittaker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sawaki
vs
Whittaker

175 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
23
152 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keizo Sawaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pernell Whittaker!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whittaker lands the left hand.
Sawaki staying out of range there.
Whittaker throws a leg kick that misses.

Sawaki darts in and clinches Whittaker up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Whittaker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Whittaker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Whittaker is trying to break the clinch but Sawaki has him pressed against the cage.
Sawaki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sawaki digs a right hand into Whittaker's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Whittaker's gas tank.
Whittaker can't break the clinch.
Sawaki missing with knees to the body.
A short right from Whittaker on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Sawaki fails to land.
Sawaki taking a breather.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whittaker just misses with a punch to the body.

Sawaki scores with a takedown into Whittaker's guard.
Sawaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawaki throws and elbow that misses. Whittaker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sawaki's guard. Nice move by Whittaker!
Sawaki wants to sweep but no luck.
Whittaker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Sawaki working for a triangle but Whittaker defends it easily.

Sawaki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Whittaker is aware though and is defending well.
Whittaker content to stall in guard here.

Sawaki working for a triangle but Whittaker defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sawaki is looking for a triangle but Whittaker pushes his legs off easily.
Whittaker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sawaki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sawaki keeping moving, preventing Whittaker from controlling successfully.
Sawaki trying to strike off his back.
Sawaki looking for a sweep. Not yet Sawaki, not yet.
Whittaker wants to control from the top but Sawaki keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sawaki's guard.
Whittaker preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Whittaker misses with a wild combination.
Jab by Sawaki.
Sawaki cracks the inside of Whittaker's front leg.
Whittaker fails to land with a series of punches.
A swing and a miss from Whittaker.
Whittaker swinging wilding here.
Pernell Whittaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whittaker fails to land with a series of punches.
Whittaker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sawaki scoring well with a low kick there.
Whittaker looks gassed!
Whittaker tries to move into range but Sawaki moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sawaki lands a body shot.
Whittaker misses with a straight left.
Whittaker misses with an uppercut.
Pernell Whittaker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Whittaker misses with a hook. Sawaki ducked under it nicely.

Sawaki drives through and clinches with Whittaker against the cage.
Sawaki avoiding damage.
Whittaker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sawaki looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Whittaker can't break the clinch.
Whittaker tries to stall but Sawaki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sawaki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whittaker is defending well for now.
Whittaker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sawaki successfully pulls guard.

Sawaki looking for a triangle here. Whittaker is fighting it but it looks tight! Sawaki pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Whittaker is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Keizo Sawaki!