PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Art Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stryker McGee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kato
vs
McGee

197 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Art Kato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stryker McGee!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kato wants to clinch up but McGee keeps it at a distance.
Art Kato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by McGee.
Kato doesn't manage to clinch there - McGee circles away.
Kato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McGee scores with a hook to the body. Kato takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kato misses with a straight left.
Kato looks to throw the jab but McGee is out of range.

McGee closes the distance and clinches.

Kato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McGee circles away from the clinch attempt

and McGee decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kato's guard.
McGee loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kato is looking to stand up but McGee isn't so interested in that idea.
McGee sitting in guard, not really doing much.
McGee wants to control from the top but Kato keeps moving.
McGee must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McGee wants to pass the guard but Kato is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato keeping moving, preventing McGee from controlling successfully.
Kato will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kato thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kato leaves McGee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice shot lands for Kato.
McGee swats away the attempt to clinch by Kato.

McGee closes the distance and clinches.

Kato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kato wants to clinch
and McGee counters with a thumping low kick.
Kato is breathing heavily.

McGee shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kato is trying to defend but McGee finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
McGee blocks the strikes from Kato.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGee controlling the pace.
I looks like McGee might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Kato tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
McGee is taking a breather. Kato says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kato wants to get back to his feet.
Kato has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McGee controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGee is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kato defends it well.
Kato missing with punches from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kato wants to get back to full guard.
Kato missing with punches from the bottom.

McGee is trying to work for a kimura but Kato is defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Kato. No joy for McGee on that attempt.
McGee avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

McGee closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kato did well to prevent McGee getting side control.
Kato wants to get back to his feet.
McGee is trying to control the action in half guard but Kato is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McGee scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kato is looking for a sweep. McGee is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kato misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kato keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kato misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kato missing with punches from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Donk. Kato catches McGee right on the button with a cross.
McGee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kato pinned against the cage. Kato gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Art Kato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stryker McGee.

Kato clinches up with McGee and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stryker McGee dominated that round.
That's time! Kato's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kato slaps away a takedown attempt from McGee, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kato misses with a straight left.
McGee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kato pinned against the cage. Kato gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McGee tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kato tries to close the distance and clinch up but McGee swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kato blocks a head kick by McGee.
Kato tries to clinch but McGee moves out of range.
Kato fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato looks to throw the jab but McGee is out of range.
Stryker McGee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kato tries to clinch

and McGee decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kato's guard.
McGee wants to control from the top but Kato keeps moving.
Kato will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGee trying to control the position from guard on top but Kato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kato throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
McGee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kato swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kato throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
McGee trying to control but Kato is working from the bottom.
Kato trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kato tries to clinch up
and McGee finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
McGee ducks under a wild hook from Kato.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

McGee scores a takedown into full mount!
Kato sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kato flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
McGee wants to take a breather but Kato is having none of it.
Kato punching from the bottom.
Kato tries to kick McGee off but McGee keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McGee winds up and cracks Kato with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
McGee passes the guard and advances to mount!
McGee trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGee prevents Kato from getting the reversal.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for McGee. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
McGee dominating with strikes here.
Kato throwing hammer fists to the chest of McGee. What's that going to do exactly?
Kato tries to buck McGee off but McGee takes his back!
McGee lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by McGee.
Kato wants to get back to his feet.

Kato fending off the submission attempt from McGee.
Can Kato hold on?! McGee is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kato is trying to break free.
McGee controls the action.

McGee looking for the choke but no joy.
McGee is trying to stick to Kato's back but Kato is turning into McGee. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in McGee's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kato.

Kato gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
McGee tries to clinch but Kato moves away
and Kato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McGee tries to close the distance and clinch but Kato swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stryker McGee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kato is looking to clinch but McGee is avoiding it.
Kato leaves McGee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kato wants to clinch

and McGee counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McGee.

Kato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kato closes the distance looking to clinch
and McGee finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kato throws a hook but McGee avoids it easily.
Kato swats away the attempt to clinch by McGee.
McGee avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato loads up on a big right hand but McGee slips the punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGee lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McGee shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kato as he avoids it easily.
McGee lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by McGee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato takes a head kick and keeps coming.
McGee throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kato darts in trying to clinch
and McGee counters with a body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kato manages to break the clinch.
McGee circles away from the clinch attempt
and McGee counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kato tries to clinch
and McGee counters with a nice uppercut.
Kato is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
McGee lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kato backs up against the cage.
McGee ducks under a wild hook from Kato.
Kato stuffs the takedown attempt from McGee. McGee gets slowly back to his feet.
Art Kato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stryker McGee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Kato as McGee shoots in.
McGee shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kato but Kato pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jab from Kato.

Kato tries to keep at a distance but McGee has taken the fight into the clinch.
McGee looking for a takedown.
McGee keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kato's efforts to push away.
McGee keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kato's efforts to push away.
McGee drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kato pulls his leg out and moves away.
McGee shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kato as he jumps to the side.
McGee pushes Kato away with a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGee takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
McGee blocks a jab.

Kato gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McGee to score an easy takedown into full guard.
McGee sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stryker McGee has got the better of the ground game so far.
McGee takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Art Kato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kato looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kato is looking to stand up but McGee isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato keeping moving, preventing McGee from controlling successfully.
Kato striking off his back but it's not causing McGee any problems.
McGee wants to control from the top but Kato keeps moving.

Kato is working an open guard so McGee takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
McGee moves out of range of the strikes.
McGee throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kato fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kato connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
McGee fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kato avoids it really well and circles away.
Kato stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kato wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stryker McGee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McGee 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stryker McGee!