PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saku Thirtynine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Misaki Suzuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Thirtynine might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Speed 2 Remix by Tetsuya Komura . I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Thirtynine
vs
Suzuki

178 cm
27
169 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

170 cm
27
162 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saku Thirtynine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Misaki Suzuki!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thirtynine.
Thirtynine thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thirtynine scores with a three punch combo!
Thirtynine misses with a body kick.
Suzuki stuffs the takedown attempt from Thirtynine. Thirtynine gets slowly back to his feet.
Saku Thirtynine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thirtynine will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saku Thirtynine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thirtynine swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Suzuki misses with a series of wild punches.
Thirtynine throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Suzuki counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice cross by Thirtynine.
Thirtynine slips a jab and a cross from Suzuki.

Suzuki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Thirtynine's half guard.
Thirtynine wants to control but Suzuki is keeping busy.
Suzuki thows a huge punch but Thirtynine dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suzuki not doing much here.
Suzuki drops an elbow to the side of Thirtynine's head.
Suzuki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Thirtynine actively working from the bottom here.
Thirtynine is not content to let Suzuki control the position.
Suzuki working Thirtynine over with strikes.
Thirtynine is refusing to be controlled, as Suzuki sits in half guard.
Thirtynine is trying to maintain the position but Suzuki is very close to passing his half guard.
Thirtynine is looking for a sweep. Suzuki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Suzuki is looking for a kimura here.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Suzuki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Thirtynine counters with a nice double leg into side control. Suzuki won't be happy with that.
Thirtynine is breathing heavily.

Thirtynine thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
An elbow from Thirtynine crashes against the mat.
Suzuki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thirtynine's best efforts.

Thirtynine is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Suzuki is trying to maintain the position but Thirtynine is very close to passing his half guard.
Thirtynine wants to take a breather but Suzuki is having none of it.
Suzuki is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Suzuki actively working from the bottom here.
Suzuki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thirtynine is working away from the top position though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Suzuki misses with a wild combination.

Thirtynine looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Suzuki!
Thirtynine throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Suzuki because Thirtynine loaded up on that one.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thirtynine prevents Suzuki from getting the reversal.

Thirtynine wants to finish this one by submission but Suzuki is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Thirtynine.
Suzuki sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki is pressing down on Thirtynine's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Thirtynine is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Suzuki is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Suzuki has escaped and now he's on top!
Suzuki is in close to Thirtynine's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Suzuki connects with a couple of short punches.

Thirtynine is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Suzuki defends well.
Suzuki postures up in Thirtynine's guard and throws a big left but Thirtynine blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Suzuki passes into half guard.
Suzuki trying to control the action but Thirtynine is working from the bottom.
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 Saku Thirtynine will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thirtynine falls off balance throwing a combination

and Suzuki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Suzuki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Suzuki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Suzuki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thirtynine keeps working.
Thirtynine is trying to get back to full guard.
Suzuki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Suzuki passes the guard and advances to mount!
Suzuki lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thirtynine tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thirtynine is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Suzuki trying to control but Thirtynine is having none of it.
Suzuki lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thirtynine hang on?
Suzuki controlling his opponent.
Thirtynine is desperately trying to improve his position but Suzuki has a good base and remains in mount.
Suzuki in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Thirtynine is in all sorts of trouble here.
Suzuki with shots to the head and body - Thirtynine looks very uncomfortable down there.
Suzuki scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thirtynine?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki lands a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thirtynine is looking to get to half guard.
Suzuki putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Thirtynine tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thirtynine throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Thirtynine is wriggling around trying to escape.
Suzuki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Suzuki dominating with strikes here.
Suzuki landing strikes from the mount.
Thirtynine is wriggling around trying to escape.
Suzuki trying to control but Thirtynine is having none of it.
Suzuki raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Suzuki is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Suzuki shoots in but Thirtynine avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Suzuki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thirtynine connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thirtynine tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Suzuki swivels and escapes.
Suzuki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thirtynine motions for Suzuki to come forward. Thirtynine throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Suzuki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thirtynine.
Thirtynine scores with a nice right hand.
Suzuki blocks a head kick by Thirtynine.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Suzuki throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thirtynine was covering up waiting for the punch and Suzuki finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Suzuki stands up over Thirtynine, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Suzuki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Thirtynine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Suzuki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Suzuki's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Suzuki working some strikes from top position.
Suzuki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Suzuki controls from within his opponent's guard.
Suzuki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Misaki Suzuki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Suzuki scores with a jab.
Thirtynine swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Suzuki throws a right and a left that Thirtynine avoids nicely.
Thirtynine misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thirtynine fails to land with a series of punches.

Thirtynine looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Suzuki!
Suzuki wants to try and get back to his feet.
Suzuki can't escape the position.
Suzuki sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Suzuki gets back to full guard.
Thirtynine wants to pass the guard but Suzuki is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suzuki is looking to sweep but instead, Thirtynine has passed into half guard.
Thirtynine is trying to control. Suzuki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Suzuki trying to hold on to Thirtynine's head to control him but Thirtynine postures up.

Suzuki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thirtynine pulls his head out easily.
Suzuki gets full guard.
Suzuki keeping moving, preventing Thirtynine from controlling successfully.
Thirtynine with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thirtynine sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Thirtynine trying to control but Suzuki is working from the bottom.
Misaki Suzuki has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Suzuki trying to keep a closed guard but Thirtynine is proving a slippery customer.
Suzuki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Suzuki has his foot on Thirtynine's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thirtynine works his way back into a safe position though.
Thirtynine wants to pass the guard but Suzuki is keeping the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thirtynine stuffs the takedown.
Thirtynine keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saku Thirtynine is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thirtynine misses with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Suzuki gets a takedown into half guard.
Thirtynine is looking to escape.
Thirtynine is looking to improve his position.
Suzuki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Suzuki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ground and pound from Suzuki.
Suzuki is looking to take a break and control but Thirtynine is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine is trying is best to control the position here.
Suzuki wants to stand but Thirtynine has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thirtynine throws a right hand that Suzuki ducks under and follows up with a left that Suzuki also avoids with ease.
Suzuki misses with a combination

and Thirtynine counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Suzuki's guard now.
Suzuki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thirtynine trying to control but Suzuki is working from the bottom.
Thirtynine wants to pass the guard but Suzuki is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saku Thirtynine showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thirtynine has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Saku Thirtynine!