PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ron Culerovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kumina Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kumina Sato told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Culerovich
vs
Sato

180 cm
29
155 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

167 cm
25
153 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite 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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ron Culerovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kumina Sato!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Culerovich throws out the jab.
Kumina Sato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Culerovich misses with a left hand
and Sato counters with a good low kick that Culerovich was not able to check.
A good leg kick by Sato.
Culerovich looks to score with a jab to the body but Sato is just out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sato.
Culerovich throws a good cross that connects.
Sato has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Culerovich.
A big right from Culerovich misses.
Culerovich moves out of range of the leg kick from Sato.
Sato avoids a punch combination nicely.
Culerovich swinging wildly here.
Sato ducks under a wild hook from Culerovich.
Culerovich closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sato is looking to chop away at Culerovich's legs.
Sato throws a leg kick
and Culerovich counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sato is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sato lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Culerovich circles away quickly and effectively.
Culerovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Culerovich closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Culerovich.
Sato can't break the clinch.
Culerovich swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sato blocking some punches.
Culerovich swings wildly with an uppercut but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Culerovich lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sato lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Culerovich on the inside.

Sato manages to break the clinch.
Culerovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Culerovich wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ron Culerovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Culerovich lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sato circles away quickly and effectively.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sato - that will leave a mark!
Culerovich misses with a straight left.
Culerovich throws a nice looking combination but Sato bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sato rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Culerovich counters with a stiff right hand.
Culerovich throws a head kick that misses.
Sato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Culerovich manages to avoid it.
A low kick from Sato is predictable there
and Sato takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato wants to land a leg kick but Culerovich is out of range.
Sato swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Culerovich checks a low kick from Sato.

Sato takes the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Sato's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sato tries to land knees in the clinch but Culerovich avoids the damage to the body.
Sato blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Culerovich tries a knee to the head but Sato blocks it.
Sato is looking to break free of the clinch but Culerovich has double underhooks.
Culerovich misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sato tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Culerovich misses with a punch on the inside.

Sato manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Culerovich does no damage.
Culerovich takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Culerovich stuffs the takedown attempt from Sato. Sato gets slowly back to his feet.
Sato slips under a jab.
Sato throws a chopping leg kick but Culerovich manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sato throws a leg kick but Culerovich checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Culerovich throws a head kick but Sato moves out of range.
Sato throws a leg kick that is checked
and Culerovich counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Culerovich throws a right and a left that Sato avoids nicely.

Sato closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Culerovich quickly recovers to half guard.

Culerovich kicks off Sato and gets to his feet.
Sato just misses with a punch to the body.
Culerovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sato lands with a thumping leg kick.
Culerovich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Culerovich is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sato thows a body kick. Culerovich tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Sato has managed to clinch.
Sato is trying to force a seperation but Culerovich has the dominant position.
A knee to the head by Sato.

Sato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sato lands a nice leg kick that just misses Culerovich's sensitive parts.
Culerovich loads up on a big right hand but Sato slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Culerovich pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sato thows a leg kick but Culerovich checks it
and Culerovich counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sato.
Culerovich misses the body punch
and Sato counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Sato gets a takedown into half guard.
Culerovich is trying to stand.
Sato is taking a breather. Culerovich 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.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sato controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sato closes the distance and clinches.
Sato tries to break the clinch but Culerovich is controlling the position.
Culerovich misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Culerovich misses with a two punch combination.
Sato takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Culerovich avoids the head kick by Sato.
Culerovich checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sato.
Culerovich misses with a left hand

and Sato counters with a single leg into guard. Culerovich didn't expect that.
Culerovich keeping full guard, as Sato tries to pass.
Sato wants to control from the top but Culerovich keeps moving.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet but Sato is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sato slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato stops Culerovich from getting back to his feet.
Sato trying to control from half guard but Culerovich is working away.
Sato wants to free his trapped foot but Culerovich is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sato moves nicely into side control.
Culerovich is trying to buck Sato off.
Sato remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sato has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Culerovich is bucking up trying to escape but Sato cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Culerovich is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Culerovich is bucking up trying to escape but Sato cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Sato looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Culerovich squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Sato lands a big elbow.
Culerovich trying desperately to get to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sato trying to control but he's not successful this time.
A nice elbow there by Sato.
Culerovich is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Culerovich trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Sato can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Culerovich is looking to escape.
Sato looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato lands a big elbow.
Sato controlling from the full mount.
Sato is landing with some decent strikes but Culerovich is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sato looking to finish Culerovich with some ground and pound. This is bad for Culerovich!
Sato trying to control but Culerovich is having none of it.
Sato throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Sato jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Culerovich manages to avoid the submission attempt.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato tries to score with some ground and pound. Culerovich controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sato throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Culerovich pushes Sato away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sato gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Culerovich is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sato connects with a decent elbow.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Culerovich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sato tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kumina Sato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sato thows a leg kick but Culerovich checks it
and Culerovich counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sato ducks under a wild hook from Culerovich.
Culerovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Culerovich throws a lazy right hand but Sato sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Culerovich throws a sloppy body shot
and Sato counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sato lands the left hand.
Sato pivots, looking for a leg kick but Culerovich is out of range and Sato settles back down.

Sato takes the fight into the clinch.
Sato is looking to break free of the clinch but Culerovich has double underhooks.
Sato wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sato is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Culerovich misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Culerovich keeps control of Sato as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sato is trying to push Culerovich away but Culerovich has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Sato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Culerovich tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sato counters with a thumping low kick.
Culerovich pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Culerovich scores with a jab to the jaw.

Sato moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Culerovich has a couple of punches blocked by Sato.
Sato has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Culerovich avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Culerovich pushes Sato back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Culerovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Sato.
Sato blocks an uppercut.
Culerovich with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sato blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Culerovich swings wildly with an uppercut but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Culerovich throws a head punch that misses.
Culerovich prevents a body shot from Sato.
Sato has had enough of the clinch but Culerovich keeps him there for the moment.
Sato scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A shot in the inside from Sato.
Culerovich keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sato's efforts to push away.
Sato blocking some punches.
Sato has a couple of punches blocked by Culerovich.
Sato wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Culerovich lands with a short shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Culerovich.

Sato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sato.
Sato will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ron Culerovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato shoots in and drives through. Culerovich sprawls well.
Ron Culerovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kumina Sato.
Sato takes a kick to the side of the head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Culerovich.

Sato takes the fight into the clinch.
Culerovich gets underhooks to prevent Sato's takedown attempt.
Culerovich lands with a light punch inside.
Culerovich scores with a nice hook to the head.
Culerovich throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kumina Sato is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Culerovich.
Culerovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Sato.
A nice left hand lands by Culerovich.
A head punch on the inside from Culerovich fails to land.
Culerovich working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Culerovich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Culerovich misses with a knee strike.
Culerovich has a couple of punches blocked by Sato.
Culerovich working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Culerovich misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sato lands with a left to the head.
Culerovich tries to land a knee to the head but Sato blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head punch on the inside from Culerovich fails to land.
Sato misses with a punch on the inside.
Culerovich misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sato working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Culerovich lands with a left to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Culerovich.
Culerovich throws a head punch that misses.
Culerovich prevents Sato from breaking the clinch.
Sato has Culerovich pressed against the cage.

Sato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sato throws a leg kick
and Culerovich counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sato thinking.
Sato buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Culerovich scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Culerovich does no damage.

Sato closes the distance and clinches.
Culerovich with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Culerovich throws a knee to the head but misses.
Culerovich tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Culerovich is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sato blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Culerovich tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sato lands a hook that snaps the head of Culerovich backwards.
Culerovich lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sato backwards.
Culerovich has a couple of punches blocked by Sato.
Sato blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Culerovich fails to land.

Sato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ron Culerovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Culerovich tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sato was well out of range. Poor timing from Culerovich.
Culerovich looks to score with a jab to the body but Sato is just out of range.
Culerovich on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sato. Sato obviously looking to wear him down.

Sato gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ron Culerovich.
I think Sato has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kumina Sato!