PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshi Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert Ashton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sato kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is In The Morning. Albert Ashton 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!

Sato
vs
Ashton

185 cm
26
200 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

178 cm
33
190 lbs
20 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

FNF Energy & Stamina - Sale!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hiroshi Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Albert Ashton!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato throws a sloppy body shot

and Ashton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ashton.
Sato has his hands on Ashton's head, controlling the position.

Ashton stands up and waves to Sato to follow him.
Sato shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ashton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sato's waist but Sato gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ashton off to one side.
Sato ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ashton moves away.
Sato misses with a body shot.
Ashton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ashton shoots and misses
and Sato connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hiroshi Sato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Ashton.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato misses with a body punch

so Ashton counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ashton wants to control from the top but Sato keeps moving.
Sato is trying to control the position but Ashton postures up.
Ashton works over Sato with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashton postures up.
Sato knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ashton on the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sato wants to sweep but no luck.

Ashton drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sato manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ashton has Sato in his guard.
Sato stopping the sweep attempt from Ashton.
Ashton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sato postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Ashton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sato is aware though and is defending well.
Sato with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Ashton is looking for a triangle but Sato pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ashton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sato stands up over Ashton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Ashton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sato gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sato throws a big right hand that misses.
Sato wants to control from the top but Ashton keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sato is in close to Ashton's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Ashton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sato's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Ashton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ashton is trying to control the position but Sato postures up.
Sato trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Ashton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ashton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ashton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ashton looks gassed!
Sato throws a big elbow that misses.
Sato wants to control from the top but Ashton keeps moving.
Sato lands a couple of elbows.
Sato lands a couple of digs.
Sato in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Ashton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sato defends it easily.
Ashton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sato manages to get himself to full guard.
Sato looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato controlling the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sato looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ashton tries to free his leg and advance position but Sato is retaining full guard.
Sato looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ashton is one step ahead there.
Sato pulls Ashton in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hiroshi Sato just wasn't active enough.
Ashton takes one to the side of the head.
Ashton slips under a jab from Sato.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sato chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Sato scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sato is trying to control the action in half guard but Ashton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ashton is pressing down on Sato's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sato throws a strike but Ashton rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ashton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sato keeping moving, preventing Ashton from controlling successfully.
Ashton throwing strikes from guard but Sato blocks nicely.
Sato is looking to stand up but Ashton isn't so interested in that idea.

Ashton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ashton postures up.
Ashton wants to control from the top but Sato keeps moving.
Ashton wants to pass the guard but Sato is keeping the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ashton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sato is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hiroshi Sato wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sato connects with a right hand. Ashton shakes it off.
Sato looks for the body kick but Ashton saw that one coming.
Sato leaves Ashton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Sato closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ashton is looking for a sweep.
Ashton is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sato not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ashton is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sato scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sato working the head and body with strikes.
Ashton is trying to get back to full guard.
Ashton is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ashton is in trouble now - Sato has advanced to mount!
Sato scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ashton is looking to improve his position but Sato isn't that keen on the idea.
Sato raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sato landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sato can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ashton is looking to escape.
Sato with the ground and pound from mount.

Ashton is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato landing punches.
Ashton is still in real trouble! Can Sato finish him?

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ashton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ashton takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Sato's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hiroshi Sato!
A victorious Hiroshi Sato thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.