PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Saku Katsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bio Hazzard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hazzard has chosen Warrior's Dance as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Katsumoto
vs
Hazzard

180 cm
25
190 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

178 cm
27
185 lbs
9 - 16 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saku Katsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bio Hazzard!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hazzard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Katsumoto looking for a takedown.

Hazzard breaks from the clinch.

Hazzard forces Katsumoto back against the cage and clinches.
Katsumoto prevents a body shot from Hazzard.
Hazzard creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Katsumoto's defenses.
Hazzard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Katsumoto lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Hazzard manages to break the clinch.
Hazzard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Katsumoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Hazzard.

Hazzard darts in and clinches Katsumoto up against the cage.

Hazzard breaks from the clinch.
Hazzard tries to clinch there but Katsumoto circles away.
Bio Hazzard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hazzard tries to clinch
and Katsumoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hazzard ducks under a wild hook from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto keeps the fight on the outside.
Hazzard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Katsumoto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hazzard tries to avoid it but Katsumoto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hazzard to the ground. Hazzard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Hazzard has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazzard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Katsumoto lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Hazzard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hazzard tries to clinch but Katsumoto is having none of it.

Hazzard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hazzard lands an elbow just above Katsumoto 's eye.
Katsumoto wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saku Katsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hazzard gets underhooks to prevent Katsumoto's takedown attempt.
Katsumoto drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hazzard gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Hazzard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hazzard instigates a clinch.
Katsumoto wants a takedown.
Katsumoto tries for a takedown but Hazzard manages to get underhooks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hazzard lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hazzard lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Katsumoto is breathing heavily.

Hazzard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hazzard moves into the clinch.

Hazzard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto keeps the fight on the outside.

Hazzard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Katsumoto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Katsumoto takes a knee to the side of the body.

Hazzard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hazzard doesn't manage to clinch there - Katsumoto circles away.
Hazzard darts in trying to clinch

and Katsumoto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Katsumoto looking to pass the guard.
Katsumoto prevents Hazzard from getting back to his feet.
Katsumoto is looking to pass into half guard but Hazzard pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hazzard is in guard.
Katsumoto wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard tries to stand but Katsumoto is controlling from the bottom.
Katsumoto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hazzard manages to get himself to full guard.
Katsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Hazzard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Katsumoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Hazzard is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hazzard pushes Katsumoto off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hazzard tries to clinch
and Katsumoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hazzard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Katsumoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hazzard tries to clinch there but Katsumoto circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Hazzard as Katsumoto shoots in.

Hazzard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hazzard tries a knee to the head but Katsumoto blocks it.

Hazzard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hazzard scores with a leg kick.
Hazzard is looking to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hazzard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Katsumoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hazzard throws a series of punches but Katsumoto avoids them all with ease.
Hazzard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Katsumoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hazzard has closed the distance and engaged Katsumoto in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bio Hazzard dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hazzard darts in trying to clinch
and Katsumoto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hazzard throws a sloppy head kick

and Katsumoto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Katsumoto.
Katsumoto is looking to pass into half guard but Hazzard pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hazzard is in guard.
Katsumoto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Katsumoto is looking for a kimura here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Katsumoto seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsumoto trying to pass the guard but Hazzard defending well.

Hazzard is defending against the submission attempts here by Katsumoto.
Hazzard looks like he's trying to stand up.
Katsumoto trying to control the action but Hazzard is working from the bottom.

Hazzard pushes Katsumoto off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard doesn't manage to clinch there - Katsumoto circles away.

Hazzard moves into the clinch.
Katsumoto is working for takedown but Hazzard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Katsumoto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hazzard pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hazzard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hazzard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hazzard doesn't manage to clinch there - Katsumoto circles away.
Katsumoto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hazzard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hazzard looks to land a combination but Katsumoto avoids it well.
Katsumoto throws a head kick but Hazzard moves out of range.
Katsumoto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hazzard.
Katsumoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard doesn't manage to clinch there - Katsumoto circles away.

Hazzard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hazzard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hazzard is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saku Katsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hazzard crunches a lovely knee into Katsumoto's ribcage.
Bio Hazzard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hazzard scores with a knee to the head.

Hazzard manages to break the clinch.
Hazzard tries to clinch up.

Hazzard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Katsumoto, pushing him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Katsumoto has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hazzard clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Hazzard has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Hazzard is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Katsumoto off. It looks like it's working - Katsumoto slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Hazzard displaying calm under pressure there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto keeps the fight on the outside.

Hazzard clinches.

Hazzard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hazzard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Katsumoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saku Katsumoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Katsumoto keeps the fight on the outside.
Bio Hazzard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hazzard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hazzard tries to close the distance and clinch but Katsumoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Katsumoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hazzard shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hazzard is looking to clinch but Katsumoto is avoiding it.
Hazzard is looking to clinch but Katsumoto is avoiding it.

Hazzard clinches up against the cage.
Hazzard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Katsumoto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bio Hazzard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hazzard instigates a clinch.
Hazzard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hazzard lands with a left to the head.
Hazzard creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Katsumoto's defenses.

Hazzard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Katsumoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hazzard closes the distance but Katsumoto moves to the side
and Katsumoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Hazzard instigates a clinch.

Hazzard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hazzard lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Katsumoto misses with a head kick.
Katsumoto keeps the fight on the outside.

Hazzard moves into the clinch successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hazzard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hazzard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bio Hazzard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hazzard is looking to clinch.
Hazzard moves in looking to clinch but Katsumoto pushes him off.
Hazzard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Katsumoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hazzard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hazzard moves in looking to clinch but Katsumoto pushes him off.

Katsumoto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Katsumoto wants a takedown but no success here.
Hazzard scores with a knee to the head.
Katsumoto is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hazzard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hazzard scores a nice knee to the body.
Hazzard lands a nice shot to the body.

Hazzard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hazzard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Katsumoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Katsumoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bio Hazzard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hazzard forces Katsumoto back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hazzard.
Katsumoto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hazzard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saku Katsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hazzard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hazzard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Katsumoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hazzard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hazzard moves in looking to clinch but Katsumoto pushes him off.
Katsumoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Hazzard.
Katsumoto swings for the body but Hazzard moves out of range.

Hazzard pushes Katsumoto up against the cage in a clinch.
Katsumoto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hazzard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hazzard tries to land a knee to the head but Katsumoto blocks with his arms.
Katsumoto is working for takedown but Hazzard is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard lands a knee to the body.
Hazzard comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Hazzard breaks from the clinch.

Katsumoto closes the distance and clinches.

Hazzard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hazzard doesn't manage to clinch there - Katsumoto circles away.
Hazzard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Katsumoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hazzard tries to clinch there but Katsumoto circles away.
Hazzard looks to land a combination but Katsumoto avoids it well.
Hazzard tries to clinch but Katsumoto is having none of it.
Katsumoto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hazzard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hazzard doesn't manage to clinch there - Katsumoto circles away.
Katsumoto throws out a loose jab but Hazzard uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard wants to clinch
and Katsumoto counters with a three punch combo that has Hazzard backing up. Hazzard nods at Katsumoto to acknowledge the strikes.

Hazzard is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hazzard tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Katsumoto counters with a huge overhand right that connects right on the temple, sending him crumpling, face first to the floor! This one is all over! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Saku Katsumoto!
A victorious Saku Katsumoto thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.