PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Austin Fowler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiroyuki Saitou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Fowler
vs
Saitou

196 cm
25
182 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

188 cm
23
176 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans

Fishy Fighting

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Austin Fowler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroyuki Saitou!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saitou throws a combination. Fowler tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Austin Fowler has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saitou. Fowler does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saitou defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fowler.
Fowler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Saitou throws a body punch but Fowler moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Fowler or perhaps it was just good defense by Saitou which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Austin Fowler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saitou misses with a double jab.
Fowler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fowler shoots in looking for a takedown. Saitou tries to sprawl out of it but Fowler keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saitou manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Saitou misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saitou just misses with a punch to the body.
Fowler swings widly with a right hand
and Saitou counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hiroyuki Saitou seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fowler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fowler lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Saitou keeping moving, preventing Fowler from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fowler lands a couple of elbows.
Fowler is looking to work some ground and pound but Saitou has wrist control.

Fowler is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Saitou is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Saitou has escaped and now he's on top!

Fowler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saitou doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saitou manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Saitou pushing down on Fowler's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Saitou wants to take a breather but Fowler is having none of it.
Fowler is trying to control but can't.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Saitou lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitou seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fowler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Fowler missing with punches from the bottom.
Fowler 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.
Saitou tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fowler knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Fowler is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Saitou's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Saitou's back!

Fowler looking for the choke but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saitou prevents Fowler from getting a body triangle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Fowler has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Saitou has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Saitou covering up well under a series of strikes from Fowler.
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 Austin Fowler will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Austin Fowler's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters circle momentarily. Fowler darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Saitou throws a series of punches but Fowler moves out of range.
Fowler misses with a hook
and Saitou counters with a nice body shot.
Fowler dives in and grabs Saitou's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saitou pushes down on Fowler's head and hops out.
Fowler with a lazy takedown attempt
and Saitou counters with a left and a right that stings Fowler.
Saitou swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Fowler counter with a right hand.
Fowler avoids a punch combination nicely.
A punch combination from Saitou misses.
Saitou misses with a hook

and Fowler counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fowler trying to control but Saitou is working from the bottom.
Fowler scoring with some ground and pound.
Fowler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitou utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saitou trying to keep a closed guard but Fowler is proving a slippery customer.
Fowler postures up and lands a big shot to Saitou's brow.
Fowler postures up and lands a big shot to Saitou's brow.
Fowler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fowler wants to control from the top but Saitou keeps moving.

Saitou escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fowler gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fowler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fowler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fowler trying to control the position from guard on top but Saitou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitou utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saitou looking to control.
Fowler working some strikes from top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fowler is looking to work some ground and pound but Saitou has wrist control.
Fowler landing with the ground and pound.
Fowler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fowler throws a big right hand that misses.
Fowler throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fowler throws a big right hand that misses.
Fowler scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Fowler dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Austin Fowler's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Saitou swings away with a body shot that misses
and Fowler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Saitou throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fowler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fowler. Saitou does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fowler shoots in but Saitou avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Fowler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saitou defending against the ground and pound.
Fowler working the head and body with strikes.
Saitou taking a bit of punishment here - Fowler scoring with strikes.
Fowler sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Saitou is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Saitou is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Saitou can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitou is looking to reverse the position.
Saitou is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Fowler landing strikes.
Saitou managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Fowler.
Fowler postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Fowler throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Fowler sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Saitou is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Fowler throwing strikes but Saitou manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Fowler tries to buck Saitou off but Saitou is having none of it.
Fowler manages to work his way to half guard, despite Saitou's best efforts.
Fowler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saitou is looking to advance position but Fowler won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fowler tries to get to full guard but Saitou has control of the leg.
Fowler slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fowler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Saitou got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fowler has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saitou has managed to get both his arms back between Fowler's legs - danger averted.
Austin Fowler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Fowler has his foot on Saitou's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saitou works his way back into a safe position though.
Saitou trying to control the position from guard on top but Fowler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fowler is looking for a triangle but Saitou pushes his legs off easily.
Hiroyuki Saitou has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Austin Fowler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saitou missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Austin Fowler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fowler, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Fowler!
Austin Fowler made sure to mention his sponsor, CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans in his post fight interview.