PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Benji Saxon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saxon comes to the cage accompanied by Chris Cornell - You Know My Name. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Antonio Ninja was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Saxon
vs
Ninja

190 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Berserker Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benji Saxon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antonio Ninja!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ninja wants to clinch up but Saxon keeps it at a distance.
Saxon lands a head kick!

It looks like Antonio Ninja has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ninja ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saxon moves away.
Saxon moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Saxon has closed the distance and engaged Ninja in a clinch.

Ninja jumps guard and drags Saxon to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ninja looking for a sweep. Not yet Ninja, not yet.

Ninja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ninja seems keen to control Saxon's posture.
Saxon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Saxon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ninja is proving hard to escape from.
Ninja wants to sweep here but Saxon controlling him for the moment.
Saxon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja keeping moving, preventing Saxon from controlling successfully.

Ninja has his foot on Saxon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saxon works his way back into a safe position though.

Ninja has an active guard here but Saxon has managed to pass into half guard.
Saxon wants to control but Ninja is keeping him busy.
Ninja wants to improve his position but Saxon is controlling well.
Ninja wants to control but Saxon is keeping busy.
Saxon seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Saxon trying to control from half guard but Ninja is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Ninja gets back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ninja keeping moving, preventing Saxon from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ninja blocks a head kick by Saxon.
Saxon is breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Saxon.

Ninja fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saxon, pushing him back against the cage.
Saxon is pressed up against the cage. Ninja has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Saxon down to the mat. Saxon avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A jab from Ninja misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A head kick misses from Ninja.
Saxon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ninja.
Antonio Ninja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saxon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ninja.
Ninja drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Saxon throws a head kick that misses
and Ninja counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Saxon looks for a takedown but Ninja sprawls well.
Ninja is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Saxon.

Ninja pushes Saxon up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja has Saxon pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Saxon manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Saxon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ninja jumps guard but Saxon stands there with Ninja around his waist. Ninja gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Benji Saxon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Ninja.
Ninja tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saxon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ninja tries to pull guard but Saxon won't allow it.
Saxon stops a takedown attempt from Ninja.
Ninja tries for a takedown but Saxon manages to get underhooks.
Saxon lands an elbow inside that Ninja shrugs off.
Ninja wants a takedown.
Ninja tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saxon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Saxon throws an elbow that misses.

Ninja pulls guard successfully.

Ninja working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saxon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Ninja is tightening it up a little... Saxon has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Saxon reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Saxon taps out! nice BJJ there by Ninja!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Antonio Ninja!