PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Katsuro Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeru Kyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kyle has chosen I Like to Move It as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sato
vs
Kyle

187 cm
32
196 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

184 cm
33
200 lbs
28 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Katsuro Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeru Kyle!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato scores with a nice body kick.
A slow jab from Kyle misses its intended target.
Kyle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kyle scores with a hook.
Kyle throws a low kick but Sato moves out of range easily.

Kyle gets a double leg takedown into Sato's guard.
Sato looking to control.

Sato looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sato is on top in guard.
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!
Sato wants to control from the top but Kyle keeps moving.
Sato looking to pass the guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kyle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sato pushes down on Kyle's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sato landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Kyle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kyle regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sato trying to control but Kyle is working from the bottom.
Sato passes Kyle's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Kyle looking for submissions off his back.
Sato wants to take a breather but Kyle is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kyle is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sato scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kyle is trying to get back to full guard.
Sato wants to control but Kyle is keeping him busy.
Kyle regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kyle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kyle keeping moving, preventing Sato from controlling successfully.
Sato advances to half guard.
Kyle lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Kyle felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kyle misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kyle flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sato thows a huge punch but Kyle dodges it nicely.
Sato is trying to control. Kyle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kyle wants to get back to full guard.
Kyle is still trying to improve position.
Kyle gets back to full guard.
Sato slips nicely into half guard.
Kyle wants to sweep but Sato has passed to side control!
Sato cracks Kyle with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sato working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kyle is looking to regain half guard here but Sato keeps moving and retains side control.
Sato trying to control the action but Kyle is working from the bottom.
Sato lands a nice forearm strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kyle taking punishment in the form of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sato throws a strike aimed at the side of Kyle's head but Kyle avoids it well.
Sato lands some shots froms side control.
Sato scores with punches from side control.
Sato cracks Kyle with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sato landing strikes.
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.
Kyle is trying to improve his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sato landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuro Sato dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kyle moves into the clinch.
Sato goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kyle prevents it.
Kyle's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kyle scores with a shoulder strike.
Sato blocks a body shot from Kyle.
Sato is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kyle gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sato blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kyle misses with a punch on the inside.
Sato is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kyle pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Katsuro Sato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kyle misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sato has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kyle after a bit of a struggle.
Sato tries to score a body lock takedown but Kyle shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kyle goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sato can't break the clinch.
Kyle swings wildly with an uppercut but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kyle scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kyle lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sato backwards.

Sato pulls guard.
Sato can't keep his opponent in guard - Kyle advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kyle is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sato wants to improve his position but Kyle is controlling well.
Kyle is looking to advance position but Sato won't allow it.
Kyle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Sato is defending against the submission attempts here by Kyle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kyle not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato wants to get back to full guard.
Kyle is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sato is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kyle throws a strike but Sato avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kyle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sato swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kyle postures up and lands a big shot to Sato's brow.
Sato wants to control the position but Kyle says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kyle prevents Sato from improving his position.
Kyle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kyle misses with a head shot. Sato uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kyle wants to pass the guard but Sato is keeping the position.
Kyle lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kyle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sato works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sato tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sato wants to control but Kyle passes easily into half guard.
Kyle not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kyle connects with a nice short shot to Sato's temple.
Kyle landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sato keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kyle thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sato's head.
Sato is pressing down on Kyle's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sato 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sato is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sato is trying to control the position but Kyle postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kyle is looking to advance position but Sato has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kyle is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeru Kyle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sato gets caught flat footed, as Kyle shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kyle scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kyle stopping the sweep attempt from Sato.
Kyle with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sato working a defensive guard here.
Kyle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sato is keeping the position for now.
Kyle throwing strikes from guard but Sato blocks nicely.
Kyle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sato swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kyle throwing strikes but missing.
Kyle with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kyle is looking to work some ground and pound but Sato has wrist control.
Kyle works over Sato with some ground and pound from guard.
Kyle works over Sato with some ground and pound from guard.

Sato looking for subs off his back but Kyle has passed one foot through into half guard.
Kyle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kyle is nestled in close to Sato, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato manages to get to full guard.
Sato utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kyle.
Kyle looking to pass the guard.
Kyle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sato utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kyle.
Sato trying to keep a closed guard but Kyle is proving a slippery customer.
Sato utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kyle scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kyle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kyle throws an elbow that misses. Sato uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kyle's guard. Nice move by Sato!
Sato advances to half guard.
Sato thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kyle's head.
Kyle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sato blocks the strikes from Kyle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kyle is looking to improve his position.
Sato is looking to advance position but Kyle won't allow it.
Kyle tries to roll over but Sato keeps him under control.
Sato not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kyle tries to get to full guard but Sato has control of the leg.
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!

Sato is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kyle is just riding it out for now. Sato eventually gives up the hold.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeru Kyle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kyle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeru Kyle!
Takeru Kyle gave a mention to KAISER in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).