PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michale Keith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alessio Sakara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alessio Sakara has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michale Keith's chin.

Keith
vs
Sakara

200 cm
19
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Dragon
HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

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 Los Angeles, Michale Keith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alessio Sakara!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Keith rushes Sakara and presses him up against the cage.
Sakara can't get the takedown.
Keith tries to score a body lock takedown but Sakara shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sakara is looking to take this one to the mat.
Keith is trying to break the clinch but Sakara has him pressed against the cage.
Sakara on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sakara successfully pulls guard.
Sakara looks winded!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Keith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakara is keeping the position for now.
Keith is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakara has wrist control.
Our spies down at at HILITE Fighting Club inform us that Sakara has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Keith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Keith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Keith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakara on the ground.
Keith seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sakara for as long as he can get away with.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michale Keith wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sakara shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Keith as he jumps to the side.
Michale Keith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alessio Sakara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keith goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Keith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sakara circles away.

Keith pushes Sakara up against the cage in a clinch.
Keith lands with a right to the head.
Keith is trying to push Sakara away but Sakara has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Keith lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sakara or not.
Sakara keeps control of Keith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Keith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sakara trying to control the position but instead, Keith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sakara into the cage.
Sakara looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Keith has Sakara pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Keith successfully pulls guard.
Keith is pulling down on Sakara's head. It's preventing any offense from Sakara, at least for the moment.
Keith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sakara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Keith has control of Sakara's left arm, preventing Sakara from doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Michale Keith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sakara takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Alessio Sakara has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakara closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Keith wants to improve his position but Sakara is controlling well.
Keith is holding on to half guard well.
Keith trying to control from the bottom.
Sakara wants to stand but Keith has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Keith is trying to maintain the position but Sakara is very close to passing his half guard.
Keith keeping control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Michale Keith just wasn't active enough.
Keith shoots in for a takedown but Sakara shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakara changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Keith tries to avoid it but Sakara manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Keith to the ground. Keith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Keith clinches with his opponent.
Keith content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Keith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakara.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Keith tries to pull guard but Sakara won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Keith jumps guard.
Sakara looking to pass the guard.
Sakara keeps trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michale Keith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alessio Sakara's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Keith shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sakara eats them both and turns towards Keith to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sakara darts in trying to clinch
and Keith counters with a one-two to the body.
Sakara tries to clinch up.
Sakara stuffs the takedown attempt from Keith. Keith gets slowly back to his feet.
Keith moves in looking to clinch but Sakara pushes him off.
Sakara keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sakara is breathing heavily.
Keith moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sakara shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sakara wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michale Keith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakara showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Keith.
Sakara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Keith swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Keith drives through and clinches with Sakara against the cage.
Keith tries to score a body lock takedown but Sakara shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Keith has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sakara uses from the top position.
Sakara is looking to stand up but Keith won't let him.
Sakara tries to free his leg and advance position but Keith is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakara with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakara postures up in Keith's guard and throws a big left but Keith blocks it.
Sakara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Keith is keeping the position for now.
Sakara trying to control but Keith is working from the bottom.
Michale Keith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Keith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakara manages to get himself to full guard.

Keith drops back looking for a leg! Sakara is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sakara manages to kick Keith off! Keith jumps back into Sakara's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakara controlling Keith's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keith won't allow Sakara to sweep him here.
Keith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sakara looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakara, not yet.
Sakara can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Keith controls the pace.
Keith is working Sakara over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sakara is looking to sweep but instead, Keith has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sakara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Keith pulls his head out easily.
Sakara wants to get back to full guard but Keith has passed into side control.
Sakara tries to buck Keith off but Keith is having none of it.
Sakara striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
The referee asks Keith politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Keith prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sakara managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Keith.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Keith stands up and beckons Sakara to his feet.

Keith rushes Sakara and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michale Keith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alessio Sakara's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Keith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sakara comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sakara tries to break free but Keith pushes him back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Sakara successfully pulls guard.

Keith stands and steps away. Sakara gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Keith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sakara manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Keith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Keith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keith stays in close to Sakara's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakara is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Keith prevents Sakara from getting back to his feet.
Keith pushing down on Sakara's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sakara is looking to improve his position.

Keith stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Sakara to get to his feet.
Keith shoots in looking for a takedown but Sakara manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Keith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakara looks for a takedown but Keith sprawls well.
Keith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Keith fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sakara looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Keith clinches up against the cage.

Keith pulls guard effortlessly.
Keith has a closed guard, preventing Sakara from standing up.
Sakara trying to control the position from guard on top but Keith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakara lands a couple of elbows.
Keith is controlling Sakara's posture.
Keith is looking to stand up but Sakara isn't so interested in that idea.
Keith is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sakara decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Keith, up you get!
Keith slaps away a takedown attempt from Sakara, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Keith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michale Keith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakara tries for a takedown but Keith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Keith thows a leg kick but Sakara checks it
and Sakara counters with a stiff right hand.
Keith wants to clinch up but Sakara keeps it at a distance.
Keith throws a leg kick that is checked

and Sakara counters by clinching up.
Keith will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sakara up against the cage.

Keith pulls guard successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakara stops Keith from standing up.
Sakara trying to control but Keith is working from the bottom.
Alessio Sakara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michale Keith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michale Keith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Keith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michale Keith!