PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Apolinario Mabini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saku Thirtynine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thirtynine has chosen Speed 2 Remix by Tetsuya Komura as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Mabini
vs
Thirtynine

183 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Apolinario Mabini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saku Thirtynine!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mabini clinches up with Thirtynine and pushes him back against the cage.
Thirtynine prevents the takedown attempt.

Mabini has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thirtynine uses from the top position.
Thirtynine slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thirtynine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mabini keeps working.

Thirtynine decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Thirtynine shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mabini tries to kick Thirtynine off in order to stand up. Thirtynine Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Mabini is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Mabini throws Thirtynine to one side and escapes!
Mabini circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mabini throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Apolinario Mabini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left and a right from Mabini both land. Nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thirtynine fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mabini sprawls well initially but Thirtynine persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mabini wants to improve his position but Thirtynine is controlling well.
Thirtynine seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thirtynine is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mabini is in trouble now - Thirtynine has advanced to mount!
Thirtynine working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thirtynine is working for a guillotine from mount but Mabini frees his head quite easily.
Thirtynine tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Thirtynine working for a guillotine from mount but Mabini is in no mood to give up.
Thirtynine looks gassed!
Thirtynine controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mabini is looking to get to half guard.

Mabini defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Thirtynine.
Mabini gets back to half guard.
Thirtynine is keen to just control but Mabini is a slippery customer.
Mabini manages to get to full guard.

Mabini is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine trying to control the position from guard on top but Mabini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mabini is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thirtynine showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thirtynine working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thirtynine wants to control from the top but Mabini keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mabini tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thirtynine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mabini swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mabini has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Thirtynine has passed into side control.
Thirtynine gets to mount! Mabini was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Thirtynine landing punches.
Mabini throwing hammer fists to the chest of Thirtynine. What's that going to do exactly?
Mabini is trying to reverse the position but instead Thirtynine has taken his back - oops!
Thirtynine is riding his opponent, not letting Mabini buck him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mabini can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saku Thirtynine dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thirtynine pushes Mabini up against the cage in a clinch.
Thirtynine tries to land knees in the clinch but Mabini avoids the damage to the body.

Thirtynine breaks the clinch.
Mabini rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thirtynine moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thirtynine blocks a head kick by Mabini.

Thirtynine scores a takedown into full mount!
Thirtynine postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mabini looks a forlorn figure.
Thirtynine can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mabini is looking to escape.
Thirtynine lands a big shot there that rocks Mabini but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mabini bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Saku Thirtynine has got the better of the ground game so far.

Thirtynine working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mabini doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mabini manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mabini landing some decent shots from guard.
Thirtynine trying to keep a closed guard but Mabini is proving a slippery customer.
Thirtynine wants to sweep here but Mabini controlling him for the moment.
Thirtynine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mabini wants to control from the top but Thirtynine keeps moving.
Mabini trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Mabini postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thirtynine is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mabini, into his guard.

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.
Mabini keeping moving, preventing Thirtynine from controlling successfully.
Thirtynine content to stall in guard here.

Mabini looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thirtynine accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mabini keeping moving, preventing Thirtynine from controlling successfully.
Thirtynine is pushing down on Mabini's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mabini is fighting to maintain full guard but Thirtynine has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mabini regains full guard. Nicely done.
Thirtynine postures up.

Mabini working for a triangle but Thirtynine defends it easily.
Thirtynine passes into half guard.

Mabini is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Thirtynine pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine is controlling the pace.
Mabini pushes Thirtynine off but Thirtynine dives into side control.
A control attempt from Mabini but he's now mounted!
Mabini is desperately trying to improve his position but Thirtynine has a good base and remains in mount.
Thirtynine controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saku Thirtynine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thirtynine shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thirtynine showed some decent athleticism there.
Mabini tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Thirtynine manages to move to mount!
Mabini slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Thirtynine landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mabini tries to get to full guard but Thirtynine has control of the leg.

Thirtynine is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mabini is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mabini looking for subs from the bottom but Thirtynine mounts him!
Thirtynine working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Thirtynine working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mabini working to try and regain half guard.
Mabini is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mabini wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Thirtynine has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Mabini! Can he survive? No! He's out! Thirtynine gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Saku Thirtynine!