PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khai Sius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Saitou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saitou comes into a darkened arena with his song building. XENO kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Takeshi Saitou is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sius
vs
Saitou

176 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Khai Sius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Saitou!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saitou shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sius pinned against the cage. Sius gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sius displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Saitou.
Saitou tries for a takedown but Sius circles away easily
and Sius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Khai Sius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Saitou.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saitou shoots in but Sius avoids the takedown attempt easily.
As Saitou tries to get set, Sius tries to push him back and clinch up but Saitou manages to avoid the attempt.
Saitou shoots and misses
and Sius counters with a series of strikes. Saitou will be more careful next time no doubt.
Saitou with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sius counters with a series of strikes. Saitou will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitou looks for a takedown but Sius sprawls well.
Sius seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Saitou dives in and grabs Sius's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sius pushes down on Saitou's head and hops out.
Saitou looks winded!
Saitou tries to clinch but Sius moves out of range.
Sius half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Saitou looks to score with a jab to the body but Sius is just out of range.
Sius wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Sius slaps away a takedown attempt from Saitou, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Saitou closes the distance and pushes Sius back into the cage.
Saitou wants to get back to striking at distance but Sius won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sius pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Saitou shoots in and gets a takedown into Sius's guard.
Sius preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sius looking for a sweep. Not yet Sius, not yet.

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

Sius has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Saitou throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Saitou trying to keep a closed guard but Sius is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sius decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Saitou changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sius tries to avoid it but Saitou manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sius to the ground. Sius escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Saitou tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saitou goes for a double leg but Sius avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sius continues to drive forward.
Saitou fails with the takedown
and Sius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitou gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sius counters with a two punch combo.
Saitou darts in looking for a takedown but Sius gets double underhooks and turns Saitou into the cage.
Saitou tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saitou misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sius tries to counter with a takedown but Saitou is quick to defend against it.
Saitou misses with a takedown attempt
and Sius counters with a one-two to the body.
Khai Sius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saitou fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sius attempts a counter takedown but Saitou avoids it well and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khai Sius dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Saitou fails with the takedown
and Sius counters with a left and a right that stings Saitou.
Khai Sius is winning the standup battle so far.

Sius tries to keep at a distance but Saitou has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sius pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saitou throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sius throws a big counter combination but Saitou scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Saitou closes the distance but Sius moves to the side
and Sius counters with a one-two to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sius takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Takeshi Saitou seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saitou doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saitou is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitou fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sius seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Khai Sius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Saitou.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saitou.
Saitou tries to clinch up.
Sius is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Saitou.
Sius is working the combinations to good effect here.
Saitou looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sius half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Saitou wants to clinch up but Sius keeps it at a distance.
Sius is looking to counter the offense by Saitou and move into the clinch.
We've been told by Sius's head coaches at Cozad MMA Tokyo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saitou looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sius attempts a counter takedown but Saitou avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Saitou tries to clinch up
and Sius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saitou darts in trying to clinch
and Sius counters with a three punch combo that has Saitou backing up. Saitou nods at Sius to acknowledge the strikes.
Saitou tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saitou fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sius half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitou wants to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saitou is defended easily by Sius.
Sius is looking to counter the offense by Saitou and move into the clinch.
Saitou tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sius is able to avoid easily.
Saitou closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sius circles away.
Sius is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Saitou.
Saitou shoots for a double leg takedown but Sius sprawls well. He's pushed Saitou's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saitou misses with a takedown attempt - Sius sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitou is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saitou shoots in looking for a takedown but Sius manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saitou's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sius went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Saitou tries to clinch
and Sius counters with a three punch combo that has Saitou backing up. Saitou nods at Sius to acknowledge the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saitou looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saitou looks to clinch
and Sius counters with a three punch combo that has Saitou backing up. Saitou nods at Sius to acknowledge the strikes.
Sius circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sius appears to be looking for a big counter.
Saitou tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sius counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khai Sius dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Saitou tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saitou tries to clinch there but Sius circles away.
Sius throws a big counter combination but Saitou scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Saitou tries to clinch there but Sius circles away.
Sius tries to counter by clinching up but Saitou breaks away and moves out of range.

Saitou drives through and clinches with Sius against the cage.
Saitou has Sius pressed against the cage.
Sius is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saitou can do to turn this around?
Saitou is trying to break the clinch but Sius has him pressed against the cage.
Saitou misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sius has had enough of the clinch but Saitou keeps him there for the moment.

Sius breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Saitou closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sius to the mat! Sius manages to get full guard.

Sius has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Saitou has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitou takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sius breaks the clinch.
Saitou fails with an attempt to clinch.

Saitou clinches up with Sius and pushes him back against the cage.

Sius breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Saitou dives in and grabs Sius's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sius pushes down on Saitou's head and hops out.
Saitou throws a shot from downtown. Sius moves away and avoids it.
Sius changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Saitou forces Sius back against the cage and clinches.
Saitou is stalling here.
Sius on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saitou is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sius is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sius breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saitou is looking to clinch.

Saitou instigates a clinch.

Sius's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sius swats away the attempt to clinch by Saitou.
As Saitou looks to move away, Sius throws a big counter combo but Saitou just gets out of the way.
Saitou wants to clinch up but Sius keeps it at a distance.
Saitou with a poor takedown
and Sius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saitou fails with the takedown
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Sius counters with a one-two to the body.
Khai Sius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Saitou.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitou moves in looking to clinch but Sius pushes him off.
Sius drops down looking for a counter takedown but Saitou sprawls and moves away.

Saitou rushes Sius and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Sius breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saitou tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sius counters with a one-two to the body.
Saitou wants to clinch

and Sius counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Saitou has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Sius is on him like a limpet, forcing Saitou back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sius has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Saitou tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitou wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sius escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saitou tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Sius was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Saitou tries for a takedown but Sius circles away easily
and Sius counters with a series of strikes. Saitou will be more careful next time no doubt.
Saitou gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sius counters with a shoot takedown. Saitou fights it but they end up in guard.
Saitou is looking to stand up but Sius isn't so interested in that idea.

Saitou is working an open guard so Sius takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khai Sius showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sius, 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khai Sius!
A relieved looking Khai Sius thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.