PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jiri Sayonara (ranked 201 p4p, 24 weight class) and Ace Rob (ranked 122 p4p, 12 weight class). Sayonara comes to the cage accompanied by Edge Of The Blade. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sayonara
vs
Rob

178 cm
35
138 lbs
30 - 16 - 1

170 cm
28
143 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Groove Gear

OLIMPO

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jiri Sayonara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ace Rob!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rob throws a hook but Sayonara blocks it.
Rob misses with an uppercut
and Sayonara counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rob throws a poor cross that misses
and Sayonara connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sayonara throws out a powerful jab.
Sayonara misses with a hook

and Rob counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sayonara!
Rob misses with the ground and pound.
Sayonara can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sayonara is trying to get back to half guard.

Rob wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sayonara, who protects the arm well.
Sayonara can't do much from the bottom here.
Sayonara is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sayonara struggling a bit here.

Rob is trying to get an arm triangle but Sayonara is defending well.
Rob misses with the ground and pound.

Rob is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sayonara has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sayonara sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sayonara makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sayonara.
Sayonara controls Rob momentarily but Rob frees himself.
Rob scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rob has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rob trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rob landing with the ground and pound.
Rob is pushing down on Sayonara's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sayonara is fighting to maintain full guard but Rob has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sayonara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rob.
Sayonara works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sayonara is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rob avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sayonara.
Rob trying to control from the bottom.
Sayonara throwing shots but Rob is blocking nicely.
Sayonara wants to free his trapped foot but Rob is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rob tries to get to full guard but Sayonara has control of the leg.
Sayonara throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rob to regain full guard.
Rob working a defensive guard here.
Sayonara trying to control the position from guard on top but Rob is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sayonara stopping the sweep attempt from Rob.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rob controls Sayonara momentarily but Sayonara frees himself.
Sayonara trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rob is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rob is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sayonara defends it well.

Sayonara looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sayonara missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ace Rob dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rob shoots in for a double leg but Sayonara sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It looked like Sayonara was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rob.
No joy there for Sayonara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sayonara connects with a body shot.

Rob shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Rob is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sayonara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rob.

Rob seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Rob is looking for a kimura here.
Sayonara tries to roll over but Rob keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rob wants to work for an arm triangle but Sayonara is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rob is thwarting Sayonara's attempts to control the position.
Rob is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Rob is working for a kimura but Sayonara is defending it quite comfortably.
Sayonara manages to get to full guard.
Sayonara keeping moving, preventing Rob from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sayonara is trying to control the position but Rob postures up.

Sayonara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rob defends well.
Sayonara really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rob drops back looking for a leg! Sayonara is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sayonara manages to kick Rob off! Rob jumps back into Sayonara's guard.
Rob tries to free his leg and advance position but Sayonara is retaining full guard.
Rob throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rob wants to pass the guard but Sayonara is keeping the position.

Sayonara looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rob has picked Sayonara up and slammed him! Sayonara can't keep hold of the triangle and Rob manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rob working away.
Sayonara is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rob off and has taken his back!
Sayonara is landing with strikes from the back.
Sayonara misses with punches from the back.
You can see the frustration on Rob's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Sayonara struggling to land strikes to the head as Rob covers up.
Sayonara biding his time, controlling Rob.
Rob tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rob is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rob regains half guard.
Sayonara thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sayonara wants to control but Rob is keeping him busy.

Rob is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sayonara pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sayonara missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ace Rob will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sayonara fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sayonara misses with a looping right.
Rob ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sayonara moves away.
Nice defenses there by Sayonara.
Rob throws a body shot but no joy.
Sayonara slips under a jab.
Sayonara lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rob at a distance.
Rob uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sayonara lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sayonara.
Nice uppercut lands for Sayonara. That snapped Rob's head back.
Sayonara lands a right hook to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sayonara darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rob misses with a hook
and Sayonara connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rob ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sayonara on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sayonara throws a right hand that Rob ducks under and follows up with a left that Rob also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rob misses with an uppercut. Sayonara saw that one coming.
Sayonara is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rob throws a body shot but no joy.
Sayonara swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sayonara lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rob will feel that in the morning.
Rob misses with a looping left.
Sayonara throws a wild body kick that Rob sees coming a mile off.
A big left from Sayonara misses.
Sayonara scores with a hook.
Rob bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sayonara misses with a body kick.
Rob lands a head shot.

It looks like Jiri Sayonara has been cut.
Rob uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sayonara.
Rob tries to clinch up.
An attempted straight right counter from Sayonara misses the target.
Sayonara throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rob on the side of the head.
Jiri Sayonara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rob takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Sayonara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rob doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Rob misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sayonara uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rob.
Rob swings for the body but Sayonara moves out of range.
Sayonara connects with a high kick.
Rob fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sayonara checks it well.
An inside leg kick from Rob misses.
Sayonara slips under a jab from Rob.
Sayonara is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rob.
Sayonara listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sayonara staying out of range there.
Rob loads up on a big right hand but Sayonara slips the punch.
Rob throws a lazy right hand but Sayonara sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rob throws out a loose jab but Sayonara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sayonara moves forwards but Rob connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A solid body kick from Sayonara.
Sayonara moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara scores with a decent looking hook.

Rob is rocked!
Sayonara circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Rob to the canvas! Rob doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Sayonara keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:12 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jiri Sayonara!
An out of breath Jiri Sayonara thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.