PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Shaft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pentti Saatana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saatana has chosen Jolly Melodies as his entrance music. Pentti Saatana will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Shaft
vs
Saatana

190 cm
23
214 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

185 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Alpha-Omega

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Shaft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pentti Saatana!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Saatana with that takedown attempt.
Saatana wants to clinch up but Shaft keeps it at a distance.
Shaft jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Saatana tries to clinch but Shaft moves out of range.

Shaft scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saatana trying to control here.
Saatana looks gassed!
Shaft throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shaft trying to control from half guard but Saatana is working away.
Shaft throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saatana on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Shaft is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Saatana defends it well.
Shaft is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Saatana!
Shaft looking to control but Saatana is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaft landing strikes from the mount.
Saatana tries to lock up and control but Shaft gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shaft lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Shaft breaks from Saatana's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Shaft lands with some strikes.

Shaft looking to secure an arm triangle but Saatana defends it well.
Shaft connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Shaft is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Shaft closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shaft passes to side control.
Shaft advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaft connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Shaft landing strikes from the mount and Saatana is in trouble!
Shaft landing strikes from the mount.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shaft looking for a guillotine from mount but Saatana is having none of it.

Shaft jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Saatana is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Saatana and Shaft has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Saatana prevents Shaft from moving into mount.
Saatana struggling a bit here.
Shaft is looking to take a break and control but Saatana is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saatana tries to improve position but can't.
Saatana avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Shaft.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saatana is trying to improve his position.
The ground and pound from Shaft seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Shaft stands up.

Shaft looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shaft is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
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. Shaft connects with a nice short shot to Saatana's temple.

Shaft is looking for a kimura here.
Saatana trying to control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shaft seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shaft dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Saatana throws a series of punches but Shaft moves out of range.
Saatana fails with the takedown

and Shaft counters with a shoot takedown. Saatana fights it but they end up in guard.

Shaft thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Shaft drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shaft jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Shaft drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Saatana dives on top into guard.
Saatana trying to control but Shaft is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shaft looking for a sweep. Not yet Shaft, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaft is trying to control the position but Saatana postures up.
Shaft looking for a sweep. Not yet Shaft, not yet.
John Shaft overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shaft is pulling down on Saatana's head. It's preventing any offense from Saatana, at least for the moment.
Shaft lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Saatana!

Shaft goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Saatana turns into him and now he's in Shaft's guard.
Shaft wants to sweep but no luck.
Saatana trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaft is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shaft not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Shaft stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Saatana to get to his feet.
Saatana closes the distance but Shaft moves to the side

and Shaft counters by clinching up.
Saatana gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shaft.
Saatana tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shaft smiles and moves away.
Saatana fails with the takedown

and Shaft counters with a shoot takedown. Saatana fights it but they end up in guard.
John Shaft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pentti Saatana.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaft throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saatana works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shaft has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shaft stopping the sweep attempt from Saatana.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saatana controls Shaft momentarily but Shaft frees himself.
Saatana wants to sweep but no luck.
Shaft trying to control but Saatana is working from the bottom.
Shaft postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Shaft gets to his feet - Saatana follows without any prompting.
Saatana doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shaft counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Saatana's guard now.
Shaft passes into half guard.
Shaft throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shaft seems to be looking for submissions.
Shaft is pressing down on Saatana's thigh, looking to free his foot. Saatana is holding on for now.
Shaft not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shaft thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Saatana is defending against the submission attempts here by Shaft.
Saatana keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saatana doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shaft decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Saatana's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shaft dominated that second round.
That's time! Shaft's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Saatana misses with a takedown attempt

and Shaft counters with a takedown into side control.
Saatana prevents Shaft from improving position.
Shaft moves into full mount!

Shaft looking for a guillotine from mount but Saatana is having none of it.
Saatana is looking to improve his position but Shaft isn't that keen on the idea.
Saatana taking shots to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Shaft is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Saatana has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaft lands with some strikes.
Saatana tries to hold on but Shaft postures up.
Saatana is wriggling around trying to escape.
BOOM! Shaft connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Shaft cracks Saatana with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Saatana tries to hold on but Shaft pushes him away.

Shaft looking for a guillotine from mount but Saatana is having none of it.
Saatana flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Pentti Saatana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shaft is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saatana can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Shaft is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Saatana looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saatana has his takedown stuffed

and Shaft counters with a single leg into guard. Saatana didn't expect that.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shaft accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Saatana not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shaft with a flurry of punches that miss.

Shaft decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Saatana, up you get!

Shaft looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Saatana!
Shaft is landing with some decent strikes but Saatana is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The referee warns Saatana that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaft looking to control but Saatana is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shaft looking to ground and pound but Saatana is blocking nicely.
Shaft has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Saatana's face.
Saatana is in a horrible position here. Shaft smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Shaft cracks Saatana with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
John Shaft is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shaft thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Shaft stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Saatana with a poor takedown

and Shaft counters with a nice double leg into guard.
John Shaft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pentti Saatana.
Saatana is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaft not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Shaft is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Saatana is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Saatana has escaped and now he's on top!
Shaft wants to sweep here but Saatana controlling him for the moment.

Shaft working for submissions but it's allowed Saatana to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shaft has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Saatana is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Shaft showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shaft 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Shaft!