PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ichiro Sato (ranked 4419 p4p, 5792 weight class) and Tigor Nainggolan (ranked 534 p4p, 604 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sato
vs
Nainggolan

176 cm
19
180
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
180
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Kore Fight Nutrition

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ichiro Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tigor Nainggolan!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nainggolan.
Nainggolan looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nainggolan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sato checks it well.
Nainggolan ducks under a wild hook from Sato.
Sato pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
An inside leg kick from Nainggolan misses.
Nainggolan looks to throw the jab but Sato is out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Nainggolan blocks the leg kick.
Sato avoids a punch combination nicely.
No joy there for Nainggolan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nainggolan moves out of range as Sato throws a body kick.
Sato misses with a head kick.
Sato will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sato looks to land a body kick but Nainggolan moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nainggolan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sato. That's going to slow Nainggolan down.
Nainggolan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sato misses with a head kick.
A solid body kick from Sato.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Sato gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nainggolan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sato with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sato missing with knees to the body.
Our sources have told us that Sato has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Sato with a knee to the head.
Sato misses with a knee to the head.
Sato utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Nainggolan gets control of Sato's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nainggolan will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Nainggolan looks winded!
Sato wants to control from the top but Nainggolan keeps moving.
Sato scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sato lands a couple of digs.
Sato wants to control from the top but Nainggolan keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nainggolan is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nainggolan stopping the sweep attempt from Sato.
Nainggolan trying to control but Sato is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nainggolan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nainggolan wants to stand but Sato has his arm trapped.
Sato tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nainggolan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sato is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nainggolan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sato keeps working.
Sato is looking to reverse the position.
Sato might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sato tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Sato is being controlled here.
Sato gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nainggolan trying to control the action but Sato is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nainggolan is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sato tries to roll over but Nainggolan keeps him under control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sato throws a solid leg kick but Nainggolan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sato.
Nainggolan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sato was well out of range. Poor timing from Nainggolan.
Sato is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nainggolan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sato.
Nainggolan blocks a low kick nicely.
Sato takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nainggolan scores with a head kick.
Sato misses with a body kick.
Sato looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nainggolan is fending him off so far but Sato persists. Nope, Nainggolan circles away and we're back to standing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ichiro Sato will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sato misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nainggolan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Nainggolan gets tackled into the cage by Sato. Sato maintains the clinch.
Sato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nainggolan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sato obliges.
Sato with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sato looking to throw knees to the head but Nainggolan is blocking nicely.
Sato misses with a knee strike.

Nainggolan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ichiro Sato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nainggolan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nainggolan throws an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nainggolan blocks it with crossed arms.
Nainggolan prevents a body shot from Sato.
Sato looking to throw knees to the head but Nainggolan is blocking nicely.
Nainggolan is trying to force a seperation but Sato has the dominant position.
Sato tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sato looking to throw knees to the head but Nainggolan is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sato with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sato misses with a body punch.

Nainggolan manages to pull guard.
Nainggolan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sato is one step ahead there.
Sato works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nainggolan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sato working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nainggolan's head.
Sato trying to control but Nainggolan is working from the bottom.

Nainggolan working for a triangle but Sato defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato trying to control the position from guard on top but Nainggolan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sato scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sato trying to control the position from guard on top but Nainggolan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sato stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sato missing with a left hand there. Nainggolan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sato throws a head kick but Nainggolan moves out of range.
Nainggolan flicks out a counter leg kick but Sato steps away.
Nainggolan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sato displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nainggolan throws out the jab.
Nainggolan misses with a low kick.
Sato blocks a head kick by Nainggolan.
Sato tries for a takedown but Nainggolan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nainggolan tries to score with a low kick but Sato moves his leg out of the way.
Nainggolan misses with a low kick.
Sato avoids the head kick by Nainggolan.

Sato moves into range and clinches up with Nainggolan.
Sato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sato tries to land a knee to the head but Nainggolan blocks with his arms.
Nainggolan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato tries to land a knee to the head but Nainggolan blocks with his arms.
Nainggolan is trying to break the clinch but Sato has him pressed against the cage.
Sato throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nainggolan blocks it with crossed arms.
Sato with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sato throws a punch but it's blocked by Nainggolan.
Nainggolan avoiding damage as Sato throws knees to the body.
Sato lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sato tries a knee to the head but Nainggolan blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nainggolan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sato landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Nainggolan gets control of Sato's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nainggolan will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sato has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nainggolan keeping moving, preventing Sato from controlling successfully.
Nainggolan looking for a sweep. Not yet Nainggolan, not yet.
Nainggolan is breathing heavily.
Sato trying to control but Nainggolan is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ichiro Sato dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sato steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nainggolan.

Nainggolan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ichiro Sato has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Knees to the body from Sato.
Sato lands a nice knee to the body.
Sato connects with a knee to the head.
Sato connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nainggolan's face.
Sato landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nainggolan takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sato is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sato with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sato lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Nainggolan is rocked!
Sato has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head that stumbles Nainggolan - he's in trouble! Another big knee to the head from Sato, and another! Nainggolan is out on his feet - the ref jumps in to save him and ends the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Ichiro Sato!