PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Picogram (ranked 1147 p4p, 1068 weight class) and Masa Saitoh (ranked 174 p4p, 161 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Masa Saitoh enters the cage!

Picogram
vs
Saitoh

194 cm
35
210
10 - 14 - 0

182 cm
24
205
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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Furnace Performance 🔥

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 10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonny Picogram!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Saitoh!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saitoh misses with a shot to the body
and Picogram counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Masa Saitoh has been cut.
Picogram doesn't manage to clinch there - Saitoh circles away.
Saitoh avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Picogram keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Picogram misses with a leg kick

and Saitoh counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Picogram!
Picogram regains half guard, as Saitoh was trying to land strikes.
Picogram desperately trying to maintain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saitoh not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Picogram is trying to control but can't.
Saitoh sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Picogram defending well though.
Picogram wants to improve his position but Saitoh is controlling well.
Picogram regains full guard. Nicely done.
Picogram working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saitoh.
Picogram manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saitoh manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saitoh working a defensive guard here.
Saitoh looking for a sweep. Not yet Saitoh, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh is looking to sweep but instead, Picogram has passed into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saitoh is looking to get back to full guard here but Picogram has managed to pass to side control instead.
Picogram takes a little break here. Saitoh wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Saitoh is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Saitoh is not content to let Picogram control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Picogram goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Saitoh rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Picogram's guard! Nice work there by Saitoh!
Saitoh won't allow Picogram to sweep him here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saitoh content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Picogram wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Saitoh is pushing down on Picogram's leg trying to pass to half guard. Picogram is fighting to maintain full guard but Saitoh has managed to sneak the leg through.
Picogram regains full guard. Nicely done.
Picogram tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saitoh controlling from the top position.
Picogram keeping moving, preventing Saitoh from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Picogram throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Picogram looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saitoh is one step ahead there.
Picogram is trying to control the position but Saitoh postures up.
Picogram is looking to stand back up but Saitoh counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Picogram.
Picogram is controlling Saitoh's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saitoh trying to mount his opponent but Picogram defends it.
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 Jonny Picogram will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Masa Saitoh's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Picogram missing with a left hand there. Saitoh was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Saitoh changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Picogram.
Saitoh misses the shot to the body.
A quick step to the side and Picogram tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Picogram drops his hands momentarily and Saitoh takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Saitoh staying out of range there.
Saitoh let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Saitoh thuds a left hand into Picogram's body.
Picogram misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saitoh.
Jonny Picogram seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saitoh dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Saitoh shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Picogram is trying to maintain the position but Saitoh is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Picogram blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saitoh.
Saitoh working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Saitoh has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Picogram is trying to maintain the position but Saitoh is very close to passing his half guard.
Saitoh stalling.
Picogram tries to get to full guard but Saitoh has control of the leg.
Saitoh lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Picogram moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Picogram wants to sweep but no luck.
Saitoh throwing strikes but missing.
Picogram wants to sweep here but Saitoh controlling him for the moment.
Saitoh postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Picogram not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Saitoh lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Saitoh won't allow Picogram to sweep him here.
Saitoh working some strikes from top position.
Saitoh won't allow Picogram to sweep him here.
Saitoh postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Saitoh lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Saitoh working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Saitoh distracts Picogram with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Picogram being controlled here, momentarily.
Saitoh trying to control the position from guard on top but Picogram is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saitoh showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Picogram looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saitoh is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Picogram keeping moving, preventing Saitoh from controlling successfully.
Saitoh has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saitoh is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Saitoh preventing the sweep.
Picogram keeping moving, preventing Saitoh from controlling successfully.
Picogram pulls Saitoh in close to prevent any damage.
Picogram controls Saitoh momentarily but Saitoh frees himself.
Picogram will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Saitoh stands up over Picogram, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Masa Saitoh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Masa Saitoh's cut.
That's time! Picogram's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Saitoh circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saitoh with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Saitoh shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Saitoh was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Picogram sneaks back into half guard.
Saitoh controlling the action here.
Picogram moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Masa Saitoh has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Picogram looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saitoh in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitoh trying to control but Picogram is working from the bottom.
Picogram looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Saitoh postures up.
Picogram looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saitoh with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Saitoh working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Picogram's head.
Saitoh preventing the sweep.
Saitoh postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Saitoh sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Saitoh's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Saitoh trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Picogram has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Saitoh has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Saitoh changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Picogram fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Some bone on bone action there as Saitoh checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Picogram connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Picogram lands with a shot to the body.

Saitoh closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Picogram quickly recovers to half guard.
Picogram has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Saitoh is working away from the top position though.
Picogram is trying to get back to full guard.
Picogram wants to control but Saitoh is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Saitoh thows a huge punch but Picogram dodges it nicely.
Picogram is pressing down on Saitoh's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Picogram controls Saitoh momentarily but Saitoh frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Picogram wants to sweep here but Saitoh controlling him for the moment.
Saitoh controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Saitoh working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Picogram's head.
Saitoh tries to free his leg and advance position but Picogram is retaining full guard.
Picogram looking to control.
Saitoh landing some decent shots from guard.
Saitoh is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saitoh is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Saitoh's corner is telling him to maintain position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masa Saitoh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saitoh has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masa Saitoh!
Masa Saitoh took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Silverguard Outfitters 🛡 for their support in the buildup to the fight.