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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Masa Saitoh (ranked 36 p4p, 196 weight class) and Shape Shifter (ranked 7 p4p, 34 weight class). Shape Shifter is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.
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| 182 cm
35
205
34 - 14 - 0 |
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191 cm
41
215
31 - 26 - 1 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Saitoh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 26 - 1, fighting out of London, Shape Shifter!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Paulsen Ambrosius.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Shifter shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Saitoh napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Shifter looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Shifter is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Saitoh knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Saitoh is looking to reverse the position.
Shifter goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Saitoh has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Shifter but great work by Saitoh.
Shifter is looking to regain half guard here but Saitoh keeps moving and retains side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Shifter sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shifter is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Saitoh jumps into side control!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shifter gets back to half guard.
Saitoh controlling the action here.
Shifter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shifter actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saitoh takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Shifter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shifter wants to get back to full guard.
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.
Saitoh controlling the action here.
Saitoh is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saitoh stalling.
Shifter tries to get to full guard but Saitoh has control of the leg.
Shifter with the active half guard here but Saitoh passes nicely into side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh taking a breather here.
Shifter is not content to let Saitoh control the position.
Shifter tries to buck Saitoh off but Saitoh is having none of it.
Saitoh trying to control the action but Shifter is working from the bottom.
Shifter throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
That's four 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.
Shifter is looking to regain half guard here but Saitoh keeps moving and retains side control.
Shifter is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Saitoh is trying to control the action in half guard but Shifter is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shifter looking for submissions off his back.
Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shifter has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Saitoh escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Saitoh!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Shape Shifter will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!
Shifter tries for a takedown but Saitoh circles away easily
and Saitoh counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Shifter goes for a double leg but Saitoh avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Saitoh continues to drive forward.
An attempted straight right counter from Saitoh misses the target.
Shape Shifter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shifter misses with a takedown attempt
and Saitoh counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Masa Saitoh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shape Shifter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter looks for a takedown but Saitoh sprawls well.
Saitoh throwing a counter right hand but Shifter manages to avoid it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saitoh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Saitoh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shifter shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saitoh defends it nicely.
Saitoh is looking to counter punch.
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.
Shifter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saitoh throwing a counter right hand but Shifter manages to avoid it.
Shifter with a lazy takedown attempt
and Saitoh counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shifter shoots in and drives through. Saitoh sprawls well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter shoots in looking for a takedown. Saitoh tries to sprawl out of it but Shifter keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saitoh manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shifter shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shifter shoots in for a double leg but Saitoh sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saitoh appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
That's four 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.
Shifter tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saitoh sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shifter somewhat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shifter closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saitoh circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Masa Saitoh dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Shifter shoots in looking for a takedown. Saitoh tries to sprawl out of it but Shifter keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saitoh manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shifter fails with the takedown
and Saitoh counters with a left to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch lands to the side of Shifter 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Masa Saitoh is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice takedown defense from Saitoh. No joy for Shifter on that attempt.
Saitoh looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Masa Saitoh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shape Shifter.
Shifter has his takedown stuffed
and Saitoh counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shifter thinking.
Saitoh fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shifter on the side of the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifter fails with the takedown.
An attempted straight right counter from Saitoh misses the target.
Shifter tries to clinch there but Saitoh circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Saitoh misses the target.
Shifter shoots in for a takedown but Saitoh shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Saitoh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shifter.
Saitoh throwing a counter right hand but Shifter manages to avoid it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Shifter.
Shifter is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Saitoh's half guard.
Saitoh is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Shifter's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Shifter's back!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shifter can't escape the position.
Shifter is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Shifter tries to escape but Saitoh has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Good control from Saitoh.
Saitoh continues to stall.
Saitoh keeps control of the position as Shifter tries to break free.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saitoh is hanging on to Shifter's back as he tries to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Masa Saitoh clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Shifter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saitoh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Saitoh was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Shifter shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saitoh but Saitoh pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saitoh is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shifter can do to turn this around?
Shifter tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Saitoh defends well and Shifter ends up having to push Saitoh into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Saitoh is looking to counter punch.
Masa Saitoh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shape Shifter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shifter is defended easily by Saitoh.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter dives in and grabs Saitoh's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saitoh pushes down on Shifter's head and hops out.
A little feinted left hand from Saitoh on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Shifter slips under a jab from Saitoh.
Shifter wants to clinch
and Saitoh counters with a nice uppercut.
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.
Shifter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Saitoh as he jumps to the side.
Shifter with a poor takedown
and Saitoh counters with a nice right hand that sends Shifter toppling to the canvas! Shifter scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Saitoh finish him?!
Shifter is rocked!
Shifter misses with a takedown attempt
and Saitoh counters with a crisp right that sends Shifter to the canvas! Saitoh follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Masa Saitoh!
A very excited looking Masa Saitoh made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
27% |
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