PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aiko Fukui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daigo Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sato has chosen japanese war music as his entrance music. Daigo Sato has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fukui
vs
Sato

175 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Bad Man Clothing

Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aiko Fukui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daigo Sato!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fukui shoots and misses

and Sato counters by clinching up.
Fukui jumps guard but Sato stands there with Fukui around his waist. Fukui gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Fukui has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sato fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sato goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fukui blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sato is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fukui is defending well for now.
Sato lands a shot to the body.
Sato lands an elbow that stopped Fukui in his tracks for a moment.
Sato is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fukui is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aiko Fukui. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sato misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato landing knees to the head.
Sato can't get the takedown.
Sato with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sato wants to take the fight to the mat but Fukui manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Fukui takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sato comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Fukui tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sato misses with a punch on the inside.
Fukui changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sato fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fukui has his takedown stuffed
and Fukui takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato connects with an inside leg kick.

Fukui shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Fukui was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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!
A lull in the action here.
Sato tries to improve position but can't.

Fukui goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sato has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Fukui but great work by Sato.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Fukui is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Fukui is looking for a sweep.
Sato working away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fukui tries to bench press Sato off him but Sato keeps the position.
Sato misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Fukui is not content to let Sato control the position.
Fukui manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Fukui actively working from the bottom here.
Sato prevents Fukui from improving his position.
Sato tries to pass to full mount but Fukui defends it.
Sato content to control rather than advance.
Fukui is not content to let Sato control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sato not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sato shoots in and drives through. Fukui sprawls well.
Fukui shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sato as he avoids it easily.
Fukui darts in looking for a takedown but Sato gets double underhooks and turns Fukui into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fukui takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fukui jumps guard but Sato turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aiko Fukui. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sato pushes Fukui back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sato tries a knee to the head but Fukui blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sato.
Sato lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fukui backwards.
Sato lands an uppercut.
Fukui avoids the elbow strike from Sato, against the cage.
Sato creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Fukui's defenses.
Fukui takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sato misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sato tries to score a body lock takedown but Fukui shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sato can't find room to land a body shot as Fukui controls the action.
Fukui tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sato smiles and moves away.

Sato gets caught napping as Fukui dives in and scores a takedown. Sato manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukui looking to pass the guard.
Fukui sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sato is trying to keep Fukui in close.
Fukui works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato is not content to let Fukui control the position.
Fukui lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sato is staying active underneath Fukui, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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

Fukui seems to be looking for submissions.
Sato really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fukui. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukui is keen to just control but Sato is a slippery customer.

Fukui looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sato moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aiko Fukui will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Fukui shoots in and gets a takedown into Sato's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sato is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fukui slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Fukui drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sato looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sato looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sato!
Sato misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukui manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Fukui is looking for a sweep. Sato is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sato is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sato raining down hammerfists from mount.
Fukui sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Fukui looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sato is looking to take a break and control but Fukui is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fukui works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sato passes easily into side control. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sato thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukui is trying to work for a sweep but Sato has mounted him!
Sato controlling his opponent.
Fukui keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sato avoids the attempt from Fukui to control.
Fukui is looking to get to half guard.
Sato avoids the attempt from Fukui to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukui tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sato postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Fukui looks a forlorn figure.
Sato putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sato landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fukui bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fukui looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fukui trying to control but Sato is working from the bottom.
Sato not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukui throws an elbow that misses. Sato uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fukui's guard. Nice move by Sato!

Fukui throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Fukui is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fukui keeping moving, preventing Sato from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Aiko Fukui.
I think Fukui has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Aiko Fukui!