PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Xander Sabin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsuyari Monoriku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Katsuyari Monoriku acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Sabin
vs
Monoriku

190 cm
21
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
189 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xander Sabin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Katsuyari Monoriku!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sabin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sabin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Monoriku throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sabin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sabin tries to stand but Monoriku is controlling from the bottom.
Sabin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sabin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Monoriku works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Monoriku is working an open guard so Sabin takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Sabin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sabin is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monoriku works on Sabin's body with a couple of short punches.
Monoriku fails to pull guard.
Monoriku changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sabin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sabin avoids the head kick by Monoriku.

Sabin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sabin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Sabin jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Monoriku is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Monoriku and Sabin has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Sabin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Sabin swings around for an armbar but Monoriku sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sabin's guard.
Sabin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Monoriku on the ground.
Sabin is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabin is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Monoriku dives into side control.
Monoriku advances to full mount.

Monoriku is working for a guillotine from mount but Sabin frees his head quite easily.
Monoriku tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabin is looking to get to half guard.
Sabin wants to hold on but Monoriku pushes him away.
Monoriku wants to stand but Sabin is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Monoriku scoring with strikes but Sabin is staying in there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monoriku with a couple of short strikes.
Sabin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sabin tries to hold on but Monoriku pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sabin is just holding on here. Monoriku manages to take his back.
Sabin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Monoriku.
Sabin breaks Monoriku's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Monoriku wants to stand but Sabin is controlling the position.
Sabin wanted to stand there but Monoriku had control of the position.
Sabin stopping the sweep attempt from Monoriku.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Monoriku doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sabin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Monoriku scores with the left hand. Sabin knows he should have avoided that one.

Sabin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Monoriku sprawls well initially but Sabin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Monoriku trying to control from the bottom.
Sabin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Monoriku is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Sabin stands up and beckons Monoriku to join him on the feet.
Sabin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sabin walks into a jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Monoriku throws a head kick that misses.
Monoriku lands a with a good body shot.

Sabin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sabin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monoriku slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sabin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Monoriku knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sabin prevents Monoriku from improving his position.
Sabin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Monoriku moves into full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monoriku wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sabin keeps working.
Sabin tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Sabin is looking to improve his position but Monoriku isn't that keen on the idea.
Monoriku tries to control but Sabin wriggling away.
Sabin is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monoriku stands up from mount. Strange move.
Monoriku tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sabin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Monoriku's guard now.
Monoriku manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Monoriku wants to stand but Sabin is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Sabin working to try and regain half guard.
Monoriku trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Monoriku is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Monoriku wants to control the pace but Sabin is squirming around nicely.
Monoriku landing strikes from the mount.
Sabin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Monoriku avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A solid body kick from Monoriku.
Monoriku throws a leg kick which misses Sabin's front leg but catches the back leg as Sabin tries to avoid it.
Monoriku throws a leg kick which misses Sabin's front leg but catches the back leg as Sabin tries to avoid it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sabin.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Monoriku sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Monoriku trying to control but Sabin postures up.
Sabin is keen to just control but Monoriku is a slippery customer.
Monoriku is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sabin wants to free his trapped foot but Monoriku is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monoriku moves into full guard.
Sabin wants to get up but he can't break Monoriku's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sabin trying to control the position from guard on top but Monoriku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xander Sabin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Monoriku is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Monoriku tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sabin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Monoriku tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sabin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Monoriku throws a combination. Sabin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monoriku tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sabin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Monoriku misses with the combination.
Xander Sabin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Monoriku lands a with a good body shot.
Monoriku with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sabin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Monoriku flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Monoriku trying to control but Sabin postures up.
Sabin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sabin stalling away here and it's allowed Monoriku to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Sabin wants to stand and escape but instead Monoriku has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monoriku pushing down on Sabin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Monoriku wants to get back to his feet.
Sabin trying to control but Monoriku postures up.
Sabin is looking to improve his position.
Katsuyari Monoriku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Monoriku tries to stand and escape but Sabin actually recovers to full guard.
Sabin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sabin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sabin has an active guard here but Monoriku has managed to pass into half guard.
Ground and pound from Monoriku.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Katsuyari Monoriku.
I think Sabin 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xander Sabin!