PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hirohito Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hirohito Sato had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sato
vs
Smith

178 cm
26
185 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

175 cm
28
170 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hirohito Sato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrew Smith!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Sato misses with a head kick.
Smith tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A punch combination from Sato misses.

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sato is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Smith is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sato is defending well.
Hirohito Sato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Smith.

Smith has Sato pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Smith pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sato tumbling to the mat - Smith dives into Sato's guard.
Sato working a defensive guard here.
Sato definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith seems keen to control Sato's posture.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith pulls Sato in close to prevent any damage.
Sato stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Sato from controlling successfully.
Smith controlling Sato's posture.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Sato from controlling successfully.
Sato's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sato stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Sato is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sato lands a nice leg kick that just misses Smith's sensitive parts.
Smith throws a low kick, looking for Sato's leg but Sato calmly moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Sato throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Sato looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith avoids a wild elbow strike from Sato.
Sato throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sato throws a head punch that misses.
Smith wants a takedown.
Sato prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sato misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith dodges an elbow strike from Sato.
Sato throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sato lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sato misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith tries for a takedown but Sato manages to get underhooks.

Smith turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Smith manages to end up in side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith wants to control but Sato is keeping him busy.
Sato is trying to get back to half guard.
Sato can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sato is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Sato is looking for a sweep.
Sato is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hirohito Sato dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smith avoids the head kick by Sato.
Hirohito Sato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Sato.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sato closes the distance but Smith moves to the side

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sato's guard.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith being controlled here momentarily.
Smith postures up.
Andrew Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith distracts Sato with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sato is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Smith is trying is best to control the position here.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith is positioning himself well to prevent Sato advancing to mount.
Smith is continuing to stall.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sato seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sato blocks the strikes from Smith.
Sato trying to mount his opponent but Smith defends it.
Sato has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Sato looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Sato trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smith sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Smith slips a nice elbow through Sato's hands, connecting with Sato's forehead.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Sato defends it.
Sato trying to control here.
Sato tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Smith there.
Sato trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling the action here.
Smith winds up and cracks Sato with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Sato's head.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.

Sato is rocked!
Nice strikes from Smith there.
Oh Sato is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Sato quite badly. Sato pulls Smith in close trying to recover. Smith postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Sato on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Sato doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Andrew Smith!