PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hajime Saito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Pepinhos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pepinhos is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Macaco - Hacen Falta Dos. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Saito
vs
Pepinhos

185 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hajime Saito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marco Pepinhos!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saito shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Pepinhos as Saito shoots in.

Saito gets caught flat footed, as Pepinhos shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pepinhos trying to control but Saito is working from the bottom.
Pepinhos tries to free his leg and advance position but Saito is retaining full guard.
Saito not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Saito working for a triangle but Pepinhos defends it easily.

Saito looking for a guillotine here but Pepinhos defends easily.
Pepinhos sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Saito's guard.

Saito is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Pepinhos pulls his head out easily.

Saito actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepinhos moves into full mount! Saito won't be happy about that!
Saito is looking to get to half guard.
The referee warns Saito that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Saito is squirming around, avoiding Pepinhos's attempts to control the action.

Pepinhos working for a submission but Saito is keeping him at bay.
Pepinhos prevents Saito from getting the reversal.
Pepinhos tries to control but Saito wriggling away.
Saito slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saito is breathing heavily.
Saito is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepinhos is trying to control the action in half guard but Saito is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Saito is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saito is looking to control Pepinhos's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Saito avoid being mounted?
Pepinhos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Saito is not content to let Pepinhos control the position.

Pepinhos is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Saito is just riding it out for now. Pepinhos eventually gives up the hold.
Ground and pound from Pepinhos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saito with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pepinhos counters with a shoot takedown. Saito fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hajime Saito. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Saito is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pepinhos trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saito had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Pepinhos is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Saito Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Pepinhos's back instead.
Pepinhos trying to control but not successfully.
I really don't envy Pepinhos right now.
Pepinhos looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Saito is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Pepinhos defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saito not allowing Pepinhos to control his hands.
Pepinhos might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Saito kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Pepinhos is having to fend off submission attempts from Saito, who is looking to sink in the choke. Saito doesn't have the hooks in though and Pepinhos manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Pepinhos slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pepinhos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pepinhos closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Saito is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Pepinhos pulls his head out easily.
Saito is not content to let Pepinhos control the position.

Saito looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Saito moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Saito 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.
Pepinhos is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pepinhos slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Saito looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pepinhos passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepinhos works his way into side control.
Pepinhos wants to control but Saito is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Saito's face as Pepinhos controls the position.

Pepinhos is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Saito knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Saito is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pepinhos off and has taken his back!
Pepinhos tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepinhos can't escape the position.

Saito goes for an armbar but Pepinhos turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Pepinhos.
Saito wants to control but Pepinhos passes easily into half guard.
Saito tries to get to full guard but Pepinhos has control of the leg.
Pepinhos passes to side control.
Saito taking a bit of punishment here - Pepinhos scoring with strikes.
Pepinhos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saito keeps working.
Saito manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepinhos trying to control here.

Saito is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pepinhos is just riding it out for now. Saito eventually gives up the hold.

Saito is looking for a kimura here.
Saito wants to free his trapped foot but Pepinhos is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pepinhos tries to get to full guard but Saito has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pepinhos is pressing down on Saito's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Pepinhos looking for a guillotine here but Saito defends easily.
Pepinhos throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Saito is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pepinhos keeping full guard, as Saito tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Pepinhos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Saito takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Saito avoids the head kick by Pepinhos.
Pepinhos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Saito counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pepinhos looking to control.
Saito forces his way into half guard.
Saito is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pepinhos!

Saito goes for an armbar but Pepinhos turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Pepinhos.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saito being controlled here, momentarily.
Pepinhos trying to control but Saito is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saito has his foot on Pepinhos's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pepinhos works his way back into a safe position though.
Pepinhos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Saito is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Pepinhos is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Saito is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pepinhos wants to control from the top but Saito keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saito is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pepinhos passes Saito's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Saito slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Saito looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pepinhos passes into side control.

Pepinhos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Pepinhos goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Saito rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pepinhos's guard! Nice work there by Saito!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saito drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saito jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Pepinhos had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Saito is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Pepinhos Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Saito's back instead.
Saito finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
Saito slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Saito gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pepinhos is looking to work some ground and pound but Saito has wrist control.

Saito is looking for a triangle but Pepinhos pushes his legs off easily.
Pepinhos wants to pass the guard but Saito is keeping the position.

Saito working for a triangle but Pepinhos defends it easily.
Pepinhos tries to free his leg and advance position but Saito is retaining full guard.
Pepinhos wants to control from the top but Saito keeps moving.
Pepinhos looking to pass the guard.

Saito looking for a guillotine here but Pepinhos defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hajime Saito showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pepinhos 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Hajime Saito!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Hajime Saito!

Hajime Saito wins by majority decision!