PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Dmitrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tokito Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dmitrov
vs
Sakuraba

192 cm
23
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Dmitrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tokito Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Dmitrov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Dmitrov rushes Sakuraba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sakuraba fails to pull guard.
Sakuraba jumps guard but Dmitrov stands there with Sakuraba around his waist. Sakuraba gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sergei Dmitrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tokito Sakuraba.
Dmitrov crunches a lovely knee into Sakuraba's ribcage.
Dmitrov stalling the fight.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dmitrov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dmitrov wants to break free but Sakuraba has control.
Dmitrov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sakuraba.
A bit of stalling here from Dmitrov.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sakuraba fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Sakuraba pulls guard.
Sakuraba trying to control the position here.
Sakuraba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Sakuraba working for a triangle but Dmitrov defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dmitrov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dmitrov is looking to stand up but Sakuraba won't let him.
Dmitrov tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuraba is retaining full guard.
Dmitrov trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Dmitrov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dmitrov tries to clinch up but Sakuraba circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sakuraba fails to land the takedown.

Dmitrov rushes Sakuraba and presses him up against the cage.

Sakuraba pulls guard effortlessly.

Dmitrov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sakuraba has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dmitrov has managed to get both his arms back between Sakuraba's legs - danger averted.
Dmitrov wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba working a defensive guard but Dmitrov manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Dmitrov politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Dmitrov prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sakuraba can't do much from the bottom here.
Sakuraba is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Dmitrov is staying active.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sakuraba shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dmitrov but Dmitrov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sergei Dmitrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba looks gassed!

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.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt - Dmitrov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dmitrov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sakuraba looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Dmitrov!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sergei Dmitrov 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.

Dmitrov is looking to clinch but Sakuraba is avoiding it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dmitrov.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dmitrov.
Nice sprawl there from Dmitrov as Sakuraba shoots in.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dmitrov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sergei Dmitrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tokito Sakuraba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Sakuraba with that takedown attempt.
Sakuraba shoots for a takedown but Dmitrov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sakuraba closes the distance and clinches up with Dmitrov, looking for a takedown. Sakuraba pushes Dmitrov against the cage but Dmitrov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sakuraba fails with a takedown attempt.

Dmitrov pushes Sakuraba up against the cage in a clinch.
Sakuraba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sakuraba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sakuraba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dmitrov walks away with a smile on his face. Sakuraba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.
Dmitrov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dmitrov wants it to stay on the feet.
Dmitrov scoring well with a low kick there.
Sergei Dmitrov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dmitrov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Dmitrov forces Sakuraba back against the cage and clinches.
Sakuraba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sakuraba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dmitrov is trying to force a seperation but Sakuraba has the dominant position.
Dmitrov tries to break the clinch but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
Dmitrov tries to break the clinch but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
Dmitrov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sakuraba has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dmitrov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dmitrov tries to break the clinch but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Dmitrov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sakuraba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sakuraba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dmitrov smiles and moves away.
Dmitrov tries to land a front kick but Sakuraba steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

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.
Sakuraba shoots in for a double leg but Dmitrov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dmitrov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Dmitrov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dmitrov clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Dmitrov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dmitrov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Dmitrov sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dmitrov throws the kick towards the body but Sakuraba avoids it.
Dmitrov fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dmitrov tries to clinch up but Sakuraba circles away and keeps his distance.
Dmitrov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dmitrov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Dmitrov tries to land a leg kick but Sakuraba saw it coming and moves away.
Sakuraba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dmitrov swivels and escapes.
Sergei Dmitrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tokito Sakuraba.

Dmitrov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sakuraba, pushing him back against the cage.
Dmitrov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dmitrov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dmitrov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dmitrov scores a nice knee to the body.
Dmitrov wants a takedown but no success here.
Sakuraba avoiding damage as Dmitrov throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba successfully pulls guard.
Dmitrov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dmitrov postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sakuraba holds on and takes a little breather.
Sakuraba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakuraba is controlling Dmitrov's posture.
Dmitrov trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.
Sakuraba looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sakuraba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dmitrov pushes Sakuraba away with a front kick.
Dmitrov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Dmitrov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sergei Dmitrov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Sakuraba stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Dmitrov.
Sakuraba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Dmitrov leaves Sakuraba with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dmitrov lands with a nice body kick.
Tokito Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dmitrov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Dmitrov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dmitrov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Dmitrov!