PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Derek Scarlatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buakaw Saki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Derek Scarlatti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Scarlatti
vs
Saki

172 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

172 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Australian Xtreme - 159 Energy + Stamina!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Derek Scarlatti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Buakaw Saki!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scarlatti misses the jab.
Saki just misses with a punch to the body.
Scarlatti moves to clinch but Saki breaks away
and Saki counters with a good low kick that Scarlatti was not able to check.

Saki has closed the distance and engaged Scarlatti in a clinch.
Scarlatti is trying to push Saki away but Saki has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Scarlatti tries to circle away but Saki has him pinned against the cage.
Saki tries to pull guard but Scarlatti won't allow it.

Saki pulls Scarlatti into guard.
Saki 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.
Saki keeping moving, preventing Scarlatti from controlling successfully.
Scarlatti tries to stand but Saki is controlling from the bottom.
Saki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Scarlatti lands a couple of elbows.
Scarlatti has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Scarlatti wants to control from the top but Saki keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scarlatti thows a big elbow that misses.
Saki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Saki looking to finish with strikes here!
Scarlatti wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Saki.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scarlatti is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Scarlatti blocking the ground and pound.
Saki trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Saki swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Scarlatti is now in Saki's guard. A big mistake from Saki there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Scarlatti looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Saki looking for a sweep. Not yet Saki, not yet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Saki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Scarlatti defends well.
Scarlatti trying to control the position from guard on top but Saki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saki has his foot on Scarlatti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Scarlatti works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Scarlatti trying to control but Saki is working from the bottom.
Scarlatti throwing strikes from guard but Saki blocks nicely.

Scarlatti has gone for a leg lock! Saki slips out almost immediately though and dives into Scarlatti's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Saki stands up and waves to Scarlatti to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buakaw Saki dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Saki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Scarlatti counters by moving into the clinch.
Scarlatti has Saki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Saki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Saki breaks from the clinch.
Saki throws the kick towards the body but Scarlatti avoids it.
Scarlatti shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saki pinned against the cage. Saki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Saki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Scarlatti circles away.
Derek Scarlatti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Scarlatti tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Scarlatti somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derek Scarlatti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saki moves in looking to clinch but Scarlatti pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scarlatti keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Scarlatti dives in and grabs Saki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saki pushes down on Scarlatti's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saki misses with a head kick.

Scarlatti throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Saki was covering up waiting for the punch and Scarlatti finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Scarlatti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Scarlatti drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Saki dives on top into guard.

Saki gets to his feet. Scarlatti looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Scarlatti keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Saki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scarlatti is trying to maintain the position but Saki is very close to passing his half guard.
Scarlatti wants to get back to his feet.
Saki passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Saki trying to control the action but Scarlatti is working from the bottom.
Scarlatti is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Saki's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Scarlatti kicks off Saki and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nice sprawl there from Scarlatti as Saki shoots in.
Saki fails with the takedown
and Scarlatti counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Scarlatti is looking to clinch but Saki is avoiding it.
Saki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saki.
Saki fails with the takedown.
Scarlatti looks to score with a jab to the body but Saki is just out of range.
Scarlatti tries a head kick but it misses.
Saki shoots and misses

and Scarlatti counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Saki gets control of Scarlatti's arms and successfully pulls guard. Saki will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Scarlatti trying to stand up but can't free himself from Saki's 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 Derek Scarlatti will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Saki tries to clinch up but Scarlatti circles away and keeps his distance.
Scarlatti closes the distance but Saki moves to the side

and Saki counters by clinching up.
Scarlatti fails to pull guard.

Saki manages to pull guard.
Saki is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Scarlatti preventing the sweep.
Scarlatti lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Saki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Scarlatti won't allow Saki to sweep him here.
Saki wants to get back to his feet but Scarlatti is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Scarlatti stands and throws Saki's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scarlatti trying to control the action but Saki is working from the bottom.

Scarlatti stands up and beckons Saki to his feet.
Saki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Scarlatti counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saki thinking.
Scarlatti tries to clinch up.

Saki closes the distance and pushes Scarlatti back into the cage.
Saki is pressed up against the cage. Scarlatti has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Saki down to the mat. Saki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Saki has a takedown stuffed.

Scarlatti closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Saki to the mat! Saki manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scarlatti throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Buakaw Saki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Scarlatti preventing the sweep.
Scarlatti thows a big elbow that misses.
Saki is trying to keep Scarlatti in close.
Scarlatti advances to half guard.
Scarlatti not doing much here.
Saki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Scarlatti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Scarlatti decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saki throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Scarlatti counters with a series of strikes. Saki will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Derek Scarlatti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buakaw Saki.
Saki with a poor takedown

and Scarlatti counters by clinching up.
Scarlatti is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Saki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Scarlatti closes the distance looking to clinch
and Saki counters with a head kick. That will keep Scarlatti thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Saki moves out of range of the strikes.
Scarlatti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saki shoots in and drives through. Scarlatti sprawls well.
Saki shoots for a takedown but Scarlatti saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Scarlatti tried to score with a low kick but Saki checks it.
No luck for Saki with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scarlatti is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Scarlatti fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Scarlatti defends it nicely.
Scarlatti is looking to clinch but Saki is avoiding it.
Saki throws a head kick but Scarlatti moves out of range.
Scarlatti looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Saki tries to clinch but Scarlatti is having none of it.
Scarlatti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Scarlatti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Scarlatti wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Scarlatti showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Scarlatti 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Derek Scarlatti!