PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Misha Safin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juca Saci (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.

Safin
vs
Saci

186 cm
19
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Misha Safin!
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, Juca Saci!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Saci.
Saci misses with a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Safin.

Saci throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Safin was covering up waiting for the punch and Saci finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Safin working a defensive guard but Saci passes into half guard.

Saci stands up and beckons Safin to join him on the feet.
Safin tries to clinch

and Saci counters with a shoot takedown. Safin fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Safin is trying to hold Saci in close to prevent damage but Saci has managed to pass into half guard.

Saci decides to return to a standing position.
A slapping leg kick lands for Saci.
Safin is breathing heavily.

Saci forces Safin back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saci landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Come on Saci - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Saci with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Saci.
Saci lands a knee to the head.

Saci pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Safin avoids the head kick by Saci.
Saci misses with a double jab.

Saci has closed the distance and engaged Safin in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Safin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Saci stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Saci connects with a knee to the head.
Saci lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Saci lands a knee to the head.
Saci with a knee to the head.
Saci scores with a knee to the head.
Saci connects with a nasty looking knee right to Safin's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saci with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saci landing knees to the head.
Saci lands a knee to the head.
Saci tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saci tries a knee to the head but Safin blocks it.

Saci pulls guard.
Saci manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Saci looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Saci has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Saci lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Safin hang on?
Saci sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
It looks like Saci might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juca Saci dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Safin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Saci connects with a solid leg kick.

Saci closes the distance and pushes Safin back into the cage.

Saci breaks the clinch.

Saci darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Saci not doing much here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saci lands strikes from half guard.
Saci moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Saci working the ground and pound from side control.

Saci is working to tighten is grip on Safin's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Safin has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Saci is really squeezing tight and eventually Safin passes out! Saci breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Juca Saci!