PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sazh Blaskey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Saraiva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sazh Blaskey has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Blaskey
vs
Saraiva

184 cm
30
205 lbs
15 - 11 - 1

185 cm
21
220 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Knockout power

5th Round Clothing

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 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Sazh Blaskey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Saraiva!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Lou da Vinci and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saraiva throws a low kick but Blaskey moves out of range easily.
Saraiva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saraiva doesn't manage to clinch there - Blaskey circles away.
Saraiva throws a poor cross that misses
and Saraiva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saraiva throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Saraiva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Blaskey finds it's way round the side to connect with Saraiva's head.
Gabriel Saraiva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saraiva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Blaskey finds it's way round the side to connect with Saraiva's head.
A combination from Blaskey does no damage.
Blaskey fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Saraiva on the side of the head.
Saraiva lands a head kick!

It looks like Sazh Blaskey has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blaskey misses with a lunging right hand
and Saraiva counters with a big head kick but Blaskey shrugs it off.
Saraiva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Saraiva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saraiva throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Saraiva tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraiva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saraiva moves away from the strike by Blaskey.
Saraiva looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Saraiva throws a sloppy head kick and Blaskey moves out of range easily.
Gabriel Saraiva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saraiva walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Blaskey checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nice defenses there by Saraiva.
Saraiva takes a jab right on the kisser.
Saraiva throws a wild body kick that Blaskey sees coming a mile off.
Blaskey scores with a sloppy right hand. Saraiva should have avoided that one.
Saraiva with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Blaskey ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saraiva moves away.
Blaskey misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey keeps the fight on the outside.

Saraiva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Blaskey makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Blaskey tries to free his leg and advance position but Saraiva is retaining full guard.
Blaskey stopping the sweep attempt from Saraiva.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blaskey looking to pass the guard.
Blaskey wants to control from the top but Saraiva keeps moving.
Saraiva wants to stand and escape but Blaskey is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey content to stall in guard here.
Blaskey tries to free his leg and advance position but Saraiva is retaining full guard.
Blaskey is working Saraiva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Blaskey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saraiva is keeping the position for now.
Saraiva keeping moving, preventing Blaskey from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sazh Blaskey.
Blaskey blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saraiva is looking to clinch.
Blaskey looks to land a combination but Saraiva avoids it well.
Saraiva walks into a jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Saraiva.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blaskey. Saraiva does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blaskey connects with a body shot.
Blaskey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saraiva lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saraiva looks to land a body kick but Blaskey moved away.
Blaskey looks to score with a jab to the body but Saraiva is just out of range.
Nice defenses there by Saraiva.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sazh Blaskey dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sazh Blaskey's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saraiva moves in looking to clinch but Blaskey pushes him off.
Blaskey avoids a kick to the body.
Blaskey cracks a nice hook into Saraiva's ribs.
Saraiva throws a sloppy head kick and Blaskey moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Blaskey, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saraiva throws a wild body kick that Blaskey sees coming a mile off.
Saraiva takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sazh Blaskey is winning the standup battle so far.
Saraiva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blaskey.
Saraiva lands with a thumping leg kick.
Blaskey looks to land a combination but Saraiva avoids it well.
Horrible takedown by Blaskey or perhaps it was just good defense by Saraiva which made him look bad.
Blaskey blocks a low kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaskey swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saraiva is looking to clinch.
Saraiva throws a body kick that misses.
Saraiva fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Blaskey is out of range.
Blaskey sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Saraiva throws a head kick that misses.
Saraiva feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Blaskey's calf.
Saraiva is looking to land body kicks.
Blaskey misses the body punch
and Saraiva counters with an inside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Blaskey.
Blaskey jabs Saraiva to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saraiva on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Saraiva throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Blaskey throws an off balance right hand
and Saraiva counters with a slapping leg kick.
Saraiva tries to clinch there but Blaskey circles away.
Blaskey misses with a hook.
A punch combination from Blaskey misses.
Saraiva takes a swing at Blaskey's ribcage but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saraiva throws a wild body kick that Blaskey sees coming a mile off.
Blaskey misses with a combination
and Saraiva counters with a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blaskey. Saraiva does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blaskey throws a nice looking combination but Saraiva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saraiva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Blaskey lands a jab.
Blaskey fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saraiva manages to avoid it.
Blaskey steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Saraiva. That one must have hurt.
Saraiva jabs Blaskey to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Blaskey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saraiva tries to close the distance and clinch but Blaskey swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
That kick from Saraiva tenderised Blaskey's leg. Blaskey is trying to keep his angry face on.
Saraiva looks for the body kick but Blaskey saw that one coming.
Saraiva throws a push kick but Blaskey slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saraiva.
A good leg kick by Saraiva.
Saraiva moves away from the strike by Blaskey.
Blaskey swings for the body but Saraiva moves out of range.
Blaskey jabs Saraiva to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Blaskey swinging wildly here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blaskey takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Saraiva throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Saraiva.
Blaskey stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Saraiva.
Some wild striking there from Blaskey.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gabriel Saraiva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sazh Blaskey's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Saraiva wants to clinch up but Blaskey keeps it at a distance.
Good work by Blaskey as he checks the leg kick.
Saraiva looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Blaskey takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Blaskey works the jab nicely.
Blaskey checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Blaskey misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saraiva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blaskey tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saraiva swivels and escapes.
Saraiva thuds his shin into the meat of Blaskey's side.
Blaskey swats away the attempt to clinch by Saraiva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaskey catches Saraiva with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A big left from Blaskey misses.
Saraiva misses with a low kick.
Blaskey swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Saraiva.
Blaskey is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Saraiva blocks a jab.
Saraiva throws a head kick that misses.
Saraiva throws the kick towards the body but Blaskey avoids it.
The fighters circling - Blaskey throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blaskey keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Saraiva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saraiva throws a nice inside leg kick.
Saraiva moves away from the strike by Blaskey.
Saraiva wants to clinch
and Blaskey counters with a two punch combo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Blaskey has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Saraiva.
Saraiva pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Saraiva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saraiva throws a head kick that half lands.
Saraiva chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraiva throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Blaskey.
Saraiva buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Blaskey checks a leg kick.
Blaskey blocks the body kick.
Saraiva thuds his shin into the meat of Blaskey's side.
Blaskey chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Saraiva can pounce on him.
Blaskey showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saraiva.
Saraiva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saraiva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blaskey missing with a left hand there. Saraiva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blaskey throws a hook but Saraiva blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blaskey drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Saraiva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blaskey is one step ahead there.
Blaskey trying to control but Saraiva is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blaskey slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Blaskey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saraiva keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blaskey controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Saraiva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saraiva 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gabriel Saraiva!
Gabriel Saraiva seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.