PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ismail Saidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lesean Mccoy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saidov's entrance music is Shamhan Daldaev - Eto Kavkaz. A fine choice. Lesean Mccoy told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Saidov
vs
Mccoy

188 cm
25
198 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
27
192 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ismail Saidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lesean Mccoy!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mccoy throws a head kick that misses

and Saidov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Saidov is looking for a kimura but Mccoy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saidov to get the leverage.

Saidov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mccoy sees it coming and defends easily.

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

Mccoy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Saidov pulls his head out easily.

Mccoy looking for submissions off his back.

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

Saidov is looking for a kimura but Mccoy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saidov to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccoy tries to get to full guard but Saidov has control of the leg.
Mccoy throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Mccoy looking for submissions off his back.

Mccoy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Saidov pulls his head out easily.

Mccoy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mccoy wants to control but Saidov is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mccoy is defending against the submission attempts here by Saidov.
Mccoy wants to get back to full guard.
Mccoy misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mccoy wants to sweep but Saidov has passed to side control!
Mccoy tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

Saidov has hold of Mccoy's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mccoy manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Saidov prevents Mccoy from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saidov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mccoy is wriggling around trying to escape.

Saidov is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mccoy to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mccoy shrugs it off.
Mccoy can't escape the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mccoy can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mccoy wants to control but Saidov is having none of it.
Mccoy is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Mccoy defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Saidov.
Mccoy manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy tries to get to full guard but Saidov has control of the leg.

Saidov is working for a submission of some sort.
Mccoy is trying to maintain the position but Saidov is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Saidov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mccoy is trying to stand up here but Saidov is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismail Saidov dominated that round.
That's time! Saidov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saidov ducks under a wild hook from Mccoy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saidov.
Mccoy looks to score with a jab to the body but Saidov is just out of range.
Saidov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mccoy circles away.
Mccoy misses with a hook.
Saidov blocks a jab.
Mccoy slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mccoy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saidov.

Saidov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mccoy working to try and regain half guard.
Mccoy wants to hold on but Saidov pushes him away.
Mccoy is looking to get to half guard.
Mccoy tries to hold on but Saidov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccoy is trying to escape the mount.
Mccoy wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Mccoy tries to hold on but Saidov pushes him away.

Saidov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mccoy is surviving well by controlling Saidov's body position as best he can.
Mccoy is working to get back to half guard.
Mccoy tries to control Saidov's body but Saidov pushes him off. Mccoy squirms to his side and now Saidov has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saidov is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Saidov has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Mccoy has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Saidov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Mccoy breaks Saidov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mccoy works over Saidov with some ground and pound from guard.
Mccoy wants to control from the top but Saidov keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saidov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mccoy!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saidov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mccoy is surviving well by controlling Saidov's body position as best he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mccoy is desperately trying to improve his position but Saidov has a good base and remains in mount.

Saidov goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Mccoy is on top in guard.
Saidov keeping moving, preventing Mccoy from controlling successfully.
Saidov 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy trying to control the position from guard on top but Saidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mccoy throwing strikes but missing.
Mccoy trying to control but Saidov is working from the bottom.

Saidov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mccoy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mccoy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Saidov keeping moving, preventing Mccoy from controlling successfully.
Mccoy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mccoy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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 Ismail Saidov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mccoy misses with the body kick

and Saidov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mccoy moves into full guard.

Saidov 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.

Saidov has gone for a leg lock! Mccoy slips out almost immediately though and dives into Saidov's guard.
Mccoy connects with a couple of short punches.
Mccoy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Saidov keeping moving, preventing Mccoy from controlling successfully.

Saidov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccoy landing some decent shots from guard.
Mccoy wants to control from the top but Saidov keeps moving.
Mccoy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mccoy wants to stand but Saidov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Saidov keeping moving, preventing Mccoy from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Mccoy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saidov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mccoy landing some decent shots from guard.
Saidov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mccoy is one step ahead there.
Mccoy wants to control from the top but Saidov keeps moving.
Saidov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ismail Saidov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy wants to control from the top but Saidov keeps moving.
Mccoy postures up in Saidov's guard and throws a big left but Saidov blocks it.
Saidov working a defensive guard here.
Saidov keeping moving, preventing Mccoy from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Lesean Mccoy wasn't active enough on the ground.
A head kick by Mccoy misses

and Saidov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mccoy won't be happy with that.
You can see the frustration on Mccoy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mccoy tries to improve position but can't.

Saidov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mccoy, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saidov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mccoy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ismail Saidov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Saidov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mccoy gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mccoy striking from half guard on the bottom.
Mccoy wants to get back to full guard.
Lesean Mccoy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Mccoy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Saidov pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ismail Saidov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saidov, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ismail Saidov!
A very excited looking Ismail Saidov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.