PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Davey Sage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hussain Nahil (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.

Sage
vs
Nahil

200 cm
23
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
22
222 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Davey Sage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hussain Nahil!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A left and a right from Sage both land. Nice combination.
Nahil shoots in but Sage avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nahil lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Davey Sage has been cut.
Nahil blocks a head kick by Sage.

Nahil gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sage is trying to force a seperation but Nahil has the dominant position.

Sage jumps guard.
Sage wants to sweep but no luck.
Sage on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sage tries to get out of the position.
Nahil looking to pass the guard.
Sage looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sage throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Nahil stops Sage from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nahil content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nahil is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sage trying to keep a closed guard but Nahil is proving a slippery customer.
Nahil distracts Sage with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Sage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nahil can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nahil stays in close to Sage's body and controls the position.
Nahil has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nahil throwing strikes but missing.

Sage is working an open guard so Nahil takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nahil misses with a jab, cross combination.

Sage closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nahil's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nahil kicks Sage off and gets to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sage.
Nahil swats away the attempt to clinch by Sage.

Nahil drives through with a takedown into Sage's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Nahil stands and steps away. Sage gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nahil shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sage as he avoids it easily.
Nahil looks gassed!

Nahil clinches up with Sage and pushes him back against the cage.

Nahil pulls guard.
Sage trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Sage is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nahil is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nahil has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nahil doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nahil manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nahil seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nahil stops Sage from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hussain Nahil dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Davey Sage's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sage doesn't manage to clinch there - Nahil circles away.
Nahil is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sage throws a series of punches but Nahil avoids them all with ease.

Nahil shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nahil showed some decent athleticism there.
Sage is trying to stand.
Nahil lands with a punch from half guard.
Nahil seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sage misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Nahil is looking to advance position but Sage won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nahil is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sage preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Nahil is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sage might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nahil is just content to waste time from the top position. Sage takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sage pulls Nahil in close to his closed guard and prevents Nahil from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sage is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nahil is aware though and is defending well.
Nahil pushing down on Sage's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sage flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Nahil performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nahil is keen to just control but Sage is a slippery customer.
Sage trying to control but Nahil postures up.

Nahil decides to return to a standing position.
Sage misses with a looping right.
Sage misses with a takedown attempt

and Nahil counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sage won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nahil working away.

Nahil tries for a kimura but Sage is defending well.
Sage gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Nahil controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nahil swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Sage is now in Nahil's guard. A big mistake from Nahil there, giving up the dominant position!
Sage tries to free his leg and advance position but Nahil is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hussain Nahil showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Davey Sage's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sage wants to clinch.
Davey Sage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nahil showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sage.
Sage fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nahil swats away the attempt to clinch by Sage.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Nahil. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Sage drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hussain Nahil has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sage being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sage trying to control the position from guard on top but Nahil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nahil manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sage is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nahil takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Let's hope that Nahil 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sage is desperately trying to improve his position but Nahil has a good base and remains in mount.
Nahil can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sage is looking to escape.

Nahil stands up from mount. Strange move.
A leg kick checked by Nahil.

Sage gets tackled into the cage by Nahil. Nahil maintains the clinch.
Sage has Nahil pressed against the cage, preventing Nahil from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sage tries to score a body lock takedown but Nahil shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sage stops a takedown attempt from Nahil.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nahil fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A head punch on the inside from Sage fails to land.
Sage blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sage misses with a knee strike.

Nahil gets control of Sage's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nahil will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sage has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nahil lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Nahil being controlled here, momentarily.
Sage trying to control but Nahil is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nahil throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sage trying to control but Nahil is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Davey Sage wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sage misses with a head kick.
Sage swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nahil with a poor takedown

and Sage counters with a shoot takedown. Nahil fights it but they end up in guard.
Davey Sage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hussain Nahil.
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!
Sage advances to half guard.
Davey Sage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hussain Nahil is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nahil keeping control of the position.

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 Davey Sage.
I think Nahil 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hussain Nahil!