PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Dickens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Razval Saraev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dickens's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, I Want it All. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Dickens
vs
Saraev

172 cm
27
185 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

171 cm
27
171 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Highland Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Oliver Dickens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Razval Saraev!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dickens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saraev as he avoids it easily.
Saraev is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Saraev with a jab.
Dickens takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Saraev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dickens swings for the body but Saraev moves out of range.
And Saraev tries to counter it with a takedown but Dickens pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Saraev throws a shot to the body.
Dickens closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saraev circles away.
Dickens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saraev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oliver Dickens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saraev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dickens has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Dickens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saraev ducks under a wild hook from Dickens.
Saraev looks for a takedown but Dickens sprawls well.
Dickens tries to counter with a takedown but Saraev is quick to defend against it.
Dickens fails with the takedown.
Dickens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saraev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dickens throws a hook but Saraev blocks it.
Saraev thuds a left hand into Dickens's body.

Dickens fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Saraev to the ground. Dickens is now in Saraev's guard.
Dickens works over Saraev with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dickens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saraev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saraev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dickens working a defensive guard here.
Saraev stays in close to Dickens's body and controls the position.
Dickens is trying to keep Saraev in close.
Saraev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Saraev throwing strikes but missing.
Dickens wants to sweep here but Saraev controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraev trying to control the position from guard on top but Dickens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dickens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Saraev throwing strikes from guard but Dickens blocks nicely.
Dickens looking to control.
Saraev won't allow Dickens to sweep him here.
Dickens trying to control the position here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Saraev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Saraev lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Saraev misses with an uppercut. Dickens saw that one coming.
Dickens feinted with a counter takedown.
Saraev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Dickens closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saraev circles away.
Saraev misses the body punch

and Dickens counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dickens with the ground and pound but Saraev uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Dickens wants to control from the top but Saraev keeps moving.
Saraev wants to hit a switch here but Dickens passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Saraev there!
Dickens thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Razval Saraev will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Saraev jabs Dickens to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Dickens throws a poor cross that misses

so Saraev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Oliver Dickens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dickens working a defensive guard but Saraev passes into half guard.
Dickens keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Saraev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Dickens slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Saraev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dickens is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Saraev throwing strikes from guard but Dickens blocks nicely.
Dickens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraev stopping the sweep attempt from Dickens.
Saraev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dickens trying to keep a closed guard but Saraev is proving a slippery customer.
Dickens is adopting a defensive guard.
Saraev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Saraev trying to control the position from guard on top but Dickens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Saraev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saraev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Saraev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dickens as he avoids it easily.
Dickens tries to counter with a takedown but Saraev is quick to defend against it.
Saraev shoots for a double leg takedown but Dickens sprawls well. He's pushed Saraev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dickens drops down looking for a counter takedown but Saraev sprawls and moves away.
Saraev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dickens moves away.
We've been informed that Saraev has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Razval Saraev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saraev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dickens fails to land the takedown.

Saraev gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraev misses with a body punch.
Dickens is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oliver Dickens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saraev prevents the takedown attempt.
Dickens is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Dickens has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Saraev after a bit of a struggle.
Saraev lands with a short shot to the head.
Saraev lands with a right to the head.

Saraev has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Dickens clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Dickens tries to escape the position.
Saraev gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Saraev is working the ground and pound. Can Dickens escape?
Dickens trying to control the action but Saraev just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dickens covering up well under a series of strikes from Saraev.
Saraev thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dickens trying to control the position but Saraev manages to sink in the hooks.
What can Dickens do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Dickens covering up well under a series of strikes from Saraev.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
I really don't envy Dickens right now.
Saraev lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Razval Saraev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Saraev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saraev looks to throw the jab but Dickens is out of range.
Dickens keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saraev.
No luck for Dickens with that takedown attempt.
Dickens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saraev was well out of range. Poor timing from Dickens.
A telegraphed right hand from Saraev misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dickens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dickens shoots in for a takedown but Saraev shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oliver Dickens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dickens shoots in looking for a takedown but Saraev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dickens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dickens dives in for a single leg takedown but Saraev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Saraev changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Dickens. No joy for Saraev on that attempt.
Dickens misses with an uppercut.
Dickens shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Saraev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dickens feinted with a counter takedown.
Saraev moves into range and connects with a jab.
Saraev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Saraev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dickens was well out of range. Poor timing from Saraev.
Dickens misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saraev throws a sloppy body shot

and Dickens counters with a shoot takedown. Saraev fights it but they end up in guard.
Dickens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Saraev wants to sweep but no luck.
Saraev is pulling down on Dickens's head to control his posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dickens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Saraev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dickens manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saraev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dickens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraev with a nice head shot there.
Saraev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dickens's head.
Dickens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saraev trying to control the position from guard on top but Dickens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dickens trying to keep a closed guard but Saraev is proving a slippery customer.
Saraev pushes down on Dickens's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dickens trying to hold on to Saraev's head to control him but Saraev postures up.

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.
Dickens keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Dickens moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Saraev trying to control the position from guard on top but Dickens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saraev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saraev controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dickens misses with an attempted mid kick.
Oliver Dickens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Razval Saraev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dickens. Saraev does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Razval Saraev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saraev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Hoff scores the fight for Razval Saraev!
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Razval Saraev!
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight for Razval Saraev!

Razval Saraev wins by unanimous decision!