PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rashid Sadulaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Bieber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Justin Bieber enters the cage!

Sadulaev
vs
Bieber

182 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rashid Sadulaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Bieber!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sadulaev drives through with a takedown into guard.

Bieber looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bieber throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sadulaev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bieber swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Bieber has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sadulaev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Bieber had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sadulaev defends it easily.

Sadulaev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sadulaev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bieber is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sadulaev defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bieber looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sadulaev cracks Bieber with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sadulaev 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.
Bieber is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sadulaev 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.
Sadulaev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bieber's head.

Bieber looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Bieber had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sadulaev defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sadulaev wants to pass the guard but Bieber is keeping the position.

Bieber looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sadulaev trying to control but Bieber is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sadulaev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

It looks like Justin Bieber has been cut.

Sadulaev drops back looking for a leg! Bieber is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bieber manages to kick Sadulaev off! Sadulaev jumps back into Bieber's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bieber looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sadulaev trying to control but Bieber is working from the bottom.

Bieber had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sadulaev defends it easily.

Bieber looking for a guillotine here but Sadulaev defends easily.
Bieber looks winded!
Bieber wants to sweep here but Sadulaev controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sadulaev wants to control from the top but Bieber keeps moving.
Sadulaev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sadulaev pushes down on Bieber's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Sadulaev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bieber is just riding it out for now. Sadulaev eventually gives up the hold.
Sadulaev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Bieber looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bieber is looking for a sweep. Sadulaev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sadulaev is working for a kimura but Bieber is defending it quite comfortably.
We've been informed that Bieber has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Sadulaev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bieber defends it well.

Sadulaev seems to be working for a kimura but Bieber defends the submission attempt.
Sadulaev is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bieber!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sadulaev working the ground and pound effectively.

That has opened up Justin Bieber's cut even more.
Bieber working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashid Sadulaev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Bieber's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bieber finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Bieber misses with an uppercut.
Bieber misses with a low kick.
Sadulaev drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bieber sprawls and moves away.
Bieber misses with a head kick.
Sadulaev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bieber tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sadulaev was well out of range. Poor timing from Bieber.
Bieber looks to score with a jab to the body but Sadulaev is just out of range.
Sadulaev avoids the head kick by Bieber.
Sadulaev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bieber.
Sadulaev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Sadulaev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bieber is trying to control the position but Sadulaev postures up.
Sadulaev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sadulaev wants to control from the top but Bieber keeps moving.

Bieber throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bieber is breathing heavily.
Sadulaev tries to free his leg and advance position but Bieber is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bieber working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sadulaev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sadulaev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bieber is striking off his back. Sadulaev thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Sadulaev drops an elbow to the side of Bieber's head.
Rashid Sadulaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sadulaev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bieber defends it well.
Sadulaev lands with a punch from half guard.
Sadulaev is thwarting Bieber's attempts to control the position.
Sadulaev working Bieber over with strikes.
Bieber has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sadulaev is working away from the top position though.

Sadulaev seems to be working for a kimura but Bieber defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sadulaev is working for a kimura but Bieber is defending it quite comfortably.
Nice strikes from Sadulaev there.
Bieber missing with punches from the bottom.

Sadulaev is looking for a kimura but Bieber is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sadulaev to get the leverage.
Sadulaev working the head and body with strikes.
Sadulaev is nestled in close to Bieber, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Sadulaev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bieber doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sadulaev.

Sadulaev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bieber is looking to control Sadulaev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bieber avoid being mounted?
Bieber might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sadulaev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sadulaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bieber can do to turn this around?
Sadulaev tries to pass to full mount but Bieber defends it.

Sadulaev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bieber defends it well.

Sadulaev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bieber doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sadulaev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bieber slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Sadulaev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bieber has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sadulaev has managed to get both his arms back between Bieber's legs - danger averted.

Bieber looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Bieber is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sadulaev is working Bieber over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sadulaev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bieber's head.
Sadulaev postures up and lands a big shot to Bieber's brow.

Bieber is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashid Sadulaev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justin Bieber's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bieber lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Sadulaev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bieber manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Sadulaev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Sadulaev 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.
Sadulaev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bieber is still in real trouble! Can Sadulaev finish him?

Bieber is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sadulaev defends well.
Bieber seems to have recovered his senses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bieber is looking for a triangle but Sadulaev pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sadulaev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bieber's guard.
Bieber takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sadulaev working the head and body with strikes.

Sadulaev seems to be looking for submissions.
Sadulaev trying to pass the guard but Bieber defending well.
Sadulaev wants to take a breather but Bieber is having none of it.

Bieber looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Bieber actively working from the bottom here.

Sadulaev in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Bieber tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Sadulaev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rashid Sadulaev!
A less than humble Rashid Sadulaev misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.