PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between CJ Saaim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Lucas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saaim comes to the cage accompanied by Chelsea Dagger. Steve Lucas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saaim
vs
Lucas

182 cm
26
187 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

190 cm
25
185 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, CJ Saaim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Lucas!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lucas tries to clinch but Saaim moves out of range.

Saaim has Lucas up against the cage in a clinch.

Saaim wants the takedown. Lucas is fighting it off but Saaim persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Lucas's guard against the cage.
Lucas is trying to control the position but Saaim postures up.
Saaim working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lucas's head.
Saaim throws a strike but Lucas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Saaim is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lucas tries to stand but Saaim is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Saaim holds on and takes a little breather.
My spies in Die Trying Gym inform me that Lucas has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lucas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lucas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saaim attempts a counter takedown but Lucas avoids it well and moves away.
No luck for Lucas with that takedown attempt.
Lucas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saaim circles away.
CJ Saaim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lucas.
Saaim throws a hook but Lucas avoids it easily.

Saaim shoots in and gets a takedown into Lucas's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lucas isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Saaim stacks Lucas on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Saaim!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Saaim wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Saaim knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lucas on the ground.
Check out the look on Saaim's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Lucas is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Check out the look on Saaim's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Saaim lands a few punches from side control.
Lucas struggling a bit here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lucas is not content to let Saaim control the position.
Lucas is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Saaim asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Lucas wants to control but Saaim postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Saaim's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Saaim is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saaim is thwarting Lucas's attempts to control the position.

Lucas actively working from the bottom here.
Lucas is looking for a sweep. Saaim is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saaim is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Lucas won't allow Saaim to pass to mount.
Lucas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Saaim with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lucas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Saaim defends it easily.
Saaim trying to control but Lucas is working from the bottom.
Saaim chips away with some ground and pound.
Saaim postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lucas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Saaim's guard.

Saaim is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lucas won't allow Saaim to sweep him here.
Lucas wants to control from the top but Saaim keeps moving.
Lucas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saaim is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Saaim dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Saaim scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lucas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saaim swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lucas throws a counter combo.
Lucas doesn't manage to clinch there - Saaim circles away.
CJ Saaim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lucas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lucas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saaim but Saaim pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice uppercut there from Saaim.
Lucas misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saaim moves into the clinch.

Saaim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saaim is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lucas can do to turn this around?
Saaim misses with a hook
and Lucas counters with a one-two to the body.
Lucas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saaim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saaim lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas slips a jab and a cross from Saaim.
Lucas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saaim avoids it really well and circles away.
CJ Saaim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lucas.
Saaim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lucas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lucas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saaim throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lucas is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Saaim.
Lucas is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Saaim off and has taken his back!
Saaim trying to control the position but Lucas manages to sink in the hooks.

Lucas is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lucas looking for the choke from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas is looking to control Saaim but Saaim is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Saaim is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Lucas is not going to allow Saaim to sit and survive in this position.
Lucas wants to control but Saaim is keeping busy.

Lucas looking for the RNC.
Saaim tries to break free.

Lucas is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Saaim taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Lucas.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steve Lucas!
In defeat, CJ Saaim stepped up to the mic, saying 'I tripped on my shoelace, I'll tie them and i'll be back better than ever'.