PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Woo Taehyung Kim (ranked 8887 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shamil Saadulaev (ranked 3783 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taehyung Kim
vs
Saadulaev

173 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Woo Taehyung Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shamil Saadulaev!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Michael Johnstone and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saadulaev instigates a clinch.
Kim tries to pull guard but Saadulaev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Saadulaev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Saadulaev decides to pull guard.
Kim trying to control but Saadulaev is working from the bottom.
Saadulaev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saadulaev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kim's guard.

Saadulaev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
It looks like Saadulaev might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Kim working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kim is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Saadulaev is aware though and is defending well.
Saadulaev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Let's hope that Saadulaev 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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kim trying to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Saadulaev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Kim looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saadulaev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saadulaev wants to stand up but Kim has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Saadulaev slows the pace down in half guard.
Kim wants to get back to full guard but Saadulaev has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Saadulaev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saadulaev is landing with some decent strikes but Kim is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Saadulaev unloading with bombs!
Saadulaev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kim can't escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kim tries to hold on but Saadulaev postures up.
Kim is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shamil Saadulaev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kim tries to sprawl but Saadulaev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Saadulaev controlling the action here.
Saadulaev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kim's head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Saadulaev in particular looking to stall.
Saadulaev is thwarting Kim's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saadulaev slows the pace down in half guard.
Kim wants to improve his position but Saadulaev is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saadulaev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Saadulaev passes to full mount!
Saadulaev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saadulaev lands with some strikes.
Kim keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saadulaev get's back to his feet.
Saadulaev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Saadulaev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kim tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Saadulaev is in Kim's guard.
Saadulaev controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saadulaev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kim has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saadulaev has managed to get both his arms back between Kim's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saadulaev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Saadulaev pushes down on Kim's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Saadulaev not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Saadulaev slows the pace down in half guard.
Kim misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Saadulaev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kim with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Saadulaev trying to control the pace.
Kim trying to control but Saadulaev postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kim taking some punishment here, with Saadulaev in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shamil Saadulaev 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!

Kim lands a leg kick that knocks Saadulaev off balance momentarily.
Saadulaev blocks a head kick by Kim.

Kim gets caught flat footed, as Saadulaev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Saadulaev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Saadulaev tries to free his leg and advance position but Kim is retaining full guard.
Saadulaev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saadulaev pushes down on Kim's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Saadulaev wants to free his trapped foot but Kim is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Saadulaev is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Saadulaev is pressing down on Kim's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kim is holding on for now.

Saadulaev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kim trying to control but Saadulaev postures up.
Kim wants to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Saadulaev stalling.
Saadulaev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Saadulaev controlling the action here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saadulaev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Saadulaev gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saadulaev lands with a punch from half guard.
Saadulaev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Still in half guard, Saadulaev seems content to control.
Kim taking some punishment here, with Saadulaev in his half guard.
Kim is looking to control Saadulaev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kim avoid being mounted?
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Saadulaev in particular looking to stall.

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.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Saadulaev connects with a nice short shot to Kim's temple.
Saadulaev is controlling the pace.

Saadulaev decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shamil Saadulaev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Saadulaev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shamil Saadulaev!