PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Halid Saadulaev (ranked 8251 p4p, 0 weight class) and Woo Taehyung Kim (ranked 9715 p4p, 0 weight class). Halid Saadulaev could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Woo Taehyung Kim's chin.

Saadulaev
vs
Taehyung Kim

177 cm
23
156 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

173 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Halid Saadulaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Woo Taehyung Kim!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Kim looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kim tries to clinch but Saadulaev is having none of it.
Saadulaev stuffs the takedown attempt from Kim. Kim gets slowly back to his feet.
Kim tries to close the distance and clinch but Saadulaev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saadulaev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kim avoids the body shot from Saadulaev.
Kim steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Kim fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saadulaev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kim is trying to push Saadulaev away but Saadulaev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kim avoids the elbow strike from Saadulaev, against the cage.
Kim is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saadulaev pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Halid Saadulaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Woo Taehyung Kim.
Kim pushes Saadulaev back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim is trying to drag Saadulaev to the mat but Saadulaev just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kim tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Saadulaev pulls guard successfully.
Saadulaev wants to sweep here but Kim controlling him for the moment.
Kim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saadulaev keeping moving, preventing Kim from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saadulaev seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Saadulaev throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Saadulaev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Saadulaev throws a head kick but Kim moves out of range.

Saadulaev feints and as Kim raises his hands in defense, Saadulaev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saadulaev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Saadulaev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kim on the ground.
Saadulaev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kim has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Saadulaev is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kim.
Kim is trying to buck Saadulaev off.
Saadulaev tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Saadulaev swings around for an armbar but Kim sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Saadulaev's guard.
Saadulaev has control of Kim's left arm, preventing Kim from doing any damage.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Saadulaev.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kim with a flurry of punches that miss.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kim trying to control the position from guard on top but Saadulaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saadulaev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Saadulaev tries to get out of the position.
Kim being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Halid Saadulaev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kim tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saadulaev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kim somewhat.
Saadulaev has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kim tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Saadulaev defends well and Kim ends up having to push Saadulaev into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Saadulaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kim can do to turn this around?
Saadulaev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saadulaev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Kim makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
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!
Kim shoots in for a takedown but Saadulaev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Halid Saadulaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Woo Taehyung Kim.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saadulaev takes the fight into the clinch.

Saadulaev manages to pull guard.
Kim takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Kim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saadulaev lands a decent punch to the body there.
Saadulaev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kim is one step ahead there.
Kim wants to control from the top but Saadulaev keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saadulaev looking for a sweep. Not yet Saadulaev, not yet.
Kim wanted to stand there but Saadulaev had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kim wants to counter the offense by Saadulaev and move into the clinch position.
Saadulaev misses with a low kick.

Saadulaev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kim's guard.
Saadulaev is standing up over Kim. Kim looks to escape but Saadulaev dives into side control.

Kim can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim is trying to get back to his feet.
Kim stops Saadulaev from passing to mount.
Kim is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Saadulaev has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Saadulaev lands a few punches from side control.
Saadulaev tries to get to his feet but Kim is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Saadulaev in his guard.
Saadulaev distracts Kim with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

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.
Kim controls Saadulaev momentarily but Saadulaev frees himself.
Kim looking to control but Saadulaev passes into half guard.
Saadulaev wants to pass to mount but Kim is defending the position.
Kim looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Halid Saadulaev will probably get the nod.
That's time! Saadulaev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kim!

Saadulaev closes the distance and clinches.

Kim pulls Saadulaev into guard.
Saadulaev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.
Saadulaev wants to stand but Kim is controlling his posture from full guard.
Saadulaev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saadulaev lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saadulaev won't allow Kim to sweep him here.
Kim trying to keep a closed guard but Saadulaev is proving a slippery customer.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Saadulaev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Saadulaev wants to stand but Kim is controlling his posture from full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Kim fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saadulaev avoids it really well and circles away.

Saadulaev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kim did well to prevent Saadulaev getting side control.
Kim tries to kick Saadulaev off in order to stand up. Saadulaev Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Kim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kim sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kim trying to control but Saadulaev postures up.

Saadulaev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kim sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saadulaev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Saadulaev tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kim.

Saadulaev postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kim to stand up.
Kim dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Saadulaev. That did some damage!
Kim shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saadulaev defends it nicely.
Kim wants to clinch up but Saadulaev keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nice body kick from Kim.
Woo Taehyung Kim seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Saadulaev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kim is looking to control Saadulaev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kim avoid being mounted?
Saadulaev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Saadulaev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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 Halid Saadulaev.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saadulaev, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

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