PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Sitsongrit (ranked 2120 p4p, 2094 weight class) and Denis Denisov (ranked 129 p4p, 127 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Sitsongrit
vs
Denisov

175 cm
24
130
5 - 3 - 0

167 cm
29
140
10 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Magomed Sitsongrit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denis Denisov!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denisov is looking to clinch but Sitsongrit is avoiding it.
And Sitsongrit counters with a quick kick to the body but Denisov blocks it.
Sitsongrit throws a jab when Denisov was well out of range.
Denisov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A jab from Sitsongrit misses.
Sitsongrit takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sitsongrit does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Denisov appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Sitsongrit wants to slow Denisov down by chopping away at his legs.
Sitsongrit thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sitsongrit misses with a body kick.
Denisov moves in looking to clinch but Sitsongrit pushes him off.
Jab by Denisov.
Denisov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Denisov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sitsongrit doesn't seem phased though.
Denisov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sitsongrit looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Denisov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sitsongrit.
Denisov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sitsongrit.
Denisov misses with a shot to the body
and Sitsongrit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sitsongrit defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Denisov.
Sitsongrit's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Denisov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sitsongrit scrambles back to his feet.
Denisov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Denisov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sitsongrit is able to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov tries to clinch up.
Denisov wants to clinch
and Sitsongrit cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Denisov darts in trying to clinch
and Sitsongrit counters with a stiff right hand.
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!

Denisov rushes Sitsongrit and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sitsongrit misses with some punches.
Denisov tries to pull guard but Sitsongrit holds him up against the cage and eventually Denisov drops back down to his feet.
A short left from Sitsongrit.
Sitsongrit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denisov manages to pull guard.
Sitsongrit is stalling in the full guard.
Denisov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sitsongrit is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sitsongrit won't allow Denisov to get back to his feet.

Sitsongrit gets to his feet - Denisov follows without any prompting.
Denisov closes the distance and clinches up with Sitsongrit, looking for a takedown. Denisov pushes Sitsongrit against the cage but Sitsongrit circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sitsongrit throws a quick counter kick to the body but Denisov avoids it.
Magomed Sitsongrit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Denisov.
Good standup being displayed there by Sitsongrit as he connects with a hook.
Denisov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sitsongrit throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Denisov sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov tries to clinch up
enabling Sitsongrit to counter with a crisp jab.
Denisov tries a head kick but it misses.
Sitsongrit is looking to counter punch.
Sitsongrit really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sitsongrit moves away from the strike by Denisov.
Sitsongrit quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Sitsongrit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Denisov was well out of range. Poor timing from Sitsongrit.
Sitsongrit ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Denisov misses with a body shot
letting Sitsongrit counter with a right hand.

Denisov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sitsongrit escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Denisov with a poor takedown
and Sitsongrit counters with a nice uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Sitsongrit dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sitsongrit misses with a body punch
letting Denisov counter with a right hand.

It looks like Denis Denisov has been cut.

Denisov pushes Sitsongrit up against the cage in a clinch.
Denisov jumps guard but Sitsongrit turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sitsongrit softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sitsongrit works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sitsongrit misses with a short punch on the inside.
Denisov blocks an uppercut.
Denisov blocks an uppercut.
Sitsongrit lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Denisov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sitsongrit can't fight it off and eventually Denisov manages to take the fight to the floor. Sitsongrit looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Denisov stopping the sweep attempt from Sitsongrit.
Denisov postures up in Sitsongrit's guard and throws a big left but Sitsongrit blocks it.
Denisov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Denisov cracks Sitsongrit with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Denisov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sitsongrit is looking to stand up but Denisov isn't so interested in that idea.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Denisov working his ground and pound in the gym.
Sitsongrit trying to control the position here.
Sitsongrit is trying to keep Denisov in close.
Sitsongrit is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Denisov can do to turn this around?
Sitsongrit is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sitsongrit pulls Denisov in to control the position.
Sitsongrit wants to stand and escape but Denisov is having none of it.
Denisov wants to control from the top but Sitsongrit keeps moving.
Sitsongrit is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sitsongrit wants to lay and pray for a moment but Denisov keeps working.
Denisov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Denisov gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov looking for a sweep. Not yet Denisov, not yet.
Denisov keeping moving, preventing Sitsongrit from controlling successfully.
Sitsongrit has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Sitsongrit looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Denisov has a closed guard, preventing Sitsongrit from standing up.
Denisov wants to sweep here but Sitsongrit controlling him for the moment.
Sitsongrit pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Denisov is keeping the position for now.
Sitsongrit tries to stand but Denisov is controlling from the bottom.
Sitsongrit stops Denisov from standing up.
Denisov keeping moving, preventing Sitsongrit from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sitsongrit stays in close to Denisov's body and controls the position.

Sitsongrit stands up from Denisov's guard - Sitsongrit perhaps looking for a knockout.
Denis Denisov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Denisov tries to clinch but Sitsongrit moves out of range.
Sitsongrit thinks about countering with a body kick.
Denisov walks into a stiff left hand from Sitsongrit.
Denisov's corner calls for a 1-2. Denisov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Denisov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Denisov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sitsongrit paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Denisov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Denisov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sitsongrit at a distance.
Denisov moves in looking to clinch but Sitsongrit pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Denisov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Denisov tries to clinch up but Sitsongrit circles away and keeps his distance.
Denisov wants to clinch but Sitsongrit slips to the side
and Sitsongrit counters with a straight right hand.
Denisov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sitsongrit swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
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!
Denisov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Denisov lands with a cross.
Denisov misses with a lunging right hand
and Sitsongrit counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sitsongrit misses with a body kick.
Denisov lands a jab to Sitsongrit's midsection.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Magomed Sitsongrit will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Denis Denisov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sitsongrit showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Denisov.

Denisov closes the distance and pushes Sitsongrit back into the cage.

Sitsongrit pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Denisov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sitsongrit swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Denisov connects with the punch.
Sitsongrit misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denisov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sitsongrit.
Denisov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sitsongrit swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sitsongrit stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov throws a combination. Sitsongrit tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nice straight punches there by Sitsongrit. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sitsongrit.
Denis Denisov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Denisov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
An attempted straight right counter from Sitsongrit misses the target.
Sitsongrit is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Denisov throws a nice looking combination but Sitsongrit bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Denisov checks a leg kick.
Denisov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sitsongrit counters with a leg kick.

Denisov moves into the clinch.
A short right from Sitsongrit.
Sitsongrit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Denisov backwards.
Denisov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sitsongrit after a bit of a struggle.
Still in the clinch, Sitsongrit scores with a nice short uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Denisov blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sitsongrit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Denisov fails to pull guard.
Sitsongrit misses with a hook from the clinch.
Magomed Sitsongrit has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sitsongrit prevents a takedown attempt there.
Magomed Sitsongrit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Denisov.
Sitsongrit scores with a nice hook to the head.
Denisov tries to pull guard but Sitsongrit won't allow it.
A short uppercut from Sitsongrit.

Sitsongrit breaks from the clinch.

Sitsongrit gets tackled into the cage by Denisov. Denisov maintains the clinch.
Denis Denisov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Denisov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sitsongrit just stands there and leans against the cage.
Denisov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sitsongrit pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sitsongrit throws a hook but Denisov avoids it easily.
Denisov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Denisov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sitsongrit cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sitsongrit gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Denisov.
Sitsongrit looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Denisov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sitsongrit. Sitsongrit circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sitsongrit wants to land a leg kick but Denisov is out of range.
Sitsongrit throws a jab but it's blocked by Denisov.
Sitsongrit on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sitsongrit throws a body shot but no joy.
Magomed Sitsongrit is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Denisov throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Sitsongrit counter with a right hand.
Magomed Sitsongrit is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sitsongrit lands with a good body shot.
A jab lands there for Sitsongrit.

Sitsongrit gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Denisov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Denisov is looking to work some ground and pound but Sitsongrit has wrist control.
Sitsongrit is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Sitsongrit is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Denisov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Sitsongrit's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Denisov fails with the takedown
and Sitsongrit counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Denisov moves forwards but Sitsongrit connects with a nice, crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomed Sitsongrit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sitsongrit, 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magomed Sitsongrit!
A victorious Magomed Sitsongrit thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.