PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Kharimvotrik (ranked 6450 p4p, 24078 weight class) and Lou Sabatory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kharimvotrik
vs
Sabatory

182 cm
21
180
1 - 5 - 0

187 cm
21
185
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Kharimvotrik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lou Sabatory!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kharimvotrik scores with the left hand. Sabatory knows he should have avoided that one.
Sabatory looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Sabatory shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kharimvotrik's guard.
Kharimvotrik trying to keep a closed guard but Sabatory is proving a slippery customer.
Kharimvotrik wants to sweep but no luck.
Kharimvotrik is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sabatory slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kharimvotrik wants to improve his position but instead Sabatory has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharimvotrik wants to control but Sabatory is keeping busy.
Kharimvotrik is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Sabatory drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kharimvotrik looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sabatory is one step ahead there.
Kharimvotrik is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sabatory is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kharimvotrik is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Sabatory presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Sabatory's coach down at Cozad MMA Los Angeles was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Sabatory's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Sabatory has clasped his hands together around Kharimvotrik's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
You can see the frustration on Kharimvotrik's face as Sabatory controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharimvotrik is pushing Sabatory's head away, looking to escape. Sabatory manages to hold on to the position though.
Kharimvotrik can't do much from the bottom here.
Kharimvotrik tries to buck Sabatory off but Sabatory is having none of it.
Sabatory controls the position.
Kharimvotrik is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kharimvotrik tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kharimvotrik tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sabatory controlling the position easily from mount.
Sabatory with the ground and pound from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lou Sabatory dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sabatory throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kharimvotrik was covering up waiting for the punch and Sabatory finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Kharimvotrik has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Sabatory is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Kharimvotrik wants to get back to striking at distance but Sabatory won't allow it.

Sabatory has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kharimvotrik is trying to keep an underhook but Sabatory manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kharimvotrik is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sabatory thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabatory trying to control the pace.
Kharimvotrik wants to get back to full guard.
Kharimvotrik is trying to control but Sabatory passes into side control!

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.
Kharimvotrik looking for a sweep but Sabatory has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Sabatory takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kharimvotrik is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lou Sabatory has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sabatory controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharimvotrik is working to get back to half guard.
Sabatory controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kharimvotrik really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sabatory has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sabatory tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kharimvotrik wants to control but Sabatory is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lou Sabatory 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sabatory closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sabatory lands in his opponent's guard.

Kharimvotrik pushes Sabatory off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sabatory moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kharimvotrik stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Sabatory gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kharimvotrik wants to control but Sabatory postures up.
Sabatory wants to control but Kharimvotrik is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharimvotrik is looking for a sweep.
Sabatory is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Kharimvotrik will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Kharimvotrik struggling a bit here.
Magomed Kharimvotrik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sabatory landing a few strikes.
Sabatory happy to just control the position for now.
Kharimvotrik tries to control but Sabatory manages to take his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabatory biding his time, looking for the opening.
Kharimvotrik trying to control but not successfully.
Sabatory landing with strikes.
Kharimvotrik trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kharimvotrik wants to get back to his feet.
Sabatory is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Kharimvotrik can't escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sabatory really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Kharimvotrik.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lou Sabatory.
I've got Sabatory 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lou Sabatory!