PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Askhat Kariebatonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marlon Sagen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryan Askhat Kariebatonov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Askhat Kariebatonov
vs
Sagen

205 cm
23
218 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
212 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bryan Askhat Kariebatonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marlon Sagen!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sagen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sagen crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kariebatonov - the referee stops the clock and Sagen gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kariebatonov. Sagen manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sagen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kariebatonov throws a nice head kick!
Kariebatonov connects with a high kick.
Sagen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Kariebatonov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sagen shoots in for a double leg but Kariebatonov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kariebatonov.
Kariebatonov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sagen.
Kariebatonov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kariebatonov connects with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Kariebatonov.
Sagen tries for a takedown but Kariebatonov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kariebatonov fakes the leg kick and cracks Sagen in the body.
Sagen shoots for a takedown but Kariebatonov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bryan Askhat Kariebatonov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlon Sagen.
Kariebatonov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sagen's head.
Kariebatonov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sagen's head.
Kariebatonov throws a head kick that half lands.
Kariebatonov tries for a takedown but Sagen circles away easily

and Sagen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sagen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagen blocks the strikes from Kariebatonov.
Kariebatonov is trying to control but can't.

Kariebatonov looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Kariebatonov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kariebatonov is looking to control Sagen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kariebatonov avoid being mounted?
Sagen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kariebatonov is breathing heavily.
Nice strikes from Sagen there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kariebatonov lands with a slapping head kick.

Sagen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sagen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kariebatonov wants to control but Sagen is keeping busy.
Sagen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sagen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sagen working the head and body with strikes.
Sagen working over Kariebatonov with some ground and pound. Kariebatonov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kariebatonov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sagen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sagen winds up and cracks Kariebatonov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kariebatonov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sagen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kariebatonov wants to get back to full guard.
Sagen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kariebatonov is looking to improve his position.
Kariebatonov taking some punishment here, with Sagen in his half guard.

That's four 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.
Kariebatonov wants to improve his position but Sagen is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sagen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kariebatonov to the mat! Kariebatonov manages to get full guard.
Kariebatonov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kariebatonov 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.
Sagen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sagen is working Kariebatonov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sagen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kariebatonov working a defensive guard here.

Kariebatonov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sagen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sagen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kariebatonov doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bryan Askhat Kariebatonov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sagen.
Sagen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kariebatonov connects with a high kick.
Sagen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kariebatonov counters with a good low kick that Sagen was not able to check.
Bryan Askhat Kariebatonov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlon Sagen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagen keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kariebatonov lands a head kick!
Sagen avoids the head kick by Kariebatonov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Kariebatonov.
Kariebatonov throws a head kick that Sagen semi-blocks.
Kariebatonov lands a high kick!
Kariebatonov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sagen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kariebatonov with a lazy takedown attempt

so Sagen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kariebatonov trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagen won't allow Kariebatonov to sweep him here.
Sagen with a nice head shot there.
Kariebatonov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sagen lands a couple of digs.
Sagen lands a couple of digs.
Sagen landing with the ground and pound.
Sagen pushing down on Kariebatonov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sagen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sagen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sagen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kariebatonov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sagen is working away from the top position though.
Kariebatonov punching from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kariebatonov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sagen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kariebatonov misses with a takedown

and Sagen moves into the clinch.
Sagen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sagen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kariebatonov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sagen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kariebatonov wants to get back to his feet.
Kariebatonov is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kariebatonov taking a bit of punishment here - Sagen scoring with strikes.
Kariebatonov is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kariebatonov wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Marlon Sagen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sagen in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sagen lands a few punches from side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kariebatonov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marlon Sagen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kariebatonov throws a head kick that half lands.
Sagen blocks a head kick by Kariebatonov.

Sagen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kariebatonov doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sagen with a nice head shot there.
Sagen landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marlon Sagen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kariebatonov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sagen's head.
Sagen looks for a takedown but Kariebatonov sprawls well.
Kariebatonov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kariebatonov lands a head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kariebatonov lands a head kick. Sagen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sagen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kariebatonov counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Kariebatonov throws a front kick that sends Sagen stumbling back into the cage.
Sagen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kariebatonov misses with a head kick.
Kariebatonov fails with the takedown

and Sagen counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two 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.
Kariebatonov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sagen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kariebatonov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bryan Askhat Kariebatonov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlon Sagen.
Sagen tries to break the clinch but Kariebatonov is controlling the position.

Kariebatonov successfully pulls guard.
Sagen throwing strikes from guard but Kariebatonov blocks nicely.
Kariebatonov tries to strike from the bottom.
Kariebatonov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Kariebatonov striking off his back but it's not causing Sagen any problems.
Sagen scoring with some ground and pound.
Sagen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sagen throwing strikes but missing.
Kariebatonov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kariebatonov lands with a slapping head kick.
Kariebatonov keeps the fight on the outside.

Sagen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kariebatonov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sagen works over Kariebatonov with some ground and pound from guard.
Kariebatonov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kariebatonov trying to strike off his back.
Sagen chips away with some ground and pound.
Kariebatonov wants to stand up but Sagen is controlling him.
Sagen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kariebatonov's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kariebatonov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sagen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kariebatonov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sagen's best efforts.

Sagen is looking for a kimura but Kariebatonov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sagen to get the leverage.
Sagen is nestled in close to Kariebatonov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kariebatonov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kariebatonov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sagen is working away from the top position though.
Kariebatonov taking some punishment here, with Sagen in his half guard.
Kariebatonov wants to get back to full guard.
Kariebatonov is trying to control but can't.

Kariebatonov actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marlon Sagen.
I think Sagen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Marlon Sagen!