PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lee Sawaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Master Flex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Sawaguchi
vs
Flex

225 cm
22
175 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lee Sawaguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Master Flex!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Sawaguchi with that takedown attempt.
Flex gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A jab from Sawaguchi finds it's way through Flex's defenses.
Flex leaves Sawaguchi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Flex closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sawaguchi's guard.

Sawaguchi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Flex is aware though and is defending well.
Flex really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sawaguchi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sawaguchi is looking for a triangle but Flex pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sawaguchi being controlled here, momentarily.

Sawaguchi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sawaguchi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sawaguchi keeping full guard, as Flex tries to pass.
Flex is pushing down on Sawaguchi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sawaguchi is fighting to maintain full guard but Flex has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flex perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Master Flex has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sawaguchi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Flex's head.
Sawaguchi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sawaguchi misses with a takedown attempt

and Flex counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Sawaguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sawaguchi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sawaguchi is working for takedown but Flex is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flex stalling.
Flex is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sawaguchi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Flex walks away with a smile on his face. Sawaguchi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flex pushes Sawaguchi up against the cage in a clinch.
Sawaguchi wants to get back to striking at distance but Flex won't allow it.
Flex has Sawaguchi pushed against the cage.

Flex jumps into guard, dragging Sawaguchi to the mat.
Sawaguchi wants to get up but he can't break Flex's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawaguchi won't allow Flex to sweep him here.
Sawaguchi wants to stand but Flex has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Flex is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Flex.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flex tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Flex closes the distance and clinches.
Sawaguchi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Flex to keep the fight standing.
Flex pressing his opponent against the cage.
Flex throws a head punch that misses.
Flex holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawaguchi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Flex smiles and moves away.
Sawaguchi with a poor takedown

so Flex counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Sawaguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Flex trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sawaguchi wants to stand and escape but Flex is having none of it.
Flex not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sawaguchi wants to stand up but Flex is controlling him.
Flex content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Master Flex wasn't active enough on the ground.

Flex rushes Sawaguchi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Flex leaning against his opponent.
The crowd are getting on Flex's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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 ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Master Flex.
Sawaguchi has his takedown stuffed

and Flex counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sawaguchi!
Flex controlling the position easily from mount.
Sawaguchi is looking to get to half guard.
Flex looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sawaguchi tries to buck Flex off but he can't manage it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flex controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Master Flex 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Flex rushes Sawaguchi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Flex gets control of Sawaguchi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Flex will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Sawaguchi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sawaguchi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Flex's guard.

Flex pushes Sawaguchi off and scrambles back to his feet.
Sawaguchi tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Sawaguchi or perhaps it was just good defense by Flex which made him look bad.
Sawaguchi tries a head kick but it misses.
Sawaguchi lands a high kick!
Sawaguchi fails with the takedown

and Flex counters with a shoot takedown. Sawaguchi fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Flex is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Flex is pushing down on Sawaguchi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sawaguchi is fighting to maintain full guard but Flex has managed to sneak the leg through.
Flex controlling the action here.

Sawaguchi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Master Flex is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Flex is taking a breather. Sawaguchi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Let's hope that Flex 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.
Flex prevents Sawaguchi from improving his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Master Flex was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sawaguchi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sawaguchi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Flex to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Flex showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Master Flex was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Flex has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sawaguchi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sawaguchi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Flex avoids the body shot from Sawaguchi.
Sawaguchi misses with a head kick.
Flex slaps away a takedown attempt from Sawaguchi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Sawaguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flex gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sawaguchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Flex pressing his opponent against the cage.
Flex continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Master Flex comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Flex 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Master Flex!