PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Sahebt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Bucholz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damian Bucholz has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Sahebt
vs
Bucholz

178 cm
21
160 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

174 cm
26
157 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Malicestar

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johnny Sahebt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damian Bucholz!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sahebt scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bucholz trying to control from the bottom.
Sahebt trying to pass the guard but Bucholz defending well.

Sahebt is looking for a kimura here.

Sahebt seems to be looking for submissions.
Sahebt looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bucholz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Sahebt is looking for a kimura here.
Bucholz tries to get to full guard but Sahebt has control of the leg.
Sahebt tries to pass to full mount but Bucholz defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sahebt is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bucholz is just riding it out for now. Sahebt eventually gives up the hold.

Sahebt looking for a submission but Bucholz manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Sahebt trying to control the position from guard on top but Bucholz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sahebt drops back looking for a leg! Bucholz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bucholz manages to kick Sahebt off! Sahebt jumps back into Bucholz's guard.
Bucholz wants to sweep here but Sahebt controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sahebt trying to control but Bucholz is working from the bottom.

Sahebt drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bucholz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bucholz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bucholz!
Sahebt is looking to regain half guard here but Bucholz keeps moving and retains side control.
Sahebt is not content to let Bucholz control the position.
Bucholz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sahebt sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bucholz postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sahebt is looking to reverse the position.
Bucholz wants to control for a moment but Sahebt uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Bucholz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sahebt wants to improve his position but Bucholz is controlling well.
Sahebt moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Sahebt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sahebt can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bucholz controls the pace.
Bucholz trying to control but Sahebt is working from the bottom.
Bucholz wants to pass the guard but Sahebt is keeping the position.
Bucholz looks gassed!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sahebt shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bucholz is trying to defend but Sahebt finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Sahebt is working for a submission of some sort.

Sahebt is working for a kimura but Bucholz is defending it quite comfortably.
Sahebt throwing shots but Bucholz is blocking nicely.
Bucholz is trying to maintain the position but Sahebt is very close to passing his half guard.

Sahebt is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bucholz is breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bucholz is defending against the submission attempts here by Sahebt.

Sahebt is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bucholz is just riding it out for now. Sahebt eventually gives up the hold.
Bucholz tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sahebt has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Bucholz wants to control but Sahebt is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bucholz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sahebt.
Sahebt tries to push Bucholz's head away but Bucholz is holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sahebt can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bucholz is looking to escape.
Bucholz blocking the ground and pound.
Bucholz wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bucholz tries to escape the position.

Bucholz preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sahebt.

Sahebt looking to break Bucholz's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Bucholz remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Sahebt will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Bucholz defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Sahebt is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Bucholz defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Sahebt is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Bucholz trying to survive by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Bucholz right now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bucholz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Sahebt is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sahebt winds up and cracks Bucholz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bucholz holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Bucholz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sahebt.

Sahebt is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bucholz defends it well.

Sahebt is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Sahebt dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sahebt shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bucholz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bucholz is looking for a sweep.
Sahebt tries to advance to mount but Bucholz denies him.

Sahebt tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sahebt has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Sahebt decides to stand back up.

Sahebt closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sahebt works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Sahebt has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bucholz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bucholz trying to keep a closed guard but Sahebt is proving a slippery customer.
Sahebt with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sahebt thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bucholz is trying to control the position but Sahebt postures up.
Sahebt postures up in Bucholz's guard and throws a big left but Bucholz blocks it.
Bucholz keeping moving, preventing Sahebt from controlling successfully.
Sahebt tries to free his leg and advance position but Bucholz is retaining full guard.
Bucholz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sahebt passes Bucholz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Sahebt is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bucholz defends it well.

Sahebt is looking for a kimura here.
Bucholz is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sahebt missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bucholz tries to roll over but Sahebt keeps him under control.
Still in half guard, Sahebt seems content to control.

Sahebt is looking for a kimura here.
Sahebt tries to pass to full mount but Bucholz defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bucholz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sahebt drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sahebt jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bucholz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sahebt trying to control but Bucholz is working from the bottom.
Sahebt advances position into side control!
Sahebt working away.
Bucholz is not content to let Sahebt control the position.
Sahebt tries to move to mount but Bucholz blocks the move with his legs.

Sahebt thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Sahebt is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bucholz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sahebt looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bucholz is looking to reverse the position.
Johnny Sahebt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bucholz prevents Sahebt from improving position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bucholz is not content to let Sahebt control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Sahebt showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sahebt has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Sahebt!
In his post fight interview, Johnny Sahebt started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.