PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Branden Sexton (ranked 6400 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugh Janis (ranked 5296 p4p, 0 weight class). Hugh Janis has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sexton
vs
Janis

154 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Experienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Branden Sexton!
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, Hugh Janis!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Janis avoids the head kick by Sexton.

Sexton closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sexton lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sexton really is a fat lump.
Janis tries to kick Sexton off but Sexton keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sexton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sexton not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sexton lands strikes from half guard.

It looks like Hugh Janis has been cut.
Janis is trying to stand back up but Sexton is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sexton working Janis over with strikes.

Sexton decides to return to a standing position.

Janis feints and as Sexton raises his hands in defense, Janis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sexton pushes Janis off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Janis has closed the distance and engaged Sexton in a clinch.

Janis has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sexton is trying to keep an underhook but Janis manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Sexton kicks Janis off and gets back to his feet.

Janis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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!
Sexton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Janis moves nicely into side control.
Janis wants to stand but Sexton has his arm trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sexton tries to bench press Janis off him but Janis keeps the position.

Janis stands up and beckons Sexton to his feet.

Sexton gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Janis trying to control the position from guard on top but Sexton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Janis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sexton is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Janis, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sexton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Janis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Janis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sexton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sexton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Sexton stands up and waves to Janis to follow him.
Sexton fails with the takedown
and Janis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Sexton scores with a takedown into Janis's guard.

Janis working for submissions but it's allowed Sexton to get to half guard.
Janis wants to get back to full guard.
Janis tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sexton has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Sexton lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Janis hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branden Sexton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hugh Janis's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sexton tries to sprawl but Janis drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Sexton manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Hugh Janis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Janis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sexton is looking to land body kicks.

Sexton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sexton lands in his opponent's guard.
Sexton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Janis can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Janis has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sexton is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Janis.
Janis can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Janis is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sexton cracks Janis with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Janis is looking for a sweep.
Janis is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Janis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Janis is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

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.

Sexton decides to stand back up. Sexton steps back and let's Janis get back to his feet.
Janis moves in looking to clinch but Sexton pushes him off.

Janis drives through with a takedown into Sexton's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sexton trying to control the position here.
Janis tries to free his leg and advance position but Sexton is retaining full guard.
Sexton wants to sweep but no luck.

Sexton has an active guard here but Janis has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Janis connects with a nice short shot to Sexton's temple.
Janis stops Sexton from getting back to his feet.
Janis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sexton's head.
Sexton is concentrating on defense, preventing Janis from advancing position.
Janis moves into full mount! Sexton won't be happy about that!
Janis throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sexton because Janis loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Janis there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Janis trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Janis is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
A head kick misses from Sexton.

Janis tries to keep at a distance but Sexton has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sexton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Janis is looking to clinch but Sexton is avoiding it.

Sexton throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Janis was covering up waiting for the punch and Sexton finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Janis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branden Sexton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hugh Janis's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sexton gets caught napping as Janis dives in and scores a takedown. Sexton manages to retain guard.
Branden Sexton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Janis prevents Sexton from getting back to his feet.
Janis looking to pass the guard.
Janis has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sexton is proving hard to escape from.
Sexton keeping moving, preventing Janis from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sexton 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sexton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sexton with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Janis can't handle though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Janis gets a double leg takedown into Sexton's guard.
Sexton is looking to stand back up but Janis counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Sexton.

Janis is looking for a kimura but Sexton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Janis to get the leverage.
Sexton pushes Janis off looking to stand but Janis dives back in and keeps control.
Janis prevents Sexton from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Janis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Janis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sexton is looking for a sweep. Janis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sexton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sexton controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Janis is trying to control the action in half guard but Sexton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sexton is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sexton controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Janis is looking to pass Sexton's guard but actually Sexton recovers to full guard.
Janis advances to half guard.
Sexton tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Janis manages to move to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sexton is in a horrible position here. Janis smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Janis trying to control but Sexton is having none of it.
Janis thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Janis jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sexton is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sexton and Janis has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugh Janis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sexton 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branden Sexton!