PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erik Saba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Moritz Gauchenauer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Erik Saba has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Saba
vs
Gauchenauer

170 cm
20
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Erik Saba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Moritz Gauchenauer!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gauchenauer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Saba shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Saba showed some decent athleticism there.
Saba tries to stand but can't do so whilst Gauchenauer controls his leg.
Saba is looking to advance position but Gauchenauer won't allow it.
Gauchenauer slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Saba trying to control but Gauchenauer is working from the bottom.

Gauchenauer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gauchenauer wants to sweep but no luck.
Saba trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gauchenauer manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saba controls Gauchenauer momentarily but Gauchenauer frees himself.

Gauchenauer drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Saba manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gauchenauer has Saba in his guard.
Saba trying to control but Gauchenauer is working from the bottom.

Gauchenauer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Saba can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gauchenauer looks gassed!
Saba pushes down on Gauchenauer's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Saba slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saba looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Saba is working for a kimura but Gauchenauer is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saba trying to control the pace.
Gauchenauer scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Saba manages to mount him!

Saba is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gauchenauer has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gauchenauer!

Gauchenauer drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Saba manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gauchenauer has Saba in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gauchenauer has a closed guard, preventing Saba from standing up.
Saba trying to control the position from guard on top but Gauchenauer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gauchenauer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Saba is stalling in the full guard.
Gauchenauer trying to control the position.
Saba tries to free his leg and advance position but Gauchenauer is retaining full guard.
Saba stopping the sweep attempt from Gauchenauer.

Saba drops back looking for a leg! Gauchenauer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gauchenauer manages to kick Saba off! Saba jumps back into Gauchenauer's guard.

That's four 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.
Gauchenauer throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

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

Gauchenauer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gauchenauer showed some decent athleticism there.
Saba is controlling Gauchenauer's trapped leg to prevent Gauchenauer from advancing to side control.

Gauchenauer is looking for a kimura but Saba is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gauchenauer to get the leverage.
Gauchenauer working over Saba with some ground and pound. Saba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gauchenauer working over Saba with some ground and pound. Saba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gauchenauer thows a huge punch but Saba dodges it nicely.
Gauchenauer trying to mount his opponent but Saba defends it.
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 Erik Saba will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gauchenauer gets a clinch.

Saba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saba misses with a takedown attempt

and Gauchenauer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gauchenauer.
Saba trying to keep a closed guard but Gauchenauer is proving a slippery customer.

Saba is looking for a triangle but Gauchenauer pushes his legs off easily.
Gauchenauer postures up.
Gauchenauer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gauchenauer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saba pulls Gauchenauer in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gauchenauer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gauchenauer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Saba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gauchenauer keeping moving, preventing Saba from controlling successfully.
Saba works over Gauchenauer with some ground and pound from guard.

Gauchenauer had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Saba is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gauchenauer Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Saba's back instead.
Saba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Saba tries to hold on but Gauchenauer pushes him away.
Gauchenauer with a couple of short strikes.
Gauchenauer is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saba is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gauchenauer fails to move to back control.

Gauchenauer swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Saba is now in Gauchenauer's guard. A big mistake from Gauchenauer there, giving up the dominant position!
Saba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gauchenauer is keeping the position for now.
Saba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gauchenauer looking for a sweep. Not yet Gauchenauer, not yet.
Saba controls from within his opponent's guard.

Saba gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Saba drives through and clinches with Gauchenauer against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gauchenauer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saba pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saba manages to break the clinch.
Saba slips a jab and a cross from Gauchenauer.

Gauchenauer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gauchenauer showed some decent athleticism there.
Gauchenauer is looking to take a break and control but Saba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saba trying to control here.
Gauchenauer trying to mount his opponent but Saba defends it.

Gauchenauer is trying to work for a kimura but Saba is defending well.

Gauchenauer stands up and beckons Saba to join him on the feet.
Saba tries for a takedown but Gauchenauer circles away easily

and Gauchenauer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gauchenauer is looking to advance position but Saba won't allow it.
Saba wants to control but Gauchenauer is keeping busy.
Saba regains full guard. Nicely done.
Saba can't keep his opponent in guard - Gauchenauer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Saba makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Saba.
Moritz Gauchenauer has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gauchenauer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Saba is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saba content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Moritz Gauchenauer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Saba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gauchenauer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gauchenauer looking to pass the guard.
Saba looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gauchenauer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saba wants to stand but Gauchenauer is controlling the position.
Gauchenauer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Saba keeping full guard, as Gauchenauer tries to pass.
Saba is looking to stand up but Gauchenauer isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gauchenauer stopping the sweep attempt from Saba.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Gauchenauer looks to land a combination but Saba avoids it well.
A slapping leg kick lands for Saba.
Saba throws a right hand that Gauchenauer ducks under and follows up with a left that Gauchenauer also avoids with ease.
Saba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gauchenauer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gauchenauer.
Gauchenauer looking to pass the guard.
Gauchenauer trying to control but Saba is working from the bottom.
Gauchenauer trying to stand up but can't free himself from Saba's guard.
Gauchenauer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saba swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saba is looking for a triangle but Gauchenauer pushes his legs off easily.
Gauchenauer thows a big elbow that misses.
Saba wants to sweep but no luck.
Gauchenauer trying to control but Saba is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Saba tries to clinch but Gauchenauer moves away

and Gauchenauer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gauchenauer trying to control the position from guard on top but Saba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saba keeping full guard, as Gauchenauer tries to pass.
Gauchenauer postures up.
Gauchenauer won't allow Saba to get back to his feet.
Saba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gauchenauer's guard.
Saba pushes down on Gauchenauer's leg and manages to get into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gauchenauer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saba is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gauchenauer tries to roll over but Saba keeps him under control.
Gauchenauer gets back to full guard.
Gauchenauer wants to sweep here but Saba controlling him for the moment.
Saba wants to pass the guard but Gauchenauer is keeping the position.
Gauchenauer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saba is one step ahead there.
Saba trying to control but Gauchenauer is working from the bottom.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Saba doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gauchenauer counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Saba's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erik Saba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saba is trying to keep Gauchenauer in close.

Gauchenauer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Saba has a closed guard, preventing Gauchenauer from standing up.
Saba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gauchenauer is one step ahead there.
Saba keeping moving, preventing Gauchenauer from controlling successfully.
Saba is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Moritz Gauchenauer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gauchenauer 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Moritz Gauchenauer!