PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Apollo Need (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Sagat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sagat comes into a darkened arena with his song building. His own theme music kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Need
vs
Sagat

185 cm
25
195 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

194 cm
25
193 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Apollo Need!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Sagat!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sagat throws a sloppy head kick and Need moves out of range easily.
Sagat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A bone on bone clash there as Need blocks the leg kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sagat.
Need tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sagat swivels and escapes.
Need has a takedown stuffed.
Crunch! Sagat slams his shin into Need's torso.
Sagat keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apollo Need. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sagat shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Nice takedown defense from Sagat. No joy for Need on that attempt.
Sagat throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sagat throws a head kick that misses.
Sagat misses with a wild body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sagat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sagat misses the shot to the body.
Sagat lands a high kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from Sagat.
Need shoots in but no luck this time.
Victor Sagat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Need is breathing heavily.
Sagat finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Need fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sagat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Need avoids the head kick by Sagat.
Need avoids the head kick by Sagat.
Sagat defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Need.
Sagat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sagat throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice body kick from Sagat.
Sagat lands with a kick to the temple. Need shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sagat misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sagat throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sagat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Need moves away.
Sagat has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
No luck for Need with that takedown attempt.
Victor Sagat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sagat misses with a head kick.
Need blocks a head kick by Sagat.
Need swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sagat fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Need is out of range.
Need shoots in but Sagat avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagat ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sagat misses with a low kick.
Sagat moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Need moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Need misses with a double jab.
Need shoots for a takedown but Sagat saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sagat swinging wilding here.

Need closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sagat is looking for a sweep. Need is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sagat trying to control but Need postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sagat might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Need kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Need is controlling the pace.
Need wants to control but Sagat is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sagat works his way to full guard. Good work.

Need drops back looking for a leg! Sagat is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sagat manages to kick Need off! Need jumps back into Sagat's guard.
Sagat wants to sweep here but Need controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sagat wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Sagat dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sagat will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sagat lands a nice shot to the body.
No luck for Need with that takedown attempt.
Sagat lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sagat tries a head kick but it misses.
Sagat throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Need throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sagat was covering up waiting for the punch and Need finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Need wants to control from the top but Sagat keeps moving.
Need wants to pass the guard but Sagat is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Need is working hard here to advance position.
Need is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sagat really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Need. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Need tries to stand but Sagat is controlling from the bottom.
Need trying to control the position from guard on top but Sagat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Need content to stall in guard here.
Sagat is controlling Need's posture.
Need looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat keeping moving, preventing Need from controlling successfully.
Sagat not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sagat can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Need controls the pace.
Need trying to control but Sagat is working from the bottom.
Need controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Apollo Need just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sagat thumps Need with a low kick.
Need takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Victor Sagat seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Need shoots in but Sagat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sagat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sagat throws out a leg kick but Need moves out of range and Sagat only half commits.
Need takes a kick to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Sagat showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Sagat fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Need.
Sagat throws a sloppy head kick and Need moves out of range easily.
Need looks for a takedown but Sagat sprawls well.
Sagat fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Need is out of range.
Need shoots in and drives through. Sagat sprawls well.
Need on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sagat. Sagat obviously looking to wear him down.
Sagat displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Need.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apollo Need. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Need swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sagat scores with a head kick.
Need shoots in but Sagat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Need chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sagat can pounce on him.
Need on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sagat. Sagat obviously looking to wear him down.
Sagat scores with a nice strike.
Need dodges the punch combination from Sagat.
Sagat throws a front kick aimed at Need's knee but Need avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Need takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sagat scores with a leg kick.
Need checks a low kick from Sagat.
Need shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sagat defends it nicely.
Sagat misses with a wild body shot.
Sagat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sagat lands a nice leg kick that just misses Need's sensitive parts.
Need takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Need keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sagat throws a quick inside leg kick.
Need is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sagat throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sagat tries a low kick but Need avoids it.

Need scores with a takedown into Sagat's guard.
Need working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagat keeping full guard, as Need tries to pass.
Need's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sagat looking to hit a scissor sweep but Need is one step ahead there.
Need wants to pass the guard but Sagat is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat keeping moving, preventing Need from controlling successfully.
Need passes Sagat's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sagat is looking to control Need's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sagat avoid being mounted?

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.
Need wants to pass the guard but Sagat is defending well.
Victor Sagat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Need thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sagat's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sagat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Need keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Need takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A good leg kick by Sagat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sagat keeps Need at a distance using the push kick.
Apollo Need has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sagat throws out a leg kick but Need moves out of range and Sagat only half commits.
Need has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sagat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Sagat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sagat 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Victor Sagat!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Victor Sagat!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Victor Sagat!

Victor Sagat wins by unanimous decision!