PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between O Sagat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jelfy Valuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valuev has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Sagat
vs
Valuev

225 cm
21
327 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
23
374 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, O Sagat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jelfy Valuev!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sagat shoots for a double leg takedown but Valuev sprawls well. He's pushed Sagat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Valuev looks gassed!
Sagat shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Valuev throws a right hand that Sagat ducks under and follows up with a left that Sagat also avoids with ease.
Sagat misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for O Sagat. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sagat instigates a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nice elbow from Sagat.
Sagat has Valuev pushed against the cage.
Valuev gets underhooks to prevent Sagat's takedown attempt.

Sagat breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sagat shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valuev pinned against the cage. Valuev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sagat.
Sagat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Valuev but Valuev pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagat throws a shot to the body.

Sagat moves into the clinch.
Sagat manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sagat wants a takedown.

Sagat breaks from the clinch.

Sagat clinches with his opponent.

Sagat breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sagat fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sagat dives in and grabs Valuev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Valuev pushes down on Sagat's head and hops out.
Sagat shoots for a takedown but Valuev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valuev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Valuev misses with the combination.
Sagat scoring well with a low kick there.

Sagat instigates a clinch.

Sagat breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sagat looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jelfy Valuev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sagat has Valuev up against the cage in a clinch.
Sagat goes for a takedown attempt but Valuev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sagat moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat scores with a shot to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Valuev gets underhooks to prevent Sagat's takedown attempt.
Valuev is trying to break the clinch but Sagat is controlling him.

Sagat breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sagat rushes Valuev and presses him up against the cage.
Valuev is pressed up against the cage. Sagat has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Valuev down to the mat. Valuev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Valuev stuffs the takedown attempt from Sagat. Sagat gets slowly back to his feet.
Valuev throws a leg kick that is checked

and Sagat counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sagat.

Sagat pulls guard successfully.
Sagat working a defensive guard here.

Sagat is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valuev defends well.
Valuev is looking to stand up but Sagat won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagat looking to control.
Sagat thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sagat manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Valuev manages to get himself to full guard.
Sagat trying to control but Valuev is working from the bottom.
Valuev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sagat is controlling him.
Valuev is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

O Sagat dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sagat goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Sagat takes the fight into the clinch.
Sagat leaning his opponent against the cage.

Sagat breaks the clinch.
Sagat fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Valuev. No joy for Sagat on that attempt.
Sagat closes the distance and clinches up with Valuev, looking for a takedown. Sagat pushes Valuev against the cage but Valuev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for O Sagat. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sagat breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sagat fails with a takedown attempt.
Valuev throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sagat counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Sagat breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sagat.
Sagat fails with a takedown attempt.
Sagat bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sagat throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Valuev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sagat throws out the jab.
Sagat shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Valuev sprawls well. Valuev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sagat gets slowly back to his feet.
Sagat throws a series of punches but Valuev moves out of range.

Sagat clinches with his opponent.

Sagat manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Sagat gets a clinch.

Sagat manages to break the clinch.

Sagat clinches up against the cage.

Sagat breaks the clinch.
Valuev leaves Sagat with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Sagat drives through and clinches with Valuev against the cage.
Valuev is pressed up against the cage. Sagat has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Valuev down to the mat. Valuev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Valuev misses with the combination.

Valuev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sagat tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuev looking to sit in guard and control but Sagat gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Valuev wants to stand and escape but Sagat is having none of it.

Sagat decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Sagat closes the distance and clinches.

Sagat breaks the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sagat.
Valuev throws a hook to the side of Sagat's head but Sagat sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
O Sagat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sagat has his takedown stuffed
and Valuev counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valuev darts in trying to clinch
and Sagat counters with a good low kick that Valuev was not able to check.

Sagat moves into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Sagat - that landed with a thud.
Sagat can't get the takedown.

Sagat escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sagat keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Valuev's efforts to push away.

Sagat pulls Valuev into guard.
Sagat trying to control the position.
Valuev wants to stand and escape but instead Sagat has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

O Sagat dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sagat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sagat has his takedown stuffed
enabling Valuev to counter with a crisp jab.
Sagat throws a head kick that Valuev semi-blocks.

Sagat drives through and clinches with Valuev against the cage.
Come on Sagat - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Sagat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sagat tries to bum rush Valuev with a series of wild strikes but Valuev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sagat fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for O Sagat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sagat throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valuev looks to throw the jab but Sagat is out of range.
Sagat looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sagat fails with the takedown.
A telegraphed right hand from Valuev misses the target.
Sagat tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Valuev swivels and escapes.
Valuev slips a jab and a cross from Sagat.
Valuev dodges the punch combination from Sagat.
Sagat showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valuev.
Sagat fails with the takedown
and Valuev counters with a two punch combo.
Valuev misses with a few strikes there.

That's two 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.

Sagat clinches with his opponent.
Sagat keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Valuev's efforts to push away.
Sagat goes for a takedown attempt but Valuev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sagat misses with a takedown attempt
and Valuev counters with a stiff right hand.
Valuev throws a right hand that Sagat ducks under and follows up with a left that Sagat also avoids with ease.
Valuev wants to clinch but Sagat slips to the side

and Sagat counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sagat missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sagat trying to control the position from guard on top but Valuev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sagat stands up from Valuev's guard - Sagat perhaps looking for a knockout.
Valuev throws a series of punches but Sagat moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat with a poor takedown

and Valuev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Valuev.

Valuev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sagat has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Valuev has managed to get both his arms back between Sagat's legs - danger averted.
Sagat looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valuev is one step ahead there.
Valuev wants to stand but Sagat has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagat is trying to keep Valuev in close.
Sagat 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.
Jelfy Valuev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sagat is looking for a triangle but Valuev pushes his legs off easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Valuev misses with the combination.
Valuev stuffs the takedown.
O Sagat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sagat fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to O Sagat.
Well Sagat 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... O Sagat!