PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between JT Aronald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Sagat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aronald
vs
Sagat

185 cm
22
239 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

223 cm
25
280 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, JT Aronald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Victor Sagat!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sagat tries to clinch but Aronald moves out of range.
Sagat shoots in but no luck this time.
Sagat circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sagat throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aronald's waist but Aronald gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sagat off to one side.
Aronald dodges the punch combination from Sagat.

Sagat gets caught flat footed, as Aronald shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Sagat had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Aronald defends it easily.
Aronald landing some decent shots from guard.
Aronald tries to free his leg and advance position but Sagat is retaining full guard.

Aronald gets to his feet - Sagat follows without any prompting.

Aronald has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aronald is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sagat is defending well for now.
Sagat keeps control of Aronald as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Aronald jumps guard.
Aronald wants to stand but Sagat is controlling the position.
Aronald striking off his back but it's not causing Sagat any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Aronald kicks Sagat off and gets to his feet.
Aronald misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sagat swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aronald uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sagat.
Sagat misses with a takedown

and Aronald moves into the clinch.
JT Aronald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Sagat.
Aronald tries to pull guard but Sagat won't allow it.

Aronald manages to pull guard.

Aronald is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Aronald.
Sagat looks gassed!
Aronald tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sagat avoids it.

Sagat pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sagat wants to clinch

and Aronald counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Aronald.
Aronald postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Aronald gets to his feet - Sagat follows without any prompting.
Aronald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sagat.
Sagat clinches but Aronald breaks the clinch

and Aronald counters with a shoot takedown. Sagat fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sagat looking for a sweep. Not yet Sagat, not yet.
Aronald throwing strikes from guard but Sagat blocks nicely.
Aronald cracks Sagat with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aronald advances position into side control!

Aronald is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sagat knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sagat wants to get back to his feet but Aronald is dominant here and he's now got Sagat's back!
You can see the frustration on Sagat's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Aronald is looking to control Sagat but Sagat is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aronald cracks Sagat with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Sagat from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagat is trying to get back to his feet but Aronald has full control of the position and if anything, Sagat has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Aronald landing with strikes.

Aronald looking for the choke but no joy.
Aronald landing with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aronald lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Will Aronald go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Aronald dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Aronald tries to clinch there but Sagat circles away.

Sagat gets caught flat footed, as Aronald shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Aronald stands up and waves to Sagat to follow him.
Sagat just misses with a punch to the body.
Victor Sagat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sagat throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Aronald throws a shot to the body.

Aronald shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Aronald tries to control but Sagat wriggling away.
Aronald is really struggling to control Sagat but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagat keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sagat is breathing heavily.
Sagat is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Aronald with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sagat is working to get back to half guard.
Aronald avoids the attempt from Sagat to control.
Sagat is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two 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.
Sagat is looking to get to half guard.
Sagat is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Aronald fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Aronald landing shots from mount.
Aronald controlling from the full mount.
Sagat is squirming around, avoiding Aronald's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aronald with shots to the head and body - Sagat looks very uncomfortable down there.
Aronald landing strikes from the mount and Sagat is in trouble!
Sagat in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Aronald with a couple of short strikes.
Aronald looking to control but Sagat is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Aronald scoring with strikes but Sagat is staying in there.
Aronald scores with a couple of good head shots there.
A nice elbow there by Aronald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagat is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sagat gets back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Aronald stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Sagat to get to his feet.

Aronald shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sagat keeping moving, preventing Aronald from controlling successfully.
Aronald is standing up over Sagat. Sagat looks to escape but Aronald dives into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aronald wants to control but Sagat is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Aronald dominated that second round.
That's time! Aronald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aronald forces Sagat back against the cage and clinches.
Sagat looking to throw knees to the head but Aronald is blocking nicely.
Sagat missing with knees to the body.
Sagat misses with a knee strike.
Aronald tries to circle away but Sagat has him pinned against the cage.
Aronald is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sagat can do to turn this around?
Aronald is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sagat is defending well for now.
Aronald tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sagat looking to throw knees to the head but Aronald is blocking nicely.

Aronald breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sagat takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Aronald has managed to clinch.

Aronald decides to pull guard.
Sagat throws a big right hand that misses.

Aronald pushes Sagat off and gets back to his feet.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aronald wants to control from the top but Sagat keeps moving.
JT Aronald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sagat takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aronald lands a couple of elbows.

Aronald decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sagat, up you get!
A head kick misses from Sagat.

Sagat gets caught flat footed, as Aronald shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Aronald is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Aronald works over Sagat with some ground and pound from guard.
Sagat wants to control the position but Aronald says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aronald decides to return to a standing position.

Aronald bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sagat is looking to get back to his feet here but Aronald is keeping cool and he's managed to take Sagat's back.
Aronald scores with punches and elbows.
Aronald wants to control but Sagat is keeping busy.
Aronald landing with strikes.
Aronald lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aronald struggling to keep hold of the position.
Aronald gets his hands free as Sagat looks to control.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Aronald lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Sagat hold on?!
Sagat is trying to get back to his feet but Aronald has full control of the position and if anything, Sagat has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Aronald is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Aronald is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Aronald scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aronald lands strikes to the head.
Sagat is trying to stand back up.
Aronald softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Victor Sagat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sagat is keeping busy.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Aronald.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sagat looking very determined here, making life difficult for Aronald.
JT Aronald is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sagat tries to roll but Aronald sticks to his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
JT Aronald showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Aronald 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:25
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:25
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JT Aronald!