PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between GAB SABANGAN (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Egor Khorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

SABANGAN
vs
Khorov

185 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

198 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, GAB SABANGAN!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Egor Khorov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khorov lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
SABANGAN throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khorov's waist but Khorov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing SABANGAN off to one side.
Khorov stuffs the takedown attempt from SABANGAN. SABANGAN gets slowly back to his feet.
Egor Khorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
SABANGAN takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like GAB SABANGAN has been cut.

Khorov clinches up with SABANGAN and pushes him back against the cage.
Khorov trying to land knees to the body.
SABANGAN blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
SABANGAN has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Khorov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for GAB SABANGAN. That's going to take a lot out of him.
SABANGAN on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Khorov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Khorov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
SABANGAN using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Khorov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

SABANGAN has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Khorov uses from the top position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Khorov tries to free his leg and advance position but SABANGAN is retaining full guard.
Khorov wants to stand but SABANGAN has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Khorov looking to pass the guard.
SABANGAN manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khorov manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SABANGAN won't allow Khorov to sweep him here.
SABANGAN tries to free his leg and advance position but Khorov is retaining full guard.
SABANGAN wants to control from the top but Khorov keeps moving.
SABANGAN stopping the sweep attempt from Khorov.

SABANGAN is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Khorov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Khorov has escaped and now he's on top!
Khorov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Khorov throwing strikes from guard but SABANGAN blocks nicely.

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.
Khorov looking to sit in guard and control but SABANGAN gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Khorov has SABANGAN pulled in close to control his posture.
Khorov trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khorov keeping moving, preventing SABANGAN from controlling successfully.
SABANGAN stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khorov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
SABANGAN might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
SABANGAN trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Khorov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by SABANGAN.
Khorov scores with a decent looking hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from SABANGAN is defended easily by Khorov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khorov throws a head kick that misses.
SABANGAN fails with the takedown.
SABANGAN shoots in and drives through. Khorov sprawls well.
SABANGAN takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Khorov misses with a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Khorov. No joy for SABANGAN on that attempt.
SABANGAN is breathing heavily.
Khorov stuffs the takedown attempt from SABANGAN. SABANGAN gets slowly back to his feet.
Khorov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but SABANGAN paws at him with a jab and circles away.
SABANGAN changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Khorov tries to avoid it but SABANGAN manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Khorov to the ground. Khorov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Khorov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Egor Khorov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on GAB SABANGAN's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Khorov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
SABANGAN fails with a takedown attempt.

SABANGAN scores a takedown into full mount!
Khorov is looking to get to half guard.
Khorov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by SABANGAN.
SABANGAN misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Khorov tries to lock up and control but SABANGAN gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khorov is working to get back to half guard.
Khorov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with SABANGAN. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
SABANGAN landing punches.
SABANGAN looking to control but Khorov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
SABANGAN lands a big shot there that rocks Khorov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
You get the feeling that Khorov really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, SABANGAN cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
SABANGAN postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Khorov looks a forlorn figure.
SABANGAN looking to control but Khorov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khorov is looking to improve his position but SABANGAN isn't that keen on the idea.
Khorov taking shots to the head.
Khorov is in a horrible position here. SABANGAN smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
SABANGAN sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
SABANGAN postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Khorov looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khorov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from SABANGAN.
SABANGAN scoring with strikes but Khorov is staying in there.
SABANGAN controlling from mount.
Khorov wants to hold on but SABANGAN pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
SABANGAN pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
SABANGAN looking to control but Khorov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Khorov is trying to escape the mount.
SABANGAN controlling his opponent.
Khorov is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

GAB SABANGAN dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on GAB SABANGAN's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

SABANGAN fails with a takedown attempt.
Khorov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
SABANGAN shoots in for a takedown but Khorov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
SABANGAN takes a kick to the side of the head.
Khorov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to SABANGAN's calf.
SABANGAN keeps the fight on the outside.
SABANGAN swats away the attempt to clinch by Khorov.
SABANGAN closes this distance looking for a takedown but Khorov circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for GAB SABANGAN. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khorov lands with a kick to the temple. SABANGAN shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

SABANGAN closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Khorov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SABANGAN wants to control but Khorov is keeping him busy.
SABANGAN stops Khorov from getting back to his feet.
Khorov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from SABANGAN.
SABANGAN is trying to control. Khorov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
SABANGAN missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
GAB SABANGAN overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Khorov pushes SABANGAN off looking to stand but SABANGAN dives back in and keeps control.
SABANGAN seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Khorov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
SABANGAN content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

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.
SABANGAN is keen to just control but Khorov is a slippery customer.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Khorov can do anything to dispel that myth.

GAB SABANGAN has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Khorov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Khorov gets a clinch.
SABANGAN on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
SABANGAN wants a takedown.
Khorov has had enough of the clinch but SABANGAN keeps him there for the moment.

SABANGAN breaks the clinch.
SABANGAN shoots in for a takedown but Khorov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Khorov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Khorov jabs SABANGAN right on the nose. SABANGAN blinks but takes it well.
SABANGAN shoots for a double leg takedown but Khorov sprawls well. He's pushed SABANGAN's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khorov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by SABANGAN.

Khorov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Khorov has had enough of the clinch but SABANGAN keeps him there for the moment.
SABANGAN drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Khorov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Khorov is struggling to control the position.
SABANGAN avoiding damage as Khorov throws knees to the body.

Khorov breaks the clinch.
SABANGAN shoots in for a takedown but Khorov shows good takedown defense.
Khorov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Khorov clinches.
Khorov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. SABANGAN is defending well for now.

Khorov breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
SABANGAN looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Khorov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Khorov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Khorov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Khorov throws a sloppy head kick and SABANGAN moves out of range easily.
Egor Khorov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Khorov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
SABANGAN shoots for a double leg takedown but Khorov sprawls well. He's pushed SABANGAN's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Khorov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice body kick from Khorov.
Khorov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
SABANGAN takes a head kick and keeps coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Egor Khorov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Khorov 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Egor Khorov!