PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marta Szarafin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paco Izaguirre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marta Szarafin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Szarafin
vs
Izaguirre

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marta Szarafin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paco Izaguirre!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szarafin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Izaguirre sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Szarafin somewhat.
Izaguirre throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Izaguirre misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Izaguirre.
Izaguirre looks to land a combination but Szarafin avoids it well.
Izaguirre looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Izaguirre looks gassed!
Izaguirre moves out of range of the body kick from Szarafin.
Szarafin shoots in but Izaguirre avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Szarafin swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Szarafin closes the distance and clinches.

Szarafin has hold of one of Izaguirre's legs. Izaguirre is fighting the takedown attempt but Szarafin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Szarafin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Szarafin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Szarafin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szarafin landing some decent shots from guard.
Szarafin content to stall in guard here.

Marta Szarafin has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Izaguirre swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Izaguirre keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marta Szarafin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Szarafin checks a low kick from Izaguirre.

Szarafin moves into the clinch.
Izaguirre jumps guard but Szarafin stands there with Izaguirre around his waist. Izaguirre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Szarafin turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Szarafin manages to end up in side control.
Szarafin remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Izaguirre is pushing Szarafin's head away, looking to escape. Szarafin manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marta Szarafin has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Szarafin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Izaguirre misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Izaguirre.
Szarafin throws a big shot that misses.
A combination from Izaguirre does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Izaguirre.
Izaguirre checks the leg kick nicely there.

Szarafin clinches with his opponent.
Szarafin wants a takedown but no success here.
Szarafin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Szarafin has Izaguirre pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Szarafin pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Izaguirre tumbling to the mat - Szarafin dives into Izaguirre's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szarafin content to stall in guard here.

Szarafin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Paco Izaguirre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Izaguirre misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Izaguirre.
Szarafin tries to clinch but Izaguirre is having none of it.

Szarafin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Szarafin passes the guard and advances to mount!
Izaguirre is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marta Szarafin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Izaguirre misses with a series of wild punches.
Marta Szarafin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Izaguirre fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Izaguirre will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Szarafin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Szarafin darts in and clinches Izaguirre up against the cage.
Izaguirre is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Szarafin wants a takedown but no success here.
Szarafin tries to score a body lock takedown but Izaguirre shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Szarafin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Izaguirre gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marta Szarafin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Izaguirre is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izaguirre stops a takedown attempt from Szarafin.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Szarafin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Izaguirre pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Szarafin is trying to drag Izaguirre to the mat but Izaguirre just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szarafin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Izaguirre misses with a wild combination.
Izaguirre fails to land with a series of punches.
Szarafin shoots in for a double leg but Izaguirre sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Izaguirre connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Szarafin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Izaguirre swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Izaguirre pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Szarafin moves into range and clinches up with Izaguirre.

Szarafin is trying to trip Izaguirre. He has hold of a leg but Izaguirre is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Szarafin persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Szarafin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Szarafin won't allow Izaguirre to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Izaguirre wants to stand and escape but Szarafin is having none of it.
Szarafin is stalling in the full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Izaguirre can't keep his opponent in guard - Szarafin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Izaguirre throws strikes from the bottom but it's allowed Szarafin to grab hold of an arm and go for an armbar! It's tiiiiiiiiight! Izaguirre is forced to tap! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Marta Szarafin!