PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Donald Patterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grigorij Saakaszwili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Patterson
vs
Saakaszwili

193 cm
25
216 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donald Patterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Grigorij Saakaszwili!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Patterson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Saakaszwili counters with a straight right hand.

Patterson gets caught flat footed, as Saakaszwili shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Saakaszwili is in close to Patterson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Saakaszwili missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saakaszwili postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Patterson is wriggling around but Saakaszwili manages to pass to half guard.
Saakaszwili throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Patterson is trying to stand.
Saakaszwili takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Saakaszwili is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Patterson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Patterson is trying to stand back up but Saakaszwili is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saakaszwili wants to work for an arm triangle but Patterson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Patterson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Saakaszwili looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Patterson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Saakaszwili is controlling the pace.
Saakaszwili drops an elbow to the side of Patterson's head.
Saakaszwili thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Saakaszwili is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Saakaszwili slips a nice elbow through Patterson's hands, connecting with Patterson's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saakaszwili is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Saakaszwili slips a nice elbow through Patterson's hands, connecting with Patterson's forehead.
Saakaszwili landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Saakaszwili is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Patterson sees it coming and defends easily.
Saakaszwili controlling the action here.
Saakaszwili has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Saakaszwili is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Saakaszwili looking for a guillotine from mount but Patterson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saakaszwili in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Patterson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saakaszwili on the ground.
Patterson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Patterson is breathing heavily.
Saakaszwili connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Saakaszwili tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Saakaszwili postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Patterson looks a forlorn figure.
Saakaszwili dominating with strikes here.

Saakaszwili working for a guillotine from mount but Patterson is in no mood to give up.
Saakaszwili looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saakaszwili is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Patterson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The referee warns Patterson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Saakaszwili looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Saakaszwili working for a guillotine from mount but Patterson is in no mood to give up.
Saakaszwili lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Patterson is squirming around, avoiding Saakaszwili's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigorij Saakaszwili dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saakaszwili fails to land the takedown.
Patterson throws a sloppy head kick and Saakaszwili moves out of range easily.
Saakaszwili fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Patterson as Saakaszwili shoots in.
Donald Patterson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grigorij Saakaszwili.
Patterson wants to clinch up but Saakaszwili keeps it at a distance.
Patterson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saakaszwili paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Patterson tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Saakaszwili counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Saakaszwili sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Patterson's guard.
Patterson has hold of Saakaszwili's hands but Saakaszwili slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Saakaszwili passes to side control.
Patterson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Saakaszwili asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saakaszwili wants to control but Patterson is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patterson pushes Saakaszwili away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Saakaszwili gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Saakaszwili fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Saakaszwili stands up.
Patterson throws a sloppy head kick and Saakaszwili moves out of range easily.
Saakaszwili shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Saakaszwili shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Saakaszwili looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saakaszwili landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Saakaszwili throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Saakaszwili wants to lay and pray for a moment but Patterson keeps working.

Saakaszwili is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Saakaszwili is trying to control the action in half guard but Patterson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Saakaszwili thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Patterson taking some punishment here, with Saakaszwili in his half guard.
Saakaszwili looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Patterson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Patterson looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saakaszwili scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Saakaszwili not doing much here.
Saakaszwili passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Patterson!
Patterson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Saakaszwili landing strikes from the mount.
Patterson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Grigorij Saakaszwili has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saakaszwili controlling the position easily from mount.
Saakaszwili pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Patterson is bucking up trying to escape but Saakaszwili cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Saakaszwili pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Saakaszwili with shots to the head and body - Patterson looks very uncomfortable down there.
BOOM! Saakaszwili connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Saakaszwili breaks from Patterson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Patterson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saakaszwili trying to control but Patterson is having none of it.

Saakaszwili has control of Patterson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Patterson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigorij Saakaszwili showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Patterson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Saakaszwili scores a takedown into full mount!
Saakaszwili lands a big elbow.
Saakaszwili lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Patterson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Saakaszwili fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Saakaszwili goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Patterson is on top in guard.

Patterson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Saakaszwili looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Saakaszwili looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Saakaszwili!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saakaszwili scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saakaszwili creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Saakaszwili moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Patterson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Saakaszwili is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Patterson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Saakaszwili decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saakaszwili shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Saakaszwili showed some decent athleticism there.
Saakaszwili not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Saakaszwili wants to control but Patterson is keeping him busy.
Patterson is trying to stand.

Saakaszwili decides to stand and escape the position.

Saakaszwili shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Saakaszwili showed some decent athleticism there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saakaszwili frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saakaszwili lands a heavy elbow.

Saakaszwili looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Saakaszwili tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Saakaszwili has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saakaszwili landing punches.
Saakaszwili landing strikes from the mount.
Saakaszwili lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Saakaszwili landing strikes from the mount.
Saakaszwili with shots to the head and body - Patterson looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saakaszwili lands a heavy elbow.
Patterson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Saakaszwili looking for a guillotine from mount but Patterson is having none of it.
Saakaszwili sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Saakaszwili landing strikes, looking to finish!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee warns Patterson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saakaszwili is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Patterson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Donald Patterson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grigorij Saakaszwili is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saakaszwili controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grigorij Saakaszwili comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saakaszwili has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 George Francis scores the fight 25:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 24:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grigorij Saakaszwili!