PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Anap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gazelli Sagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Anap
vs
Sagan

192 cm
22
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Anap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gazelli Sagan!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sagan throws a looping overhand right but Anap ducks down to avoid it.
Sagan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Anap moves away.
Anap cracks Sagan with a right hand to the side of the head.

Sagan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sagan showed some decent athleticism there.
Nice strikes from Sagan there.
Sagan working Anap over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anap taking some punishment here, with Sagan in his half guard.
Anap tries to roll over but Sagan keeps him under control.
Sagan thows a huge punch but Anap dodges it nicely.
Anap is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sagan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sagan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sagan wants to pass to mount but Anap is defending the position.
Sagan wants to stand up but Anap is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anap wants to control but Sagan is keeping busy.
Anap moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sagan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sagan stopping the sweep attempt from Anap.
Anap has a closed guard, preventing Sagan from standing up.
Sagan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Anap. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Anap is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sagan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sagan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sagan wants to control from the top but Anap keeps moving.
Sagan with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagan postures up and lands a big shot to Anap's brow.

Sagan gets to his feet - Anap follows without any prompting.

Sagan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Anap did well to prevent Sagan getting side control.

Sagan stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Sagan throws a right hand that Anap ducks under and follows up with a left that Anap also avoids with ease.

Sagan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Anap quickly recovers to half guard.
Sagan looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sagan is keen to just control but Anap is a slippery customer.
Sagan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sagan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sagan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Anap looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anap tries to roll over but Sagan keeps him under control.
Anap trying to control but Sagan postures up.
Anap on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sagan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Sagan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Anap has managed to free his arm - good work.
Anap wants to control but Sagan is keeping busy.
Sagan slips a nice elbow through Anap's hands, connecting with Anap's forehead.

That's four 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.
Sagan working the head and body with strikes.

Sagan is trying to work for a kimura but Anap is defending well.
Anap is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Anap regains full guard. Nicely done.
Anap is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Anap preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Anap isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sagan stacks Anap on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sagan!
Sagan is looking to take a break and control but Anap is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gazelli Sagan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sagan misses with a lunging right hand
and Anap counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sagan thinking.
Sagan misses with a lunging right hand
and Anap makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Sagan moves into range and clinches up with Anap.

Sagan has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Anap regains guard immediately.
Sagan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sagan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Anap 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.
Anap trying to control the position.

Sagan stands up and waves to Anap to follow him.
Anap swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anap throws a nice inside leg kick.

Sagan gets the takedown into side control.
Sagan landing a few strikes.
Sagan is breathing heavily.
Sagan landing strikes.
Anap gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Anap gets back to full guard.
Sagan won't allow Anap to sweep him here.
Sagan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Anap is proving hard to escape from.
Sagan is looking to work some ground and pound but Anap has wrist control.

Anap has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Sagan doesn't defend quickly enough and Anap has managed to lock this one up! Can Sagan escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Anap on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Alex Anap!