PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Sagajew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sagajew's choice of entrance music: cool music. 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.

Silva
vs
Sagajew

188 cm
25
245 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
220 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Kobra Clothing Inc.

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ruslan Sagajew!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sagajew paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva tries to clinch but Sagajew is having none of it.
Sagajew stuffs the takedown.
Sagajew throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.

Sagajew gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sagajew is trying to force a seperation but Silva has the dominant position.
Silva scores a nice knee to the body.
Silva gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Silva has Sagajew pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sagajew manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Silva wants to take the fight to the mat but Sagajew manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vanderlei Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sagajew looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Sagajew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ruslan Sagajew seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sagajew closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Silva to the mat! Silva manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sagajew trying to stand up but can't free himself from Silva's guard.
Silva wants to stand but Sagajew is controlling the position.
Sagajew pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Silva could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sagajew throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sagajew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sagajew throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sagajew.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sagajew throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Sagajew in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sagajew trying to move into half guard but instead Silva has managed to sweep!
Silva is stalling in the full guard.
Sagajew is trying to control the position but Silva postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva pushes down on Sagajew's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sagajew controlling the position well.
Sagajew wants to control but Silva is keeping busy.
Sagajew is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sagajew is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silva is trying to control. Sagajew wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sagajew defends it nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Sagajew shoots in.
Silva wants to clinch up but Sagajew keeps it at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sagajew.
Sagajew throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sagajew off to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sagajew dives in and grabs Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes down on Sagajew's head and hops out.
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Silva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sagajew sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Sagajew dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sagajew swinging wildly here.
Sagajew fails with the takedown.
Danga de danga de dang - Sagajew scores with a four punch combination!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sagajew is defended easily by Silva.
Silva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sagajew tries to avoid it but Silva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sagajew to the ground. Sagajew escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sagajew throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sagajew.
Vanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Sagajew.
Sagajew stuffs the takedown.
Sagajew fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ruslan Sagajew is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sagajew looks to land a combination. Silva sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A punch combination from Sagajew misses.
Sagajew is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sagajew to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sagajew must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sagajew wants to get up but he can't break Silva's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Silva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sagajew defending well though.
Silva thows a huge punch but Sagajew dodges it nicely.
Silva content to control rather than advance.
Silva thows a huge punch but Sagajew dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagajew is not content to let Silva control the position.
Sagajew is pressing down on Silva's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ruslan Sagajew has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Silva stops Sagajew from standing up.
Sagajew working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Silva wants to control from the top but Sagajew keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Vanderlei Silva has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva pushes Sagajew up against the cage in a clinch.

Silva manages to break the clinch.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sagajew fails with a takedown attempt.
Sagajew looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Silva tries to clinch there but Sagajew circles away.
Sagajew throws a series of punches but Silva moves out of range.
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Sagajew. Sagajew gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagajew shoots in looking for a takedown. Silva tries to sprawl out of it but Sagajew keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva tries to clinch but Sagajew moves away
and Sagajew counters with a two punch combo.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A punch combination from Sagajew misses.
Sagajew throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva counters with an inside leg kick.
Sagajew closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.

Silva pushes Sagajew up against the cage in a clinch.
Sagajew stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice takedown defense from Sagajew. No joy for Silva on that attempt.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Sagajew sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vanderlei Silva will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sagajew shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sagajew misses with a takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a thumping low kick.
Sagajew shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vanderlei Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Sagajew.
Silva misses the shot to the body.
Silva tries to clinch but Sagajew moves out of range.
Ruslan Sagajew seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sagajew on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sagajew defending well as Silva loads up on a big left hand.

Silva has managed to clinch.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sagajew's efforts to push away.
Sagajew is trying to break the clinch but Silva is controlling him.
Sagajew takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagajew working hard to break the clinch.
Silva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Sagajew is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.

Silva wants the takedown. Sagajew is fighting it off but Silva persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sagajew's guard against the cage.
Silva content to stall in guard here.
Silva postures up in Sagajew's guard and throws a big left but Sagajew blocks it.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Sagajew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sagajew has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Sagajew's legs - danger averted.
Sagajew being controlled here, momentarily.

Vanderlei Silva has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sagajew shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.
Sagajew keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A combination from Sagajew does no damage.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sagajew looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Sagajew on that attempt.

Silva gets a double leg takedown into Sagajew's guard.
Sagajew wants to get back to his feet but Silva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sagajew trying to control the position.
Sagajew is looking to stand up but Silva isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sagajew wants to get back to his feet but Silva passes into half guard.
Silva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sagajew defending well though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Silva'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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vanderlei Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vanderlei Silva!