PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Dredd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Sagajew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sagajew has chosen Clouds of War as his entrance music. Ruslan Sagajew will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Dredd
vs
Sagajew

190 cm
20
250 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Dredd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ruslan Sagajew!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dredd closes the distance and pushes Sagajew back into the ropes.
Dredd has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dredd is trying to break free.

Dredd tightens his grip and picks Sagajew up, before dumping him to the ground. Sagajew manages to land in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sagajew trying to control the position.
Sagajew keeping moving, preventing Dredd from controlling successfully.
Dredd is looking to advance position but Sagajew has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Sagajew trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dredd is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagajew content just to control the position here.
Sagajew avoids the attempt from Dredd to control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dredd is in all sorts of trouble here.
Dredd is squirming around, avoiding Sagajew's attempts to control the action.
Dredd wants to control but Sagajew is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dredd looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sagajew is fending him off so far but Dredd persists. Nope, Sagajew circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dredd changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sagajew tries to avoid it but Dredd manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sagajew to the ground. Sagajew escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Dredd clinches.

Dredd gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Dredd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sagajew keeps working.
Dredd thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sagajew wants to get back to his feet.
Dredd wants to pass the guard but Sagajew is defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tony Dredd wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Dredd shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Dredd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sagajew fails to land with a series of punches.

Dredd decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sagajew looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dredd is nestled in close to Sagajew, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sagajew is refusing to be controlled, as Dredd sits in half guard.
Sagajew won't allow Dredd to pass to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sagajew is not content to let Dredd control the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sagajew is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dredd scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sagajew fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dredd tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sagajew dips to his left and cracks Dredd with an uppercut!
Sagajew lands with a right hand.
Dredd misses with a head kick.
Sagajew lands a nice hook to Dredd's body. Dredd takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Dredd with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sagajew counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sagajew checks a leg kick nicely.

Dredd fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sagajew, pushing him back against the ropes.
Dredd wants a takedown but no success here.
Sagajew has had enough of the clinch but Dredd keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Sagajew's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Dredd turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Dredd is trying to get an arm triangle but Sagajew is defending well.
Sagajew is looking to regain half guard here but Dredd keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dredd scoring with punches and elbows.
Dredd working the ground and pound.

Dredd looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dredd lands a few punches from side control.
Sagajew is breathing heavily.

Dredd is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sagajew is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dredd looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sagajew is avoiding damage well.
Sagajew avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Dredd.
Dredd working the head and body with strikes.
Dredd trying to control the position but Sagajew is working away.
Dredd misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sagajew stops Dredd from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagajew dodges the ground and pound from Dredd.
Check out the look on Dredd's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Dredd working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Dredd throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Dredd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sagajew keeps working.
Dredd lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sagajew down.
Dredd 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.
Sagajew managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dredd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagajew wants to control but Dredd postures up.
An elbow from Dredd crashes against the mat.
Tony Dredd overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dredd working the ground and pound from side control.
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!
Sagajew taking punishment in the form of punches.
Dredd lands some shots froms side control.
Dredd tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sagajew's legs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dredd wants to control but Sagajew is keeping him busy.
Sagajew is working to avoid the ground and pound but Dredd connects with a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Dredd dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Dredd shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sagajew pinned against the ropes. Sagajew gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sagajew shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dredd takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dredd shoots in looking for a takedown but Sagajew manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dredd's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sagajew tries to clinch there but Dredd circles away.
Dredd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sagajew can do to turn this around?

Dredd fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sagajew to the ground. Dredd is now in Sagajew's guard.
Dredd tries to free his leg and advance position but Sagajew is retaining full guard.

Dredd drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sagajew dives on top into guard.
Dredd wants to stand but Sagajew is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sagajew stands up from Dredd's guard - Sagajew perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sagajew tries to clinch but Dredd is having none of it.
Sagajew lands with a good body shot.
Tony Dredd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dredd moves in looking to clinch but Sagajew pushes him off.
Sagajew throws a shot to the body.
Sagajew defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dredd.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Dredd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dredd clinches with his opponent.

Dredd jumps into guard, dragging Sagajew to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagajew preventing the sweep.
Sagajew wants to pass the guard but Dredd is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sagajew stuffs the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dredd is defended easily by Sagajew.
Dredd shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sagajew scores with a one two! Dredd had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagajew tries to clinch but Dredd is having none of it.
Sagajew tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Dredd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sagajew tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Dredd paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tony Dredd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sagajew is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dredd tries to clinch but Sagajew moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Sagajew.
Sagajew shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dredd as he avoids it easily.
Sagajew missing with a left hand there. Dredd was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Dredd moves into the clinch.

Dredd has Sagajew pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Dredd pulls back from the ropes and twists to the side, sending Sagajew tumbling to the mat - Dredd dives into Sagajew's guard.
Dredd pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sagajew is keeping the position for now.
Ruslan Sagajew has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dredd throwing strikes but missing.
Dredd knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sagajew on the ground.
Dredd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sagajew is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dredd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dredd pushes down on Sagajew's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tony Dredd is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Sagajew is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dredd pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tony Dredd.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dredd, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Dredd!