PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saul Reznor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Nazarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reznor's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Shook Ones by Mobb Deep. Saul Reznor had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Reznor
vs
Nazarov

180 cm
30
170 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

185 cm
26
185 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saul Reznor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrey Nazarov!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nazarov throws a lazy right hand but Reznor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Reznor swings for the body but Nazarov moves out of range.
Saul Reznor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Reznor misses its intended target.

Nazarov gets the takedown into side control.
Nazarov wants to control but Reznor is keeping him busy.
Reznor tries to improve position but can't.
Nazarov trying to control the position but Reznor is working away.
Nazarov controlling the position from side mount.
Reznor gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reznor is trying to maintain the position but Nazarov is very close to passing his half guard.
Nazarov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Reznor looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Reznor tries to get to full guard but Nazarov has control of the leg.
Reznor is trying to maintain the position but Nazarov is very close to passing his half guard.
Nazarov winds up and cracks Reznor with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Reznor is pressing down on Nazarov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nazarov preventing the sweep.
Nazarov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nazarov is looking to take a break and control but Reznor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reznor is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nazarov off and has taken his back!

Nazarov showing good submission defense here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Reznor not allowing Nazarov to control his hands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nazarov tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Reznor trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nazarov gets back to half guard.
Reznor wants to pass the guard but Nazarov is defending well.
Nazarov wants to improve his position but Reznor is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nazarov.
Reznor trying to control the position from guard on top but Nazarov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nazarov is trying to hold Reznor in close to prevent damage but Reznor has managed to pass into half guard.
Reznor wants to pass the guard but Nazarov is defending well.
Reznor wants to take a breather but Nazarov is having none of it.
Nazarov moves into full guard.
Nazarov working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov is controlling Reznor's posture.
Reznor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nazarov trying to keep a closed guard but Reznor is proving a slippery customer.
Reznor forces his way into half guard.
Nazarov tries to roll over but Reznor keeps him under control.
Nazarov is staying active underneath Reznor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nazarov tries to roll over but Reznor keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrey Nazarov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Reznor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nazarov.

Nazarov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Reznor looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Reznor manages to get back to half guard.
Reznor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nazarov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Reznor looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nazarov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nazarov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Reznor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Reznor keeping full guard, as Nazarov tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarov wants to control from the top but Reznor keeps moving.
Nazarov is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Reznor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Reznor looking for a sweep. Not yet Reznor, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Reznor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Reznor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Reznor keeping moving, preventing Nazarov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Reznor wants to sweep but no luck.
Reznor is working hard here to advance position.
Nazarov with a nice head shot there.

Reznor is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nazarov is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nazarov trying to control but Reznor is working from the bottom.
Nazarov won't allow Reznor to sweep him here.
Reznor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nazarov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Reznor keeping moving, preventing Nazarov from controlling successfully.
Reznor trying to keep a closed guard but Nazarov is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov can't control as he wanted to and Reznor manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Nazarov passes to full mount!
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!
Nazarov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Reznor is looking to improve his position but Nazarov isn't that keen on the idea.
Reznor tries to lock up and control but Nazarov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reznor is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nazarov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Reznor is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Nazarov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Reznor changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nazarov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Reznor is looking to take a break and control but Nazarov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nazarov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Reznor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nazarov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nazarov stops Reznor from passing to mount.

Reznor working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nazarov wants to control but Reznor postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Reznor's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Reznor looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nazarov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nazarov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov keeping moving, preventing Reznor from controlling successfully.

Nazarov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Saul Reznor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nazarov keeping moving, preventing Reznor from controlling successfully.
Reznor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nazarov's guard.
Nazarov is looking for a sweep. Reznor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Reznor trying to advance position but Nazarov counters by regaining guard.
Nazarov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nazarov looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nazarov keeping full guard, as Reznor tries to pass.
Reznor won't allow Nazarov to sweep him here.
Reznor pushing down on Nazarov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nazarov gets full guard.
Nazarov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reznor is one step ahead there.
Nazarov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nazarov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Reznor's guard.
Reznor looking for a sweep. Not yet Reznor, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Reznor is trying to control the position but Nazarov postures up.

Reznor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nazarov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nazarov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
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!
Nazarov trying to control the position from guard on top but Reznor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nazarov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nazarov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Reznor strikes from the bottom but Nazarov takes advantage and advances to full mount!

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 Saul Reznor.
I think Nazarov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrey Nazarov!