PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gemini No Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sven Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saga's entrance music is Pegasus fantasy. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

No Saga
vs
Knight

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 Hilo, Gemini No Saga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sven Knight!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saga fails with the takedown

and Knight counters with a shoot takedown. Saga fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Knight slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Saga wants to sweep but no luck.
Saga keeping moving, preventing Knight from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sven Knight.
Saga tries to clinch but Knight is having none of it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saga is defended easily by Knight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga slips a straight right by Knight.
No joy there for Saga, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Knight avoids the head kick by Saga.
Knight has his takedown stuffed

and Saga counters by moving into the clinch.
Saga is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Knight is defending well for now.
Knight displaying some good clinch control by pressing Saga up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Knight as Saga tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saga pulls guard.
Knight showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Knight drops back looking for a leg! Saga is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saga manages to kick Knight off! Knight jumps back into Saga's guard.

Saga looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Knight passes into side control.
Knight controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga tries to control but Knight manages to take his back.
Saga is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Knight.

Knight looking for the RNC.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Knight's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saga has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Knight.
You can see the frustration on Saga's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The referee is taking a good look at Saga as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Knight!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knight is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Knight working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saga turns into Knight and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Saga tries to close the distance and clinch but Knight swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saga doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Knight to counter with a crisp jab.
Knight connects with a looping right hand.
Knight moves out of range of the body kick.
Saga takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Knight is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saga sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Saga keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Knight fails with the takedown

and Saga counters with a shoot takedown. Knight fights it but they end up in guard.
Knight wants to sweep here but Saga controlling him for the moment.
Saga looking to sit in guard and control but Knight gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga wants to get back to his feet but Knight is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Saga is trying to control the position but Knight postures up.

Knight drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Knight jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Knight engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saga utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Knight controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sven Knight wasn't active enough on the ground.
Saga has a takedown stuffed.

Saga darts in and clinches Knight up against the cage.

Knight has hold of one of Saga's legs. Saga is fighting the takedown attempt but Knight gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Saga wants to stand up but Knight is controlling him.
Saga can't keep his opponent in guard - Knight advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Knight content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Knight is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Saga doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Knight.
Saga is looking to control Knight's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Saga avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Knight slows the pace down in half guard.
Knight scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knight is looking to advance position but Saga won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Knight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Saga shoots in but Knight avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Saga closes the distance but Knight moves to the side
enabling Knight to counter with a crisp jab.
Saga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knight swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saga slips a straight right by Knight.
Saga shoots and misses
and Knight counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Saga.
Knight fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Saga, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saga shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gemini No Saga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saga with a poor takedown

and Knight counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Knight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight is working Saga over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Saga can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Knight controls the pace.
Saga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Knight slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sven Knight was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Saga throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saga pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Saga will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Saga doesn't manage to clinch there - Knight circles away.
Saga ducks under a wild hook from Knight.
Knight misses with a shot to the body

and Saga holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Saga looking for a takedown.
Knight drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saga gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Knight has had enough of the clinch but Saga keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Knight wants to get back to striking at distance but Saga won't allow it.

Knight breaks the clinch.
Saga slips under a jab.
Knight just misses with a punch to the body.
Saga throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Knight counters with a nice body shot.
Knight swats away the attempt to clinch by Saga.
A jab from Knight misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saga manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Knight on his heels. He'll look to pass Knight's guard now, I'm sure.
Saga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knight is keeping the position for now.
Saga has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Knight is proving hard to escape from.
Saga trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Knight manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Knight stays in close to Saga's body and controls the position.
Gemini No Saga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sven Knight is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knight postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sven Knight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Knight winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Knight!