PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gemini No Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cheik Umbongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saga comes into the arena with Pegasus fantasy blaring out of the sound system. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Cheik Umbongo was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

No Saga
vs
Umbongo

190 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

203 cm
23
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 2 - 2 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cheik Umbongo!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saga looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Umbongo is fending him off so far but Saga persists. Nope, Umbongo circles away and we're back to standing.
Saga misses with a double jab.
Umbongo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saga sprawls well. Saga wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Umbongo gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Saga as Umbongo shoots in.

Saga drives through with a takedown into guard.
Saga advances to half guard.
Umbongo tries to roll over but Saga keeps him under control.
Saga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Umbongo keeps working.

Saga stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Umbongo to get to his feet.
Umbongo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gemini No Saga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cheik Umbongo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga throws a lazy head kick
and Umbongo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Saga's knee momentarily.
Saga lands a glancing blow to the side of Umbongo's head.
Saga motions for Umbongo to come forward. Saga throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Saga keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saga blocks a jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saga.
Saga shoots for a takedown but Umbongo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saga fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saga misses with a takedown attempt - Umbongo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Saga manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Umbongo on his heels. He'll look to pass Umbongo's guard now, I'm sure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saga wants to control from the top but Umbongo keeps moving.
Umbongo looking for a sweep. Not yet Umbongo, not yet.

Saga got a little sloppy there for a moment and Umbongo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saga has managed to get both his arms back between Umbongo's legs - danger averted.
Saga trying to stand up but can't free himself from Umbongo's guard.
Saga trying to control the position from guard on top but Umbongo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga is really struggling to control Umbongo but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gemini No Saga.
A good leg kick by Umbongo.
Saga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Umbongo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Umbongo looks gassed!
Umbongo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saga.

Saga throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Umbongo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Saga is in Umbongo's guard.

Saga gets to his feet. Umbongo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saga tries to clinch but Umbongo is having none of it.
Umbongo is looking to clinch but Saga is avoiding it.
Saga dives in and grabs Umbongo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Umbongo pushes down on Saga's head and hops out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fight stays on the outside here - Saga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saga gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Umbongo moves out of range as Saga throws a body kick.
Saga looks for a takedown but Umbongo sprawls well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saga fails in his attempt to clinch.

Saga manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Umbongo on his heels. He'll look to pass Umbongo's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gemini No Saga dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saga lands a head shot.
Saga slaps away a takedown attempt from Umbongo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Umbongo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Umbongo gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Saga.
Saga fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Umbongo avoids it really well and circles away.
Umbongo stuffs the takedown.

Umbongo takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Umbongo to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gemini No Saga. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Umbongo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saga closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Saga scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Saga wants to control but Umbongo is keeping him busy.
Saga wants to stand up but Umbongo has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Saga wants to control but Umbongo is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Umbongo trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saga seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Umbongo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Saga seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saga not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Umbongo tries to kick Saga off in order to stand up. Saga Avoids the leg push though and dives into 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!
Saga is looking to take a break and control but Umbongo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Umbongo tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umbongo is trying to control Saga's posture but Saga avoids it.
Umbongo tries to improve position but can't.
Umbongo is breathing heavily.

Saga is trying to get an arm triangle but Umbongo is defending well.
Gemini No Saga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saga prevents Umbongo from escaping the position.
Saga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Umbongo keeps working.
Umbongo is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Umbongo taking a bit of punishment here - Saga scoring with strikes.
Umbongo is not content to let Saga control the position.
Saga grinds an elbow into Umbongo's temple.
Saga trying to control the position but Umbongo is working away.

Saga decides to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Umbongo fails with the takedown.
Umbongo keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gemini No Saga dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Saga looks for a takedown but Umbongo sprawls well.

Saga tries to keep at a distance but Umbongo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Saga wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Saga jumps guard but Umbongo stands there with Saga around his waist. Saga gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Saga stops a takedown attempt from Umbongo.

Umbongo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Umbongo is trying desperately to land a takedown but Saga is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Umbongo.

Saga drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Saga stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saga closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Umbongo tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Umbongo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Umbongo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saga prevents Umbongo from improving his position.
Umbongo gets full guard.
Saga trying to control but Umbongo is working from the bottom.
Saga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saga trying to control the position from guard on top but Umbongo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saga might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Umbongo working a defensive guard but Saga manages to pass into side control anyway.
Saga works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Saga is looking to take a break and control but Umbongo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umbongo regains half guard there - taking advantage of Saga's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Saga is nestled in close to Umbongo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Saga decides to stand and escape the position.
Saga shoots in for a takedown but Umbongo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gemini No Saga. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saga fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Umbongo sprawls well initially but Saga persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Umbongo trying to control but Saga postures up.
Saga trying to control the action but Umbongo is working from the bottom.
Umbongo is trying to control but can't.

Saga is looking for a kimura here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Umbongo keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gemini No Saga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saga, 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gemini No Saga!
Gemini No Saga made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'Galaxian Explosion!!'.