PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jonah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Sassangle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. This should be fireworks!

Faber
vs
Sassangle

168 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jonah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paul Sassangle!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber shoots in for a double leg but Sassangle sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Faber is breathing heavily.
Sassangle tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Faber paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sassangle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Faber looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sassangle is fending him off so far but Faber persists. Nope, Sassangle circles away and we're back to standing.
Faber fails with the takedown

and Sassangle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Faber's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sassangle slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sassangle is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Faber's shoulder. That is not cool.
Sassangle works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Faber on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sassangle decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Sassangle shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Faber as he avoids it easily.

Sassangle gets a takedown into half guard.
Faber avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sassangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faber is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sassangle pulls his head out easily.
Sassangle with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Faber might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
It looks like Sassangle is going to stand back up.
Faber blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sassangle.
Faber is refusing to be controlled, as Sassangle sits in half guard.
Sassangle scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sassangle not doing much here.
Sassangle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Faber defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faber actively working from the bottom here.
Sassangle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Faber keeps working.

Faber is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sassangle pulls his head out easily.
Sassangle prevents Faber from improving his position.
Well, if Sassangle is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Sassangle is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sassangle is keen to just control but Faber is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sassangle passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sassangle in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sassangle tries to control but Faber wriggling away.
Sassangle tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sassangle landing shots from mount.
Faber can't escape the position.
Sassangle is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Faber can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sassangle controlling the pace for now.
Sassangle working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sassangle looking for a guillotine from mount but Faber is having none of it.

Sassangle with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sassangle lands a nice shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sassangle moves to the back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sassangle controls the action.
Sassangle keeps control of the position as Faber tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sassangle fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sassangle throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sassangle tries to clinch but Faber moves out of range.
Sassangle shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Faber pinned against the cage. Faber gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Faber is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sassangle sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Faber as Sassangle shoots in.
Jonah Faber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Sassangle.
Sassangle feints and then cracks Faber's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Faber down.

Sassangle forces Faber back against the cage and clinches.
Sassangle wants to break free but Faber has control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sassangle is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sassangle is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Faber is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sassangle goes for a takedown in the clinch but Faber prevents it.

Faber manages to break the clinch.
Sassangle fails in his attempt to clinch.
Faber stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Faber wants it to stay on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sassangle enables Faber to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sassangle manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sassangle trying to keep a closed guard but Faber is proving a slippery customer.

Faber is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Faber is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Faber being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sassangle is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Sassangle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Faber defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faber drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sassangle dives on top into guard.
Sassangle forces his way into half guard.

Faber looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sassangle seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Paul Sassangle has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sassangle trying to control the action but Faber is working from the bottom.

Faber looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Faber avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sassangle.
Sassangle tries to stand and escape but Faber is controlling the position.

Sassangle decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Faber slaps away a takedown attempt from Sassangle, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sassangle clinches with his opponent.
Faber jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sassangle walks away with a smile on his face. Faber gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Sassangle 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. This is the final round!

Sassangle tries for a takedown but Faber sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sassangle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Faber sprawls well. Faber wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sassangle gets slowly back to his feet.
Sassangle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Faber shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sassangle lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sassangle shoots in looking for a takedown. Faber tries to sprawl out of it but Sassangle keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Faber manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jonah Faber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Sassangle.
Sassangle throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sassangle has closed the distance and engaged Faber in a clinch.
Faber jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sassangle walks away with a smile on his face. Faber gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sassangle throws a head kick but Faber moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Faber or perhaps it was just good defense by Sassangle which made him look bad.

Faber tries to sprawl but Sassangle drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Faber looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Faber actively working from the bottom here.

Faber is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sassangle pulls his head out easily.
Sassangle is looking to take a break and control but Faber is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sassangle might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Faber kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Faber looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Faber manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Faber has his foot on Sassangle's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sassangle works his way back into a safe position though.

Faber is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sassangle trying to control the position from guard on top but Faber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Faber is looking for a triangle but Sassangle pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faber looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sassangle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sassangle wants to pass the guard but Faber is keeping the position.

Faber had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sassangle defends it easily.

Faber has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sassangle can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Faber is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sassangle defends well.
Sassangle is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sassangle passes into half guard.

Sassangle is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Faber is just riding it out for now. Sassangle eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Faber is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sassangle pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paul Sassangle.
Well Sassangle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Sassangle!