PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ismail Saidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Izaak Waters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Saidov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Shamhan Daldaev - Eto Kavkaz. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Saidov
vs
Waters

188 cm
27
200 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

185 cm
28
192 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc
5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ismail Saidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Izaak Waters!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waters tests Saidov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Saidov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Waters tries to avoid it but Saidov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Waters to the ground. Waters escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Waters misses with a hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Waters misses the target.
Saidov tries for a takedown but Waters sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Waters lands a lovely overhand right.
Saidov shoots for a double leg takedown but Waters sprawls well. He's pushed Saidov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ismail Saidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saidov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Saidov ducks under a wild hook from Waters.
Saidov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Waters defends it nicely.
Saidov tries for a takedown but Waters sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Saidov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Waters stuffs the takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saidov shoots in but Waters avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saidov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Waters.
Saidov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Waters pinned against the cage. Waters gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Waters lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Waters dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Waters moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Saidov moves out of range as Waters strikes.
Waters throws out a loose jab but Saidov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Waters lands the left hand.
Saidov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Waters lands a nice shot that snaps Saidov's head back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saidov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Waters as he jumps to the side.
Saidov shoots for a double leg takedown but Waters sprawls well. He's pushed Saidov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waters stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Waters wants it to stay on the feet.

Saidov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Saidov is breathing heavily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Waters looking for a sweep. Not yet Waters, not yet.
Waters keeping full guard, as Saidov tries to pass.

Saidov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Waters dives on top into guard.
Saidov is trying to control the position but Waters postures up.
Saidov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Saidov prevents Waters from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Waters holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saidov is working for a kimura but Waters is defending it quite comfortably.
Waters holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Saidov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Saidov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Waters tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Saidov has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saidov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Waters is trying to escape the mount.
Waters is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Saidov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Waters tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Waters stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Waters wants it to stay on the feet.
Waters lands an overhand right.
Waters misses the shot to the body.
Saidov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saidov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ismail Saidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saidov shoots in looking for a takedown. Waters tries to sprawl out of it but Saidov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Waters manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Saidov shoots in but no luck this time.

Waters gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Waters seems keen to control Saidov's posture.

Saidov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Waters looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Waters looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Waters!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waters gets to mount! Saidov was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Saidov is working to get back to half guard.
Waters looking to control but Saidov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Saidov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Waters tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Saidov is squirming around, avoiding Waters's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saidov tries to improve his position but instead Waters has taken his back!
Waters thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Saidov can't escape the position.

Saidov is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Waters gets his way!
Waters trying to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Waters is looking for the choke from the back position but Saidov is controlling his hands well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Waters has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Saidov has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Waters is looking to control Saidov but Saidov is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Saidov is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Saidov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Waters is just content to waste time from the top position. Saidov takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saidov controls Waters momentarily but Waters frees himself.
Waters throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saidov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Waters postures up in Saidov's guard and throws a big left but Saidov blocks it.

Saidov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Waters defends well.
Waters trying to control the position from guard on top but Saidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Waters must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Waters slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Izaak Waters 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!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saidov is defended easily by Waters.
Nice body punch from Waters.
Waters misses with a looping left.
Saidov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Waters lands a glancing blow to the side of Saidov's head.
Saidov slips a straight right by Waters.
Saidov shoots in for a takedown but Waters shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ismail Saidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waters scores with a crisp jab that stopped Saidov in his tracks.

Saidov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Saidov seems to be working for a kimura but Waters defends the submission attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saidov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Waters's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saidov is looking for a kimura but Waters is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saidov to get the leverage.
Saidov is thwarting Waters's attempts to control the position.
Waters is trying to stand.
Waters wants to improve his position but Saidov is controlling well.

Waters makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
No luck for Saidov with that takedown attempt.

Waters gets caught flat footed, as Saidov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waters throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Waters avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saidov stopping the sweep attempt from Waters.
Waters is trying to control the position but Saidov postures up.
Ismail Saidov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Waters scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Saidov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Waters pinned against the cage. Waters gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saidov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Waters sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saidov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Waters circles away.
Saidov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Waters sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Saidov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Waters lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Waters throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Saidov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Saidov takes one on the button.
Waters tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Saidov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Izaak Waters is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Saidov shoots in looking for a takedown but Waters manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saidov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Waters keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Izaak Waters seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Waters lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Saidov at a distance.
A jab from Waters finds it's way through Saidov's defenses.
Waters scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Saidov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Waters lands a glancing blow to the side of Saidov's head.
Saidov walks into a stiff left hand from Waters.
Nice shot by Waters.
Nice takedown defense from Waters. No joy for Saidov on that attempt.
Saidov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Waters paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Waters scores with a jab. Saidov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Waters works over Saidov's head and body with a nice combination.
Waters lands a jab to Saidov's midsection.
Waters scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saidov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice jab there from Waters.
Waters works over Saidov's head and body with a nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Izaak Waters comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Waters 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Izaak Waters!
Izaak Waters thanked the fans post fight for their support.