PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Saadiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barristan Selmy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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 Barristan Selmy was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Saadiev
vs
Selmy

190 cm
23
218 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

187 cm
27
222 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dmitry Saadiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barristan Selmy!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Selmy dives in for a single leg takedown but Saadiev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Saadiev gets control of Selmy's arms and successfully pulls guard. Saadiev will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Selmy postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saadiev keeping moving, preventing Selmy from controlling successfully.
Selmy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dmitry Saadiev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A big left from Saadiev misses.

Selmy shoots in and gets a takedown into Saadiev's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saadiev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saadiev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Selmy is controlling him.
Saadiev trying to keep a closed guard but Selmy is proving a slippery customer.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dmitry Saadiev.
Selmy misses with a takedown attempt
and Saadiev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Saadiev leaves Selmy with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dmitry Saadiev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barristan Selmy.
Selmy avoids the head kick by Saadiev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saadiev throws a shot from downtown. Selmy moves away and avoids it.
Selmy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Saadiev defends well and Selmy ends up having to push Saadiev into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Selmy leaning his opponent against the cage.
Saadiev gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Selmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saadiev wants to break the clinch but can't.

Selmy turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Selmy manages to end up in side control.
Saadiev is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Selmy has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Saadiev is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saadiev is trying to control Selmy's posture but Selmy avoids it.
Saadiev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Saadiev wants to control but Selmy postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Barristan Selmy will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Saadiev looks for the body kick but Selmy saw that one coming.
Selmy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Selmy throws a lazy right hand but Saadiev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Saadiev avoids the body shot from Selmy.
Selmy tries to clinch up but Saadiev circles away and keeps his distance.
Selmy shoots in but Saadiev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Selmy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Saadiev defends well and Selmy ends up having to push Saadiev into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dmitry Saadiev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barristan Selmy.

Saadiev breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selmy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Selmy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Selmy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saadiev lands a glancing blow to the side of Selmy's head.
Selmy fails with a takedown attempt.
Saadiev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saadiev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Selmy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Selmy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saadiev pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Selmy back to the cage. Saadiev follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Selmy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Selmy fails to land the takedown.
Selmy tries to clinch but Saadiev is having none of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Selmy shoots in for a double leg but Saadiev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selmy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saadiev as he avoids it easily.
Selmy scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Saadiev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saadiev falls off balance throwing a combination

and Selmy counters with a takedown into side control.
Saadiev is trying to improve his position.
Saadiev pushes Selmy away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Selmy gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Saadiev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Saadiev wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dmitry Saadiev.
Selmy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saadiev avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dmitry Saadiev will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Selmy fails with a takedown attempt.
Selmy defending well as Saadiev loads up on a big left hand.
Selmy misses with a takedown
and Saadiev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Selmy's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Saadiev connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Selmy scrambles back to his feet.
No luck for Selmy with that takedown attempt.
Dmitry Saadiev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barristan Selmy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Saadiev misses.
Selmy misses with a straight left.
Selmy tries for a takedown but Saadiev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Saadiev throws a half hearted mid kick.
Selmy looks to land a left hand but Saadiev moved out of range nicely.
Dmitry Saadiev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Selmy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saadiev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Selmy somewhat.
Saadiev misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Selmy shoots and misses
and Saadiev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Selmy looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Saadiev misses with a right hand
and Selmy counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Selmy fails with a takedown attempt.
Saadiev misses with a looping left.
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!
Selmy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Saadiev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selmy tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Saadiev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Selmy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Saadiev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Selmy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Selmy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Saadiev.
Saadiev throws out a loose jab but Selmy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saadiev throws a big shot that misses.

Selmy has managed to clinch.

Saadiev manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saadiev swings for the body but Selmy moves out of range.
Saadiev throws out a loose jab but Selmy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saadiev throws a leg kick but Selmy checks it.
Saadiev looks to land a combination but Selmy avoids it well.
Selmy defending well as Saadiev loads up on a big left hand.
Barristan Selmy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Selmy gets a takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Selmy is thwarting Saadiev's attempts to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitry Saadiev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saadiev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitry Saadiev!
A very excited looking Dmitry Saadiev rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.