PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Azamat Bagatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stirling Sanguin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stirling Sanguin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bagatov
vs
Sanguin

177 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Azamat Bagatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stirling Sanguin!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanguin looking to score a takedown here. Bagatov is defending well but Sanguin drives through and ends up in Bagatov's guard.
Sanguin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bagatov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanguin connects with a couple of short punches.
Sanguin stopping the sweep attempt from Bagatov.
Sanguin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Sanguin throwing strikes but missing.
Sanguin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bagatov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bagatov keeping full guard, as Sanguin tries to pass.
Sanguin wants to control from the top but Bagatov keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanguin looking to pass the guard.
Bagatov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sanguin controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Stirling Sanguin.
Bagatov slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanguin, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Sanguin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sanguin lands in his opponent's guard.
Bagatov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanguin is one step ahead there.
Bagatov wants to stand but Sanguin is controlling the position.
Bagatov is trying to keep Sanguin in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sanguin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bagatov wants to control the position but Sanguin says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Sanguin is trying to control. Bagatov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bagatov is looking to improve his position.
Bagatov trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Sanguin manages to pass to mount!
Bagatov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sanguin looking to finish Bagatov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bagatov!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanguin scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bagatov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov tries to lock up and control but Sanguin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bagatov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sanguin raining down hammerfists from mount.
Bagatov tries to reverse the position but Sanguin maintains control.
Bagatov gets back to half guard.

Sanguin is looking for a kimura but Bagatov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sanguin to get the leverage.
Nice strikes from Sanguin there.
Sanguin throwing shots but Bagatov is blocking nicely.
Bagatov trying to hold on to Sanguin's head to control him but Sanguin postures up.
Bagatov moves into full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanguin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bagatov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanguin wants to control from the top but Bagatov keeps moving.
Sanguin working some strikes from top position.
Bagatov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bagatov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanguin is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bagatov working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanguin shoots in and drives through. Bagatov sprawls well.

Sanguin drives through and clinches with Bagatov against the cage.

Sanguin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sanguin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bagatov's guard.

Bagatov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanguin defends it easily.
Bagatov controls Sanguin momentarily but Sanguin frees himself.
Sanguin wants to control from the top but Bagatov keeps moving.
Bagatov is pulling down on Sanguin's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagatov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bagatov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanguin.
Bagatov wants to stand but Sanguin is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Azamat Bagatov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sanguin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bagatov circles away quickly and effectively.

Sanguin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bagatov's guard.
Sanguin works over Bagatov with some ground and pound from guard.
Sanguin won't allow Bagatov to get back to his feet.
Bagatov is looking to sweep but instead, Sanguin has passed into half guard.
Sanguin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanguin misses with a head shot. Bagatov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sanguin throwing strikes from guard but Bagatov blocks nicely.
Bagatov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bagatov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sanguin trying to control but Bagatov is working from the bottom.
Bagatov working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Azamat Bagatov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Sanguin has managed to clinch.
Bagatov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Bagatov pulls guard.
Bagatov working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanguin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bagatov is keeping the position for now.
Sanguin cracks Bagatov with a solid left hand.
Sanguin preventing the sweep.
Sanguin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bagatov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanguin tries to stand but Bagatov is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanguin connects with a couple of short punches.
Sanguin controls from within his opponent's guard.

Bagatov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanguin cracks Bagatov with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bagatov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanguin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sanguin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stirling Sanguin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sanguin.
Bagatov wants to control but Sanguin postures up.
Stirling Sanguin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanguin scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bagatov is looking to reverse the position.
Sanguin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sanguin trying to control the position but Bagatov is working away.

Sanguin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sanguin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bagatov is trying to control Sanguin's posture but Sanguin avoids it.
Bagatov is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanguin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bagatov keeps working.
Bagatov seems a little lost for a moment, as Sanguin dominates the positioning.
Bagatov is trying to get back to half guard.
Bagatov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bagatov desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Sanguin wants to pass to mount but Bagatov is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stirling Sanguin was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Sanguin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bagatov's guard.
Sanguin wants to get up but he can't break Bagatov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bagatov keeping full guard, as Sanguin tries to pass.

Bagatov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bagatov keeping moving, preventing Sanguin from controlling successfully.
Sanguin throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanguin wants to control from the top but Bagatov keeps moving.
Bagatov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bagatov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sanguin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sanguin is trying to control. Bagatov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sanguin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Sanguin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bagatov sees it coming and defends easily.
Sanguin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bagatov keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sanguin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bagatov's head.
Sanguin controlling the pace.
Bagatov is looking to control Sanguin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bagatov avoid being mounted?
Bagatov wants to get back to his feet.
Stirling Sanguin 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.
Bagatov trying to hold on to Sanguin's head to control him but Sanguin postures up.
Azamat Bagatov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanguin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bagatov defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stirling Sanguin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanguin 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stirling Sanguin!
After winning the bout, Stirling Sanguin thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.