PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lil Choi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Borat Sagdiyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Choi
vs
Sagdiyev

200 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lil Choi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Borat Sagdiyev!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sagdiyev tries to sprawl but Choi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sagdiyev wants to improve his position but Choi is controlling well.
Choi thows a huge punch but Sagdiyev dodges it nicely.

Sagdiyev has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Choi is on him like a limpet, forcing Sagdiyev back against the cage.
Choi prevents the takedown attempt.
Choi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sagdiyev has him pressed against the cage.

Sagdiyev gets control of Choi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sagdiyev will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Choi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sagdiyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sagdiyev is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sagdiyev wants to stand but Choi is controlling the position.
Sagdiyev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Choi is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lil Choi wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Choi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sagdiyev is fending him off so far but Choi persists. Nope, Sagdiyev circles away and we're back to standing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Choi.
Sagdiyev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Sagdiyev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagdiyev prevents Choi from moving into mount.
Sagdiyev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sagdiyev trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Sagdiyev is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Choi lands with some strikes.
Choi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Choi cracks Sagdiyev with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sagdiyev tries to hold on but Choi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagdiyev sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Choi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Choi trying to control from half guard but Sagdiyev is working away.
Sagdiyev wants to improve his position but Choi is controlling well.
Choi wants to pass to mount but Sagdiyev is defending the position.
Sagdiyev tries to get to full guard but Choi has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagdiyev trying to control from the bottom.

Choi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sagdiyev doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Choi.
Sagdiyev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Choi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Choi connects with a nice short shot to Sagdiyev's temple.
Choi blocks the strikes from Sagdiyev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lil Choi dominated that round.
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.

Sagdiyev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Choi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Choi shoots for a takedown but Sagdiyev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Choi leaves Sagdiyev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sagdiyev fails with a takedown attempt.

Sagdiyev closes the distance and pushes Choi back into the cage.
Choi is looking to control Sagdiyev's arms but Sagdiyev gets an underhook and turns him. Now Choi has his back to the cage.
Choi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sagdiyev after a bit of a struggle.
Choi wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lil Choi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Choi tries to stall but Sagdiyev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sagdiyev being controlled against the cage.
Sagdiyev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Choi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sagdiyev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Choi uses from the top position.
Choi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sagdiyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Choi stopping the sweep attempt from Sagdiyev.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sagdiyev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Choi manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sagdiyev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Choi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sagdiyev has managed to get both his arms back between Choi's legs - danger averted.
Choi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sagdiyev manages to get himself to full guard.
Sagdiyev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sagdiyev working a defensive guard here.
Choi throws a big elbow that misses.

Sagdiyev working for a triangle but Choi defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sagdiyev is trying to control the position but Choi postures up.
Choi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sagdiyev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sagdiyev tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sagdiyev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Choi is aware though and is defending well.
Sagdiyev is breathing heavily.
Sagdiyev thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sagdiyev thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Choi wants to control from the top but Sagdiyev keeps moving.
Choi preventing the sweep.
Sagdiyev keeping full guard, as Choi tries to pass.
Choi forces his way into half guard.
Lil Choi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Choi is trying to control the action in half guard but Sagdiyev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Borat Sagdiyev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Choi has managed to clinch.
Sagdiyev fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Choi gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sagdiyev regains guard.

Choi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Choi won't allow Sagdiyev to sweep him here.
Sagdiyev controls Choi momentarily but Choi frees himself.
Choi is stalling in the full guard.
Sagdiyev throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi looking to sit in guard and control but Sagdiyev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Choi looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Sagdiyev has picked Choi up and slammed him! Choi can't keep hold of the triangle and Sagdiyev manages to pass to side control!
Choi prevents Sagdiyev from improving position.
Sagdiyev happy to just control the position for now.
Choi is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choi is working hard here to advance position.

Sagdiyev decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Choi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Choi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sagdiyev's half guard.
Sagdiyev is not content to let Choi control the position.
Sagdiyev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choi wants to pass the guard but Sagdiyev is keeping the position.
Sagdiyev is pulling down on Choi's head. It's preventing any offense from Choi, at least for the moment.
Let's hope that Sagdiyev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sagdiyev is trying to control the position but Choi postures up.
Choi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Choi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagdiyev trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Borat Sagdiyev.
Choi shoots in but no luck this time.
Choi throws a head kick but Sagdiyev moves out of range.
Sagdiyev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Choi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lil Choi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sagdiyev shoots for a double leg takedown but Choi sprawls well. He's pushed Sagdiyev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sagdiyev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sagdiyev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sagdiyev postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Borat Sagdiyev.
I think Sagdiyev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!