PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Black Sagat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claudius Ghissi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Claudius Ghissi enters the cage!

Sagat
vs
Ghissi

185 cm
24
176 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Black Sagat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Claudius Ghissi!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ghissi misses with a left hand
and Sagat cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ghissi has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Sagat tries to clinch but Ghissi moves away
letting Ghissi counter with a right hand.
Ghissi misses the jab.

Ghissi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sagat did well to prevent Ghissi getting side control.
Sagat wants to get back to his feet.
Ghissi wants to control but Sagat is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagat misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ghissi content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagat wants to get back to his feet.

Ghissi wants to work for an arm triangle but Sagat is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sagat is trying to maintain the position but Ghissi is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ghissi slips under a jab.
Black Sagat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sagat wants to clinch.
Sagat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sagat throws a sloppy head kick and Ghissi moves out of range easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sagat.
Sagat moves to clinch but Ghissi breaks away
and Ghissi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sagat thinking.
Sagat tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ghissi paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghissi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ghissi blocks a head kick by Sagat.
Sagat misses with a head kick.
Ghissi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sagat sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ghissi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ghissi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sagat checks a leg kick.

Sagat takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagat stalling in the clinch.
Sagat tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ghissi as Sagat tries to tie him up.
Our sources have told us that Sagat has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sagat.
Sagat blocks an elbow strike from Ghissi.
Ghissi takes a knee to the side of the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sagat blocks a body shot from Ghissi.
Sagat is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ghissi is keeping busy.
Sagat throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Claudius Ghissi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ghissi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sagat's head.
Sagat uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ghissi.
Sagat tries to clinch but Ghissi moves out of range.
Ghissi shoots in but no luck this time.
Ghissi throws the left hand but Sagat avoids the punch easily.
Sagat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghissi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sagat tries to clinch but Ghissi is having none of it.
Sagat is looking to clinch but Ghissi is avoiding it.
Claudius Ghissi seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagat connects with an inside leg kick.
Sagat tries to clinch but Ghissi moves out of range.
Ghissi throws a sloppy body shot
and Sagat counters with an inside leg kick.
Ghissi lunges at Sagat with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sagat's hand.
Sagat tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ghissi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ghissi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sagat looks to clinch
and Ghissi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sagat moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghissi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sagat doesn't manage to clinch there - Ghissi circles away.
Sagat moves away from the strike by Ghissi.
Sagat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ghissi throws a lazy uppercut
letting Sagat counter with a right hand.
Sagat throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Sagat scores with a spinning back kick!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sagat wants to clinch up but Ghissi keeps it at a distance.
Sagat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sagat throws a sloppy head kick and Ghissi moves out of range easily.
Sagat looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Ghissi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sagat's half guard.
Sagat wants to get back to his feet.
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. Ghissi connects with a nice short shot to Sagat's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghissi is looking to stall here but Sagat recovers full guard.
Sagat seems keen to control Ghissi's posture.
Sagat wants to stand and escape but Ghissi is having none of it.

Ghissi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sagat is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sagat is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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 Black Sagat will probably get the nod.
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!

Sagat displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ghissi.
Nice body kick from Sagat.
Sagat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sagat thuds his shin into the meat of Ghissi's side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters circling a little - Sagat finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ghissi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sagat tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ghissi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Sagat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagat thuds his shin into the meat of Ghissi's side.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sagat, right into the meat.
Sagat scores with a decent looking hook.
Ghissi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sagat swivels and escapes.
Ghissi throws a poor cross that misses

and Sagat counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sagat's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sagat seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagat taking a breather.
Sagat throws a head punch that misses.
Sagat misses with an elbow over the top.
Sagat pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ghissi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sagat is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ghissi can do to turn this around?
Ghissi managing to block the knees to the body from Sagat.
Sagat taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sagat gets underhooks to prevent Ghissi's takedown attempt.
Black Sagat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claudius Ghissi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sagat dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Sagat breaks the clinch.
Sagat feints and then cracks Ghissi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ghissi down.
Ghissi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sagat tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Ghissi counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Sagat.
Sagat is looking to clinch.
Ghissi throws a looping overhand right but Sagat ducks down to avoid it.
Sagat throws an overhand right that lands on Ghissi's shoulder, as Ghissi tries to avoid the shot.
Sagat doesn't manage to clinch there - Ghissi circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sagat takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A telegraphed right hand from Ghissi misses the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Black Sagat showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sagat 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

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