PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryo Narushima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitry Saadiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Narushima
vs
Saadiev

177 cm
31
216 lbs
19 - 12 - 0

190 cm
27
218 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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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 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ryo Narushima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dmitry Saadiev!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saadiev throws a lazy uppercut
and Narushima makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Saadiev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Narushima.
Narushima connects with a leg kick. Saadiev looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Saadiev misses with a body shot
and Narushima counters with a nice leg kick.
Saadiev works over Narushima's head and body with a nice combination.
Narushima jabs Saadiev right on the nose. Saadiev blinks but takes it well.
Saadiev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Narushima moves out of range as Saadiev strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Narushima. Saadiev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Narushima pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Narushima walks into a stiff left hand from Saadiev.
Saadiev misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saadiev throws the left hand but Narushima avoids the punch easily.
Saadiev throws a series of punches but Narushima avoids them all with ease.
Narushima pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saadiev fails to land with a series of punches.
Narushima closes the distance but Saadiev moves to the side
and Saadiev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Narushima chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saadiev. Narushima does a little dance to reset his feet.
Narushima was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Saadiev throws a nice looking combination but Narushima bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Narushima seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Narushima buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A big left from Saadiev misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Narushima tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Saadiev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saadiev! But no joy.
Narushima tries to move into range but Saadiev moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Narushima dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Saadiev. That did some damage!
A big right from Saadiev misses.
Saadiev misses with a hook to the body

and Narushima holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Narushima misses with a knee to the head.
Saadiev jumps guard but Narushima turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Narushima tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saadiev avoids it.
Narushima using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saadiev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saadiev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Narushima has him pressed against the cage.
Narushima with a knee to the head.
Narushima trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Narushima tries to land a knee to the head but Saadiev blocks with his arms.
Narushima with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saadiev is trying to force a seperation but Narushima has the dominant position.
Narushima with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saadiev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Narushima misses with a knee strike.
Saadiev is trying to drag Narushima to the mat but Narushima just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Narushima throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saadiev blocks it with crossed arms.
Narushima crunches a lovely knee into Saadiev's ribcage.
Narushima tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Narushima tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saadiev has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Narushima seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Saadiev can turn it around.
Narushima holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Narushima definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Narushima tries to land a knee to the head but Saadiev blocks with his arms.
Saadiev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Narushima has him pressed against the cage.
Narushima with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saadiev managing to block the knees to the body from Narushima.
Narushima throws a knee to the head but misses.
Narushima tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saadiev tries to break the clinch but Narushima is controlling the position.
Saadiev tries to circle away but Narushima has him pinned against the cage.
Saadiev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Saadiev wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Narushima dominated that round.
That's time! Narushima's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Narushima takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saadiev. Narushima does a little dance to reset his feet.
Narushima tries to counter by clinching up but Saadiev breaks away and moves out of range.
Narushima tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saadiev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saadiev appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Narushima scores with a head kick. Saadiev tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Dmitry Saadiev has been cut.
Saadiev scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Saadiev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Narushima.
Narushima throws a nice outside leg kick.
Narushima is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saadiev can do to turn this around?

Narushima has Saadiev up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Narushima throws a knee to the head but misses.
Narushima with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Narushima is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saadiev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Saadiev is breathing heavily.
Narushima looking to throw knees to the head but Saadiev is blocking nicely.
Narushima just leaning against Saadiev, taking a breather.
Narushima with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Saadiev breaks the clinch.
Saadiev throws the left hand but Narushima avoids the punch easily.
Narushima throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Saadiev counters with a stiff right hand.
Saadiev misses with a series of wild punches.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Narushima.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saadiev scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Narushima looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Narushima tries to clinch up but Saadiev circles away and keeps his distance.

Narushima forces Saadiev back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Narushima connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saadiev's face.
Narushima misses with a knee strike.
Narushima missing with knees to the body.
Narushima stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Saadiev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Saadiev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Narushima ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Narushima tries to clinch but Saadiev moves out of range.
Narushima throws a quick inside leg kick.
Saadiev swinging wildly here.
Saadiev misses the shot to the body.
Saadiev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Narushima sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Narushima looks to clinch
and Saadiev counters with a straight right hand.
Narushima uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saadiev.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saadiev. Narushima does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saadiev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Narushima.
Narushima throws a head kick that misses.
Narushima bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Narushima.
No joy there for Saadiev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As Saadiev tries to get set, Narushima tries to push him back and clinch up but Saadiev manages to avoid the attempt.
Dmitry Saadiev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Narushima tries to close the distance and clinch but Saadiev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Narushima throws a head kick but Saadiev moves out of range.
Narushima pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Narushima throws a head kick that misses.
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!
Saadiev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Narushima is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Saadiev.
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 Ryo Narushima will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dmitry Saadiev's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Narushima thumps Saadiev with a low kick.
Saadiev misses with a combination
and Narushima counters with a good low kick that Saadiev was not able to check.
Saadiev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Narushima counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Narushima looking to throw knees to the head but Saadiev is blocking nicely.
Narushima using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saadiev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Narushima tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Narushima misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saadiev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saadiev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Narushima tries to land a knee to the head but Saadiev blocks with his arms.
Narushima misses with a knee strike.
Narushima lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Narushima trying to land knees to the body.
Narushima throws a knee to the head but misses.
Narushima throws a knee to the head but misses.
Saadiev can't break the clinch.
Narushima keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Saadiev's efforts to push away.
Narushima tries to land knees in the clinch but Saadiev avoids the damage to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Narushima.
Saadiev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saadiev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Narushima prevents it.
Narushima tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Narushima with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saadiev tries to break the clinch but Narushima is controlling the position.
Narushima tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saadiev avoids it.
Saadiev's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Narushima lands a good knee to the midsection. Saadiev won't want to take too many of those.
Narushima with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Narushima is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Narushima lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Narushima crunches a lovely knee into Saadiev's ribcage.
Narushima manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Narushima is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Narushima lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Narushima.
Narushima connects with a knee to the head.
Come on Narushima - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Narushima throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saadiev blocks it with crossed arms.
Narushima throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saadiev blocks it with crossed arms.
Saadiev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Narushima unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Narushima with a knee to the head.
Saadiev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Narushima with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Narushima landing knees to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Narushima.
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!
Narushima unloads a knee to the mid-section. Saadiev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Narushima is struggling to control the position.
Narushima with a knee to the head.
Narushima has Saadiev pushed against the cage.
Narushima keeps control of Saadiev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Narushima connects with a knee to the head.
Dmitry Saadiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryo Narushima is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Narushima manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryo Narushima showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Narushima, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryo Narushima!
Ryo Narushima seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.