PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Booth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Saitiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saitiev has chosen Dan Severn Theme as his entrance music. The key to victory for Richard Booth has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Booth
vs
Saitiev

173 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

150 cm
18
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Richard Booth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Saitiev!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Booth gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saitiev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Booth avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Saitiev is working for takedown but Booth is calmly controlling the position for now.
Booth gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Saitiev.
Richard Booth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Saitiev.

Booth jumps guard.
Saitiev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Booth being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Booth will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saitiev looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booth manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saitiev manages to get himself to full guard.

Saitiev controlling Booth's posture.
Booth has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Saitiev is proving hard to escape from.
Booth could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Booth connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Booth wants to stand but Saitiev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Booth loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Saitiev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Booth.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Booth trying to control but Saitiev is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Booth tries to clinch but Saitiev moves out of range.
Saitiev misses with a takedown attempt
and Saitiev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Saitiev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Booth's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev stopping the sweep attempt from Booth.
Booth is working hard here to advance position.
Booth working a defensive guard here.
Booth wants to get back to his feet but Saitiev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Saitiev preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saitiev won't allow Booth to get back to his feet.

Booth has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Saitiev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Booth is breathing heavily.
Booth wants to clinch.

Booth moves into range and clinches up with Saitiev.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Booth has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Saitiev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Booth pulls guard successfully.
Booth can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Saitiev controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Booth dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Richard Booth's cut.
That's time! Booth's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Booth darts in and clinches Saitiev up against the cage.
Saitiev is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Booth crunches a lovely knee into Saitiev's ribcage.
Booth tries for a takedown. No joy.

Booth drags the fight down to the ground.
Saitiev wants to pass the guard but Booth is keeping the position.
Saitiev preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saitiev advances to half guard.
Saitiev controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitiev trying to mount his opponent but Booth defends it.
Booth is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saitiev can do to turn this around?
Booth trying to control from the bottom.
Booth tries to roll over but Saitiev keeps him under control.
Booth pushes Saitiev off looking to stand but Saitiev dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Saitiev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Booth wants to sweep here but Saitiev controlling him for the moment.
Aleksandr Saitiev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saitiev stays in close to Booth's body and controls the position.
Booth manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saitiev manages to get himself to full guard.

Saitiev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Booth.
Saitiev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saitiev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Booth in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Saitiev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Booth closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saitiev prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Booth. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Booth jumps guard.
Booth is trying to control the position but Saitiev postures up.
Booth is looking to stand up but Saitiev isn't so interested in that idea.
Booth wants to sweep here but Saitiev controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saitiev wants to pass the guard but Booth is keeping the position.
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 Richard Booth will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Richard Booth's cut.
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!

Saitiev shoots in looking for a takedown. Booth tries to sprawl out of it but Saitiev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Booth manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Booth tries to clinch up

and Saitiev counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Booth wants to get back to his feet but Saitiev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Booth is pulling down on Saitiev's head to control his posture.
Booth is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saitiev is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitiev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Booth wants to sweep but no luck.
Booth can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Saitiev controls the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Saitiev's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Richard Booth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Booth is looking to clinch.

Saitiev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee asks Saitiev politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Saitiev prefers to stall for the moment though.
Booth tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saitiev doesn't have the hooks in and Booth manages to turn into his guard.
Booth would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booth postures up in Saitiev's guard and throws a big left but Saitiev blocks it.
Saitiev trying to control the position here.
Booth throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saitiev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Booth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Saitiev holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Booth wanted to stand there but Saitiev had control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Booth tries to clinch

and Saitiev counters with a single leg into guard. Booth didn't expect that.
Booth is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saitiev is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Booth looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saitiev is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Saitiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Booth 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Booth!