PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saem Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Solofa Fatu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fatu has chosen Bad Man as his entrance music. Solofa Fatu told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Black
vs
Fatu

185 cm
23
220 lbs
8 - 8 - 1

184 cm
29
220 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 8 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saem Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Solofa Fatu!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fatu feints and as Black raises his hands in defense, Fatu changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Fatu drops back looking for a leg! Black is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Black manages to kick Fatu off! Fatu jumps back into Black's guard.
Black is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fatu throwing strikes but missing.
Black not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fatu throwing strikes from guard but Black blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fatu trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Fatu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatu landing some decent shots from guard.
Fatu scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fatu is looking to work some ground and pound but Black has wrist control.
Black controls Fatu momentarily but Fatu frees himself.
Fatu throws a big elbow that misses.
Fatu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fatu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fatu throws a big elbow that misses.
Fatu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fatu wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Fatu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fatu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Black swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Black throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Black seems keen to control Fatu's posture.
Fatu is in close to Black's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fatu stands up over Black, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fatu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Black swivels though and keeps the full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Fatu working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Fatu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fatu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Fatu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Fatu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fatu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Black's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Fatu is looking to advance position but Black won't allow it.
Black is trying to maintain the position but Fatu is very close to passing his half guard.

Fatu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Fatu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Fatu is looking for a kimura here.

Fatu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Black doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fatu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fatu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black keeping hold of Fatu's head, controlling as best he can.
Fatu with the ground and pound but Black uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Black not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fatu throws a big elbow that misses.
Fatu is in close to Black's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fatu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fatu throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solofa Fatu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fatu misses with a takedown

so Black counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Fatu is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Black presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Black pulls Fatu into guard.
Fatu wants to stand but Black has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Black working a defensive guard here.
Black looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Fatu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fatu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fatu is working Black over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Black is trying to keep Fatu in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatu is pushing down on Black's leg trying to pass to half guard. Black is fighting to maintain full guard but Fatu has managed to sneak the leg through.
Fatu works his way into side control.

Fatu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Black knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fatu has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Fatu is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Black has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Black!
Black 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fatu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Black gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fatu trying to keep a closed guard but Black is proving a slippery customer.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Fatu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black cracks Fatu with a solid left hand.
Fatu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Black.
Black content to stall in guard here.
Black trying to control but Fatu is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Fatu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fatu 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.
Black won't allow Fatu to get back to his feet.
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Black cracks Fatu with a solid left hand.
Fatu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Black stopping the sweep attempt from Fatu.

Fatu looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Black passes into side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Black looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Fatu goes for a double leg but Black avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Black continues to drive forward.
Fatu is breathing heavily.
Fatu dives in for a single leg takedown but Black sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Black changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Saem Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Solofa Fatu.
Fatu goes for a double leg but Black avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Black continues to drive forward.
Fatu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fatu dives in and grabs Black's left leg, looking for a takedown. Black pushes down on Fatu's head and hops out.
Black slaps away a takedown attempt from Fatu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
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 Saem Black will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

Black stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Black wants it to stay on the feet.
Fatu shoots in but Black avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Black attempts a counter takedown but Fatu avoids it well and moves away.
Fatu tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Black defends well and Fatu ends up having to push Black into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Saem Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Solofa Fatu.
Fatu closes the distance and clinches up with Black, looking for a takedown. Fatu pushes Black against the cage but Black circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Black tries to counter with a takedown but Fatu is quick to defend against it.
Fatu shoots for a double leg takedown but Black sprawls well. He's pushed Fatu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Black appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Black keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fatu fails with the takedown

and Black decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fatu's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Black wants to control from the top but Fatu keeps moving.
Fatu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Black works over Fatu with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Black works over Fatu with some ground and pound from guard.
Fatu has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Black is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Black scoring with some ground and pound.
Black landing some decent shots from guard.
Fatu wants to stand up but Black is controlling him.
Black engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Solofa Fatu has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fatu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Black distracts Fatu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Black working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Black working some strikes from top position.

Fatu has his foot on Black's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Black works his way back into a safe position though.
Fatu throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Black sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Black has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Black working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fatu is trying to control the position but Black postures up.
Fatu being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fatu shoots for a double leg takedown but Black sprawls well. He's pushed Fatu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fatu fails to land the takedown.
Black changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Fatu shoots for a takedown but Black saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Black feinted with a counter takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Fatu or perhaps it was just good defense by Black, which made it look bad.
Black changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Fatu fails to land the takedown.
Fatu darts in looking for a takedown but Black gets double underhooks and turns Fatu into the cage.
Black feinted with a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fatu fails with the takedown.
Fatu misses with a takedown

and Black counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Black scoring with some ground and pound.
Black not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Black's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Black scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fatu keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Fatu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Black is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saem Black showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Black 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:27

The fight is ruled a draw!