PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Milito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emil Saifutdinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Milito
vs
Saifutdinov

200 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
25
266 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Milito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emil Saifutdinov!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Milito throws a left and a right that both miss

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

Saifutdinov gets to his feet - Milito follows without any prompting.
Milito bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Saifutdinov's head backwards.

It looks like Emil Saifutdinov has been cut.

Saifutdinov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Milito did well to prevent Saifutdinov getting side control.

Milito kicks off Saifutdinov and gets to his feet.
Gabriel Milito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Milito is looking to chop away at Saifutdinov's legs.
Milito throws a left and a right that both miss

and Saifutdinov counters with a single leg into guard. Milito didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Saifutdinov stands up from Milito's guard - Saifutdinov perhaps looking for a knockout.
A combination from Milito does no damage.

Saifutdinov darts in and clinches Milito up against the cage.
Saifutdinov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Milito just stands there and leans against the cage.
Milito has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Saifutdinov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Saifutdinov manages to break the clinch.

Saifutdinov darts in and clinches Milito up against the cage.
Saifutdinov effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saifutdinov prevents the takedown attempt.
Saifutdinov takes a shot to the head.
Saifutdinov tries to pull guard but Milito forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Milito goes for a takedown in the clinch but Saifutdinov prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Milito. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saifutdinov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Milito just stands there and leans against the cage.
Saifutdinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Milito avoids it.
Saifutdinov avoiding damage.

Saifutdinov pulls Milito into guard.
Milito trying to control the position from guard on top but Saifutdinov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Milito stopping the sweep attempt from Saifutdinov.
Saifutdinov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Saifutdinov keeping moving, preventing Milito from controlling successfully.
Saifutdinov is adopting a defensive guard.
Saifutdinov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saifutdinov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Saifutdinov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A combination from Milito does no damage.
Saifutdinov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Saifutdinov checks a low kick from Milito.

Saifutdinov gets a clinch.
Milito is trying to force a seperation but Saifutdinov has the dominant position.

Saifutdinov pulls guard.
Saifutdinov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Milito manages to pass to side control.
Saifutdinov trying to hold on to Milito's head to control him but Milito postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saifutdinov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Saifutdinov keeping moving, preventing Milito from controlling successfully.
Milito stopping the sweep attempt from Saifutdinov.
Saifutdinov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Milito is fighting to break Saifutdinov's control of his arms but Saifutdinov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Milito slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emil Saifutdinov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Emil Saifutdinov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Milito swinging wildly here.
Milito connects with a good right hand that stumbles Saifutdinov. Saifutdinov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Milito lands a right hook to the body.
Saifutdinov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Milito.
Milito throws a leg kick but Saifutdinov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A combination from Milito does no damage.
Saifutdinov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Milito moves away.
Saifutdinov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Milito lunges at Saifutdinov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Saifutdinov's hand.
Gabriel Milito is winning the standup battle so far.
Some bone on bone action there as Saifutdinov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Saifutdinov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Milito's guard.
Saifutdinov is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saifutdinov wants to control from the top but Milito keeps moving.
Saifutdinov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saifutdinov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saifutdinov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Milito trying to keep a closed guard but Saifutdinov is proving a slippery customer.
Emil Saifutdinov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saifutdinov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Milito wants to sweep here but Saifutdinov controlling him for the moment.
Milito is trying to control the position but Saifutdinov postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Milito looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saifutdinov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Milito manages to avoid it.
Saifutdinov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Milito is able to avoid easily.
Milito fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Milito throws a right hand that Saifutdinov ducks under and follows up with a left that Saifutdinov also avoids with ease.

Saifutdinov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saifutdinov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Saifutdinov tightens his grip and picks Milito up, before dumping him to the ground. Milito manages to land in guard.

Milito pushes Saifutdinov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Saifutdinov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Milito explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milito fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Milito throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Milito jabs at Saifutdinov's body.
Milito misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Milito attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Gabriel Milito is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saifutdinov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Milito lands a nice shot to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Milito scores with a four punch combination!
Milito sizes up Saifutdinov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Milito misses with a wild combination.
Milito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Milito misses with an uppercut. Saifutdinov saw that one coming.
Milito scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Milito enables Saifutdinov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Milito manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Milito has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Saifutdinov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Saifutdinov ducks right into an uppercut from Milito.
Milito will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Milito throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Saifutdinov darts in and clinches Milito up against the cage.

Saifutdinov gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Milito regains guard.

Milito kicks Saifutdinov off and gets to his feet.

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

Milito kicks off Saifutdinov and gets to his feet.
Gabriel Milito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice uppercut lands for Milito. That snapped Saifutdinov's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Milito dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Emil Saifutdinov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Milito throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Saifutdinov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Saifutdinov.

Saifutdinov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Milito pushes Saifutdinov off looking to stand but Saifutdinov dives back in and keeps control.
Saifutdinov working over Milito with some ground and pound. Milito looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Saifutdinov decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Milito is looking to chop away at Saifutdinov's legs.
Milito throws a nice looking combination but Saifutdinov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Saifutdinov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saifutdinov controlling the action here for a moment.
Saifutdinov misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Saifutdinov to work.

Saifutdinov decides to pull guard.

Milito decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Saifutdinov, up you get!

Saifutdinov clinches with his opponent.

Saifutdinov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Milito stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saifutdinov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Milito trying to control the position from guard on top but Saifutdinov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saifutdinov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Milito is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saifutdinov controls Milito momentarily but Milito frees himself.
Milito has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saifutdinov pulls Milito in to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Saifutdinov is trying to keep Milito in close.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A punch combination from Milito misses.

Saifutdinov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Saifutdinov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Milito fails to pull guard.
Saifutdinov jumps guard but Milito turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milito tries to break free but Saifutdinov pushes him back against the cage.

Saifutdinov manages to break the clinch.
Saifutdinov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Some wild striking there from Milito.
Milito scores with a jab to the jaw.

That has opened up Emil Saifutdinov's cut even more.

Saifutdinov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Milito on his heels. He'll look to pass Milito's guard now, I'm sure.
Milito trying to control the position.
Saifutdinov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Saifutdinov is standing up over Milito. Milito looks to escape but Saifutdinov dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Saifutdinov stalls from top position.

Saifutdinov decides to stand back up.
Saifutdinov tries for a takedown but Milito sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Milito lands with a good body shot.
Milito lands a jab-cross combination.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Milito scores with a jab to the jaw.
A shot to the liver by Milito. Beautiful body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Milito. Those never looked like landing.
Milito misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Emil Saifutdinov.
I think Saifutdinov 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!