PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emil Saifutdinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomasz Rzasa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tomasz Rzasa has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Saifutdinov
vs
Rzasa

202 cm
26
266 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

225 cm
27
265 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emil Saifutdinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tomasz Rzasa!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saifutdinov.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rzasa. Saifutdinov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rzasa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saifutdinov.

Rzasa clinches with his opponent.

Saifutdinov breaks from the clinch.
Rzasa scores with a jab.

It looks like Emil Saifutdinov has been cut.
Rzasa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rzasa slips under a jab.

Rzasa moves into range and clinches up with Saifutdinov.
Saifutdinov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rzasa.

Rzasa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rzasa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Saifutdinov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rzasa is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rzasa is not content to let Saifutdinov control the position.
Rzasa trying to control here.
Rzasa gets back to full guard.
Rzasa controls Saifutdinov momentarily but Saifutdinov frees himself.
Saifutdinov tries to stand but Rzasa is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rzasa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saifutdinov is one step ahead there.
Rzasa is looking to sweep but instead, Saifutdinov has passed into half guard.
Rzasa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Saifutdinov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Saifutdinov wants to stand up but Rzasa is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Saifutdinov seems content to control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rzasa is not content to let Saifutdinov control the position.

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

Saifutdinov gets tackled into the ropes by Rzasa. Rzasa maintains the clinch.
Rzasa looking to slow down the pace here.
Rzasa tries a body shot but Saifutdinov blocks it.

Rzasa breaks the clinch.
Saifutdinov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rzasa at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saifutdinov lands a left and a right that send Rzasa crashing to the mat, dazed. Saifutdinov thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Tomasz Rzasa has been cut.

Rzasa forces Saifutdinov back against the ropes and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Saifutdinov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rzasa tries to clinch up.
Saifutdinov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rzasa as he avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rzasa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saifutdinov tries for a takedown but Rzasa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emil Saifutdinov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab lands there for Rzasa.

Saifutdinov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Saifutdinov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rzasa is trying to get back to half guard.
Rzasa regains half guard there - taking advantage of Saifutdinov's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Emil Saifutdinov will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

A clash of legs there as Saifutdinov blocks the low kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Saifutdinov!
Rzasa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Saifutdinov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rzasa has managed to clinch.

Rzasa has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Saifutdinov regains guard immediately.
Rzasa trying to control but Saifutdinov is working from the bottom.
Saifutdinov has a closed guard, preventing Rzasa from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saifutdinov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rzasa passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Saifutdinov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saifutdinov keeping moving, preventing Rzasa from controlling successfully.
Saifutdinov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Saifutdinov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rzasa controlling Saifutdinov's posture.
Saifutdinov preventing the sweep.

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.
Rzasa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Saifutdinov drops back looking for a leg! Rzasa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rzasa manages to kick Saifutdinov off! Saifutdinov jumps back into Rzasa's guard.
Rzasa 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.
Saifutdinov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Rzasa has his foot on Saifutdinov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saifutdinov works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Saifutdinov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rzasa keeping moving, preventing Saifutdinov from controlling successfully.
Rzasa wants to sweep here but Saifutdinov controlling him for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rzasa tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Saifutdinov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Emil Saifutdinov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rzasa tries to clinch but Saifutdinov moves out of range.

Rzasa closes the distance and clinches.
Saifutdinov misses with a knee to the head.
Saifutdinov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Saifutdinov is trying to break the clinch but Rzasa has him pressed against the ropes.

Rzasa manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saifutdinov avoids the head kick by Rzasa.
Rzasa tries a head kick but it misses.
Rzasa looks to land a combination but Saifutdinov avoids it well.
Saifutdinov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rzasa is breathing heavily.
Saifutdinov closes the distance and clinches up with Rzasa, looking for a takedown. Saifutdinov pushes Rzasa against the ropes but Rzasa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rzasa moves to clinch but Saifutdinov breaks away

and Saifutdinov counters with a single leg into guard. Rzasa didn't expect that.
Rzasa wants to stand but Saifutdinov is controlling the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saifutdinov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rzasa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tomasz Rzasa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rzasa doesn't manage to clinch there - Saifutdinov circles away.
A left and a right from Rzasa both land. Nice combination.
Saifutdinov throws a head kick that misses.
Saifutdinov blocks a head kick by Rzasa.
Saifutdinov appears to be looking for a big counter.

Saifutdinov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Saifutdinov is pushing down on Rzasa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rzasa is fighting to maintain full guard but Saifutdinov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rzasa is looking for a sweep. Saifutdinov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rzasa trying to get back to full guard but Saifutdinov takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rzasa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rzasa tries to hold on but Saifutdinov pushes him away.
Saifutdinov looking to control but Rzasa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saifutdinov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rzasa is surviving well by controlling Saifutdinov's body position as best he can.
Saifutdinov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rzasa is looking to escape.
BOOM! Saifutdinov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rzasa wants to control but Saifutdinov is having none of it.
Saifutdinov trying to control but Rzasa is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Rzasa stops Saifutdinov from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Saifutdinov landing strikes from the mount.
Rzasa is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saifutdinov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rzasa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Saifutdinov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Saifutdinov with the ground and pound from mount.
Rzasa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rzasa wants to hold on but Saifutdinov pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saifutdinov prevents Rzasa from getting the reversal.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rzasa tries to hold on but Saifutdinov pushes him away.
Rzasa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Saifutdinov is working for a guillotine from mount but Rzasa frees his head quite easily.
Saifutdinov landing punches.
Emil Saifutdinov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rzasa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rzasa is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saifutdinov is landing with some decent strikes but Rzasa is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emil Saifutdinov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saifutdinov 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!