PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dan Sergeant (ranked 3251 p4p, 161 weight class) and Jason Tolevski (ranked 4310 p4p, 205 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Dan Sergeant has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Dan Sergeant seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Sergeant
vs
Tolevski

175 cm
31
139 lbs
13 - 11 - 1

180 cm
27
147 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dan Sergeant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jason Tolevski!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sergeant shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tolevski pinned against the cage. Tolevski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Sergeant shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tolevski is trying to defend but Sergeant finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Sergeant is trying to work for a kimura but Tolevski is defending well.
Tolevski is trying to stand back up but Sergeant is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sergeant is just content to waste time from the top position. Tolevski takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Tolevski looking for a sweep. Not yet Tolevski, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tolevski has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Sergeant has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Sergeant is trying to drag Tolevski to the mat but Tolevski just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Tolevski pulls Sergeant into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tolevski holds on and takes a little breather.
Tolevski wants to sweep here but Sergeant controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tolevski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tolevski wants to stand and escape but Sergeant is having none of it.
Sergeant stopping the sweep attempt from Tolevski.
Tolevski working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sergeant wants to pass the guard but Tolevski is keeping the position.
Sergeant preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tolevski gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sergeant to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sergeant is stalling in the full guard.
Sergeant won't allow Tolevski to sweep him here.
Sergeant has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolevski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Sergeant drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tolevski manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sergeant has Tolevski in his guard.

Sergeant has Tolevski pulled in close to control his posture.
Sergeant on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sergeant tries to get out of the position.
Tolevski 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.
Sergeant is controlling Tolevski's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Sergeant has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Tolevski is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Sergeant gets underhooks to prevent Tolevski's takedown attempt.
Sergeant putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Tolevski in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tolevski fails to pull guard.
Sergeant prevents a body shot from Tolevski.
Tolevski is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Sergeant breaks the clinch.
Sergeant tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tolevski swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Sergeant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tolevski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tolevski shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sergeant half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sergeant lands with an overhand left.
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 Dan Sergeant will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tolevski throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Sergeant counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sergeant trying to control the position from guard on top but Tolevski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tolevski is looking to sweep but instead, Sergeant has passed into half guard.
Sergeant slows the pace down in half guard.
Tolevski is trying to stand back up but Sergeant is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sergeant is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sergeant stalling away here and it's allowed Tolevski to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sergeant lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tolevski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sergeant manages to get himself to full guard.

Sergeant looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Tolevski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tolevski trying to control but Sergeant is working from the bottom.
Sergeant wants to stand but Tolevski is controlling the position.
Sergeant seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolevski trying to control the position from guard on top but Sergeant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tolevski gets to his feet - Sergeant follows without any prompting.

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

Tolevski pushes Sergeant off and scrambles back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Sergeant. No joy for Tolevski on that attempt.
Sergeant fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tolevski counters with a body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sergeant shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sergeant moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sergeant throws a combination. Tolevski tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Tolevski gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sergeant lands a couple of elbows.
Tolevski is pulling down on Sergeant's head. It's preventing any offense from Sergeant, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tolevski 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.
Tolevski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sergeant in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sergeant postures up in Tolevski's guard and throws a big left but Tolevski blocks it.
Sergeant looking to sit in guard and control but Tolevski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sergeant preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolevski's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tolevski trying to control but Sergeant is working from the bottom.
Sergeant is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sergeant is pulling down on Tolevski's head. It's preventing any offense from Tolevski, at least for the moment.
Sergeant tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tolevski scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tolevski scoring with punches to the head and body.
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 Dan Sergeant will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tolevski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tolevski fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sergeant avoids it really well and circles away.
Sergeant will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sergeant shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sergeant was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sergeant knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tolevski on the ground.
Tolevski is not content to let Sergeant control the position.
Sergeant remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sergeant throws a strike aimed at the side of Tolevski's head but Tolevski avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sergeant throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Tolevski tries to buck Sergeant off but Sergeant is having none of it.

Tolevski explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Tolevski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sergeant circles away.
Sergeant half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Tolevski shoots for a takedown but Sergeant saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dan Sergeant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Tolevski.
Sergeant fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tolevski on the side of the head.

Sergeant shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sergeant is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Tolevski is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sergeant is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Tolevski reverses the position - he's now on top in Sergeant's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tolevski is stalling in the full guard.

Tolevski stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sergeant lands a head shot.

Sergeant closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolevski keeping his opponent close.
Tolevski is looking to regain half guard here but Sergeant keeps moving and retains side control.
Sergeant wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tolevski keeps working.
Sergeant tries to advance to mount but can't.
Tolevski is not content to let Sergeant control the position.

Sergeant tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sergeant has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Jason Tolevski has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four 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.
Tolevski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Tolevski regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sergeant stopping the sweep attempt from Tolevski.

Sergeant postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tolevski is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sergeant, into his guard.

Tolevski wants to control from the top but Sergeant keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jason Tolevski.
I think Sergeant 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Sergeant!