PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cihan Sari (ranked 4873 p4p, 426 weight class) and Nick Sabo (ranked 7850 p4p, 513 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Sari
vs
Sabo

178 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

201 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cihan Sari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Sabo!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sabo gets tackled into the cage by Sari. Sari maintains the clinch.
Sabo prevents the takedown attempt.
Sari slows down the pace here.
Sari misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sabo trying to land knees to the body.

Sari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sabo scores with a one two! Sari had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sabo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sari keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabo shoots in looking for a takedown. Sari tries to sprawl out of it but Sabo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sari is defended easily by Sabo.
Sari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sari shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sabo counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cihan Sari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sabo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sabo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sari sprawls well. Sari wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sabo gets slowly back to his feet.
Sari could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sabo tries to keep at a distance but Sari has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sabo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sari tries a body shot but Sabo blocks it.
Sari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sabo tries to break free but Sari pushes him back against the cage.
Sabo is trying to pull guard but Sari has him pressed against the cage.
Sari lands a knee to the body.
Sabo looks winded!
Sari's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sari lands a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sari has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sabo uses from the top position.
Sabo wants to control from the top but Sari keeps moving.
Sari is adopting a defensive guard.
Sari manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sabo manages to get himself to full guard.

Sari sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sabo's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sari controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sari is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sabo defends it well.
Sari sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sari's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sari missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sabo gets tackled into the cage by Sari. Sari maintains the clinch.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Sari drags the fight down to the ground.
Sari keeping moving, preventing Sabo from controlling successfully.
Sari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sabo can do to turn this around?
Sabo tries to free his leg and advance position but Sari is retaining full guard.
Sabo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabo won't allow Sari to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabo trying to control but Sari is working from the bottom.
Sari might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sabo looking to pass the guard.
Sari is controlling Sabo's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sari takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sari shoots in and drives through. Sabo sprawls well.
Sabo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sari is fending him off so far but Sabo persists. Nope, Sari circles away and we're back to standing.
Sabo is breathing heavily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sari.
Sabo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sari closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sabo circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cihan Sari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sabo shoots in for a takedown but Sari shows good takedown defense.

Sari has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sabo is trying to drag Sari to the mat but Sari just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sabo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sari tries for a takedown but Sabo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sari tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sabo defends well and Sari ends up having to push Sabo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sari throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sabo's waist but Sabo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sari off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sari is fending him off so far but Sabo persists. Nope, Sari circles away and we're back to standing.

Sari has Sabo up against the cage in a clinch.
Sabo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sari is keeping busy.
Sari's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sari lands a good knee to the midsection. Sabo won't want to take too many of those.
A right handed body shot lands from Sari.

Sari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nick Sabo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sari has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabo tries to stall but Sari uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Sari manages to pull guard.
Sabo chips away with some ground and pound.

Sari is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sabo is aware though and is defending well.
Sari lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sari advances position into side control!
Sari misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes there by Sari.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cihan Sari dominated that second round.
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.

Sabo just misses with a punch to the body.
Sari steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sabo.

Sari closes the distance and pushes Sabo back into the cage.
Sabo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sari stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sari missing with knees to the body.

Sabo manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabo has his takedown stuffed
and Sari counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sabo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sari clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sari lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sabo backwards.
Cihan Sari has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sabo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sari gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sari is trying to drag Sabo to the mat but Sabo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sari stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Sari pulls Sabo into guard.

Sabo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cihan Sari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sabo throwing strikes from guard but Sari blocks nicely.
Sabo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sari keeping moving, preventing Sabo from controlling successfully.

Sari pushes Sabo off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sari keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cihan Sari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Sabo.
Sabo shoots in for a takedown but Sari shows good takedown defense.
Nick Sabo seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sari shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sabo but Sabo pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sabo tries to keep at a distance but Sari has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sabo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Sari manages to break the clinch.
Sabo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Sari closes the distance and pushes Sabo back into the cage.
Sari tries to score a body lock takedown but Sabo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sari unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sabo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sari stalling the fight.
Sabo has had enough of the clinch but Sari keeps him there for the moment.
Sari utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sari stalling in the clinch.

Sari pulls guard.
Sari controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sari pushes Sabo off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Nick Sabo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cihan Sari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sabo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sari counters with a good, hard body kick but Sabo shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cihan Sari showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sari, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cihan Sari!