PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Lizard (ranked 2674 p4p, 368 weight class) and Valentin Saric (ranked 7198 p4p, 631 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lizard
vs
Saric

188 cm
20
210 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
208 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Samuel Lizard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Valentin Saric!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Saric, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Saric bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Lizard is not content to let Saric control the position.
You can see the frustration on Lizard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Saric tries for a kimura but Lizard is defending well.
Lizard is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Saric asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Saric is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lizard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lizard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lizard tries to improve position but can't.

Saric is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lizard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Saric is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lizard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saric is trying to get an arm triangle but Lizard is defending well.
Lizard tries to improve position but can't.

Saric tries for a kimura but Lizard is defending well.
Lizard is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Saric asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Saric is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lizard has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lizard pushes Saric away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Saric gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

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.

Saric is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lizard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Saric tries for a kimura but Lizard is defending well.

Saric is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lizard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lizard is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Saric looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Saric is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lizard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Saric tries for a kimura but Lizard is defending well.

Saric tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lizard pushes Saric away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Saric gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saric working away.

Saric thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lizard is trying to improve his position.

Saric tries for a kimura but Lizard is defending well.
Lizard is looking to reverse the position.

Saric tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Saric has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lizard is trying to get back to half guard.

Saric wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lizard, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lizard struggling a bit here.
Lizard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Saric off and has taken his back!
Lizard trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Saric doesn't escape.
Saric felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
A lull in the action here.
Lizard avoiding Saric 's attempts to control his hands.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Lizard controlling the positon.
Saric tries to roll but Lizard sticks to his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saric breaks Lizard's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lizard pulls Saric in to control the position.
Saric won't allow Lizard to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Saric dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lizard gets caught napping as Saric dives in and scores a takedown. Lizard manages to retain guard.
Lizard keeping full guard, as Saric tries to pass.
Saric stops Lizard from standing up.
Saric forces his way into half guard.
Lizard is trying to control but can't.
Lizard won't allow Saric to pass to mount.
Lizard tries to kick Saric off but Saric keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Valentin Saric has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saric has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Saric wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saric working for a submission but Lizard is keeping him at bay.
Lizard is trying to stand.

Saric looking to secure an arm triangle but Lizard defends it well.

Saric has control of Lizard's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lizard regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lizard is trying desperately to improve position.
Lizard is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Saric is working for a guillotine from mount but Lizard frees his head quite easily.

Saric is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Saric!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Valentin Saric!