PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damar Sulekov (ranked 4337 p4p, 4532 weight class) and Mats Boden (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.

Sulekov
vs
Boden

190 cm
18
280
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
279
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 Tokyo, Damar Sulekov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mats Boden!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boden fails to land the takedown.

Sulekov pushes Boden up against the cage in a clinch.

Sulekov jumps guard and drags Boden to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Boden sitting in guard here, content to control.

Sulekov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sulekov wants to sweep here but Boden controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sulekov is trying to control the position but Boden postures up.
Boden wants to control from the top but Sulekov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boden is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sulekov keeping moving, preventing Boden from controlling successfully.
Boden won't allow Sulekov to sweep him here.
Sulekov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

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

Sulekov gets caught napping as Boden dives in and scores a takedown. Sulekov manages to retain guard.
Sulekov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Boden manages to get himself to full guard.

Boden working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sulekov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sulekov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sulekov preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sulekov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sulekov throwing strikes from guard but Boden blocks nicely.

Boden escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sulekov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sulekov is in close to Boden's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Boden is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Boden keeping moving, preventing Sulekov from controlling successfully.
Sulekov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sulekov is looking to work some ground and pound but Boden has wrist control.

Boden is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sulekov defends well.
Boden really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sulekov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sulekov throws a big right hand that misses.
Sulekov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Boden's head.
Sulekov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sulekov postures up in Boden's guard and throws a big left but Boden blocks it.
Boden is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sulekov really is a fat lump.
Sulekov trying to control the position from guard on top but Boden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sulekov is working Boden over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sulekov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Boden trying to control the position.

Boden has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sulekov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sulekov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Sulekov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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

Boden closes the distance and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sulekov pulls guard.
Sulekov keeping moving, preventing Boden from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Damar Sulekov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Boden bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sulekov regains half guard.
Sulekov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Boden preventing the sweep.
Sulekov looking to control.

Sulekov is looking for a triangle but Boden pushes his legs off easily.
Boden trying to control the position from guard on top but Sulekov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boden wants to pass the guard but Sulekov is keeping the position.
Boden preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boden engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boden trying to control the position from guard on top but Sulekov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boden controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sulekov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sulekov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Boden is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sulekov throwing strikes from guard but Boden blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sulekov forces his way into half guard.
Boden blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sulekov.
Sulekov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Boden has hold of Sulekov's hands but Sulekov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sulekov prevents Boden from improving his position.
Sulekov content to control rather than advance.
Boden is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sulekov wants to take a breather but Boden is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boden taking some punishment here, with Sulekov in his half guard.
Sulekov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Boden can do to turn this around?
Sulekov prevents Boden from improving his position.
Sulekov is looking to take a break and control but Boden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Sulekov.
Boden is trying to control but can't.
Sulekov winds up and cracks Boden with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Boden avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sulekov.
Boden gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Boden is on top in guard.

Sulekov doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Boden must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sulekov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sulekov is pulling down on Boden's head. It's preventing any offense from Boden, at least for the moment.
Boden is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sulekov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Damar Sulekov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Boden fails with a takedown attempt.
Boden misses with a straight left.
Boden changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sulekov tries to avoid it but Boden manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sulekov to the ground. Sulekov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Sulekov instigates a clinch.

Sulekov manages to pull guard.
Sulekov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sulekov has control of Boden's left arm, preventing Boden from doing any damage.
Boden trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sulekov seems keen to control Boden's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boden is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sulekov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Sulekov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sulekov tries to get out of the position.
Boden is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Sulekov misses with a series of wild punches.
Boden drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sulekov defends it well.
Sulekov fails to land with a series of punches.

Sulekov drives through with a takedown into Boden's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Boden keeping moving, preventing Sulekov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sulekov works over Boden with some ground and pound from guard.
Sulekov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sulekov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Boden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sulekov is one step ahead there.
Sulekov wants to pass the guard but Boden is keeping the position.
Sulekov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boden wants to sweep here but Sulekov controlling him for the moment.

Boden has his foot on Sulekov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sulekov works his way back into a safe position though.
Boden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Damar Sulekov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sulekov throwing strikes from guard but Boden blocks nicely.
Sulekov is looking to work some ground and pound but Boden has wrist control.
Sulekov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Boden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sulekov wants to control from the top but Boden keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sulekov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sulekov with a flurry of punches that miss.

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

Boden shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Boden showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sulekov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sulekov seems keen to control Boden's posture.
Boden content to stall in guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sulekov controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damar Sulekov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sulekov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damar Sulekov!