PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zdravko Saric (ranked 1589 p4p, 1380 weight class) and Sergey Makarov (ranked 205 p4p, 179 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Saric
vs
Makarov

195 cm
43
267
40 - 24 - 0

200 cm
28
250
10 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

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 40 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zdravko Saric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Makarov!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makarov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Makarov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saric prevents a takedown attempt there.
Makarov keeps control of Saric as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saric has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Saric looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Saric is trying to break free.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Saric is trying to break free.

Makarov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Saric can't fight it off and eventually Makarov manages to take the fight to the floor. Saric looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Saric wants to stand but Makarov is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarov throws a big right hand that misses.
Makarov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saric being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makarov prevents Saric from getting back to his feet.
Saric trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Makarov throws a big right hand that misses.
Saric utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saric utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Makarov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makarov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Makarov stops Saric from standing up.
Makarov throws a big right hand that misses.
Makarov working some strikes from top position.
Makarov cracks Saric with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makarov tries to free his leg and advance position but Saric is retaining full guard.
Makarov works over Saric with some ground and pound from guard.
Makarov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Saric wants to get back to his feet but Makarov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Saric utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Makarov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Makarov trying to control the position from guard on top but Saric is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saric is looking to stand up but Makarov isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Makarov throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makarov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Makarov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saric works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Makarov landing with the ground and pound.
Makarov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Makarov throws a big elbow that misses.
Makarov wants to control from the top but Saric keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Makarov misses with a takedown attempt - Saric sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zdravko Saric has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergey Makarov.
Saric lets loose with a powerful body kick. Makarov will feel that in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saric misses the jab.
Makarov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

It looks like Sergey Makarov has been cut.

Saric gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Makarov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Makarov connects with a couple of short punches.
Saric is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Makarov is looking to work some ground and pound but Saric has wrist control.
Makarov is looking to work some ground and pound but Saric has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Makarov is looking to work some ground and pound but Saric has wrist control.
Saric keeping moving, preventing Makarov from controlling successfully.
Makarov being controlled here momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Makarov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergey Makarov's cut.
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.

Saric looks to score with a jab to the body but Makarov is just out of range.

Makarov drives through with a takedown into Saric's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Makarov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saric keeping moving, preventing Makarov from controlling successfully.
Makarov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saric wants to stand up but Makarov is controlling him.
Makarov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Saric keeping moving, preventing Makarov from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Saric avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saric has control of Makarov's left arm, preventing Makarov from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Makarov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makarov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Makarov with a nice head shot there.
Makarov prevents Saric from getting back to his feet.
Saric working a defensive guard here.
Makarov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Makarov lands a couple of elbows.
Makarov works over Saric with some ground and pound from guard.
Makarov is looking to work some ground and pound but Saric has wrist control.
Makarov postures up in Saric's guard and throws a big left but Saric blocks it.
Makarov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makarov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Saric is looking to stand up but Makarov isn't so interested in that idea.
Makarov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Makarov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Makarov throws a big right hand that misses.
Makarov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Makarov scoring with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makarov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Makarov with a nice head shot there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Makarov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Makarov throws a big elbow that misses.
Makarov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makarov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Makarov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Makarov throwing strikes from guard but Saric blocks nicely.
Makarov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Makarov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Saric is not content to let Makarov control the position.
Sergey Makarov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Makarov misses with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Makarov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Saric has escaped the position, nice work there.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Makarov. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
An elbow from Makarov crashes against the mat.
Makarov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Makarov cracks Saric with a big right hand but Saric just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Saric managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Makarov.
Makarov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Makarov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Saric down.

Makarov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Saric is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Makarov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Makarov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sergey Makarov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Makarov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Saric did well to prevent Makarov getting side control.
Makarov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Makarov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Saric with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Saric is trying to control but can't.
Makarov is trying to control. Saric wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Makarov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Makarov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saric's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Makarov trying to control from half guard but Saric is working away.
Makarov thows a huge punch but Saric dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Makarov.
Makarov trying to control from half guard but Saric is working away.
Saric avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Makarov.
Makarov drops an elbow to the side of Saric's head.
Makarov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Makarov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Saric defending well though.
Makarov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Saric avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Makarov.
Saric avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Makarov.
Makarov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Makarov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Makarov connects with a nice short shot to Saric's temple.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Makarov connects with a nice short shot to Saric's temple.
Makarov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Makarov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Makarov wants to work for an arm triangle but Saric is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Makarov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saric's head.
Makarov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Makarov trying to control from half guard but Saric is working away.
Makarov working over Saric with some ground and pound. Saric looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Makarov.
Sergey Makarov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Saric blocking the ground and pound attempt from Makarov.
Makarov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Makarov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Saric does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Makarov controlling the action here.
Saric keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Saric wants to get back to his feet.

Makarov seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Saric is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Sergey Makarov!
Sergey Makarov decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
Zdravko Saric was interviewed post fight and said 'Jesus, what the fuck'.