PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Devon Sage (ranked 1401 p4p, 2309 weight class) and Maksim Taranin (ranked 160 p4p, 248 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sage
vs
Taranin

170 cm
26
157
9 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
155
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Seventh Circle Clothing

Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Devon Sage!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Taranin!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taranin keeps the fight on the outside.
Taranin misses with an uppercut.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Taranin has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Sage rushes Taranin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Sage manages to pull guard.
Sage has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Taranin has passed into side control.

Taranin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sage has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sage tries to buck Taranin off but Taranin is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taranin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sage is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Sage's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taranin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sage is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sage tries to buck Taranin off but Taranin is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taranin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Taranin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sage is trying to get back to half guard.
Sage is trying to control Taranin's posture but Taranin avoids it.
Taranin moves into full mount!
Sage working to try and regain half guard.

Sage defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Taranin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Taranin moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sage has worked his arm free - good work by Sage!
Sage is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sage is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Taranin is trying to control the action in half guard but Sage is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Taranin seems to be working for a kimura but Sage defends the submission attempt.
Sage tries to roll over but Taranin keeps him under control.

Sage looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sage wants to control but Taranin is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Taranin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sage sees it coming and defends easily.
Sage is looking to improve his position.

Taranin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sage sees it coming and defends easily.
Sage wants to get back to full guard.

Taranin wants to work for an arm triangle but Sage is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Taranin prevents Sage from improving his position.

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.
Taranin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sage trying to hold on to Taranin's head to control him but Taranin postures up.
Taranin is looking to take a break and control but Sage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sage slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Sage escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taranin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taranin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sage bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taranin's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maksim Taranin will probably get the nod.
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.

Sage gets caught napping as Taranin dives in and scores a takedown. Sage manages to retain guard.
Taranin passes Sage's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sage is looking to improve his position.
Sage makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sage.
Taranin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Sage is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranin controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sage tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taranin wants to control from the top but Sage keeps moving.

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

Sage throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Taranin escapes and throws Sage's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sage tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Taranin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Taranin tries to advance to mount but Sage instead regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sage is looking to improve his position.
Taranin is looking to take a break and control but Sage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taranin controlling the action here.
Sage tries to get to full guard but Taranin has control of the leg.
Sage is working hard here to advance position.

Taranin is trying to work for a kimura but Sage is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sage is trying to maintain the position but Taranin is very close to passing his half guard.
Taranin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sage is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Taranin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Taranin's back!
I really don't envy Taranin right now.

Sage looking to break Taranin's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Taranin remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Sage will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Taranin rolls, trying to escape but Sage keeps control of the position.
Taranin trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Taranin tries to escape but Sage has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Taranin wants to control his opponent's hands but Sage gets his hands free.

Sage working for a choke but Taranin is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sage is trying to stick to Taranin's back but Taranin is turning into Sage. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Sage's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Taranin.
Taranin trying to control the position from guard on top but Sage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sage is looking for a triangle but Taranin pushes his legs off easily.
Sage trying to keep a closed guard but Taranin is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sage wants to sweep but no luck.
Taranin trying to control but Sage is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maksim Taranin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taranin misses with an uppercut.

Sage forces Taranin back against the cage and clinches.

Taranin tightens his grip and picks Sage up, before dumping him to the ground. Sage manages to land in guard.

Taranin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sage wants to control but Taranin passes easily into half guard.
Sage is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sage moves into full guard.
Taranin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranin trying to control the position from guard on top but Sage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sage trying to keep a closed guard but Taranin is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taranin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taranin trying to control the position from guard on top but Sage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taranin is pushing down on Sage's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sage is fighting to maintain full guard but Taranin has managed to sneak the leg through.

Taranin seems to be looking for submissions.
Sage is trying to maintain the position but Taranin is very close to passing his half guard.
Sage is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taranin wants to control but Sage is keeping him busy.

Taranin seems to be working for a kimura but Sage defends the submission attempt.
Sage manages to get to full guard.
Sage keeping moving, preventing Taranin from controlling successfully.

Sage looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taranin is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranin trying to control but Sage is working from the bottom.

Sage is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Taranin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sage is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taranin missing with a left hand there. Sage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sage moves in looking to clinch but Taranin pushes him off.
Sage fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taranin with the counter takedown but Sage avoids it easily.
Sage tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taranin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taranin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sage was well out of range. Poor timing from Taranin.

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.
Sage tries to clinch up.
Devon Sage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sage tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Taranin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sage's guard.
Taranin trying to control but Sage is working from the bottom.
Maksim Taranin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sage manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taranin manages to get himself to full guard.

Taranin keeping moving, preventing Sage from controlling successfully.
Sage tries to free his leg and advance position but Taranin is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sage wants to control from the top but Taranin keeps moving.
Sage advances to half guard.

Sage is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Taranin really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taranin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Taranin passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sage!
Sage is desperately trying to improve his position but Taranin has a good base and remains in mount.
Sage wants to hold on but Taranin pushes him away.
Taranin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sage bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Taranin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sage trying to control the position from guard on top but Taranin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taranin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sage manages to get himself to full guard.

Sage looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Taranin wants to control from the top but Sage keeps moving.
Taranin preventing the sweep.
Taranin trying to control but Sage is working from the bottom.
Taranin forces his way into half guard.

Taranin is working for a kimura but Sage is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taranin wants to work for an arm triangle but Sage is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sage is trying to get back to full guard.
Taranin wants to pass to mount but Sage is defending the position.

Taranin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sage is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Zombie MMA, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Taranin is trying to control the action in half guard but Sage is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sage is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sage looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sage gets back to full guard.
Sage is trying to keep Taranin in close.
Taranin works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Taranin works his way into side control.
Sage tries to bench press Taranin off him but Taranin keeps the position.
Sage struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sage is not content to let Taranin control the position.
Sage is looking to regain half guard here but Taranin keeps moving and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Taranin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Taranin dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sage drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Taranin shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sage manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Taranin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sage swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sage is looking for a triangle but Taranin pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sage has his foot on Taranin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taranin works his way back into a safe position though.

Taranin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Taranin trying to control but Sage is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sage has control of Taranin's left arm, preventing Taranin from doing any damage.
Taranin trying to control but Sage is working from the bottom.
Sage is trying to control the position but Taranin postures up.
Taranin advances to half guard.

Taranin is working for a kimura but Sage is defending it quite comfortably.
Taranin wants to pass to mount but Sage is defending the position.

That's two 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.
Sage wants to get back to full guard.
Taranin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sage keeps working.

Taranin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sage has managed to free his arm - good work.

Taranin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Taranin is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sage is wriggling around trying to escape.
Taranin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sage is looking to escape.
Sage regains half guard.

Taranin wants to work for an arm triangle but Sage is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Taranin prevents Sage from improving his position.
Sage slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranin stopping the sweep attempt from Sage.
Sage keeping moving, preventing Taranin from controlling successfully.
Taranin pushing down on Sage's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Taranin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sage keeps working.
Sage regains full guard. Nicely done.

Sage is looking to cinch up a triangle. Taranin throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Sage's body to avoid the submission. Sage has instead reached around Taranin's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Sage arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Devon Sage!
Devon Sage is the new featherweight champion!
A very excited looking Devon Sage made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.