PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Devon Sage (ranked 1353 p4p, 725 weight class) and Maksim Taranin (ranked 129 p4p, 64 weight class). Devon Sage has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sage
vs
Taranin

170 cm
29
157
16 - 4 - 0

170 cm
22
160
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Northern Zombie
Furnace Performance 🔥

Champion Apparel
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Devon Sage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Taranin!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sage shoots in looking for a takedown. Taranin tries to sprawl out of it but Sage keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taranin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sage is defended easily by Taranin.

Taranin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sage, pushing him back against the cage.
Taranin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sage dodges an elbow strike from Taranin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sage throws a punch but it's blocked by Taranin.

Taranin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sage pushes Taranin off looking to stand but Taranin dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sage wants to improve his position but Taranin is controlling well.
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 is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sage defends it well.

Taranin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sage is looking to control Taranin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sage avoid being mounted?
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taranin tries to pass to full mount but Sage defends it.
Sage is trying to maintain the position but Taranin is very close to passing his half guard.
Taranin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Taranin trying to control from half guard but Sage is working away.
Sage is looking to control Taranin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sage avoid being mounted?
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Taranin is keen to just control but Sage is a slippery customer.

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

Sage clinches with his opponent.
Sage taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sage jumps guard but Taranin stands there with Sage around his waist. Sage gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devon Sage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sage jumps into guard, dragging Taranin to the mat.
Sage seems keen to control Taranin's posture.
Taranin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Taranin postures up.

Taranin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sage is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sage has escaped and now he's on top!

Sage got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taranin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sage has managed to get both his arms back between Taranin's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taranin working for a triangle but Sage defends it easily.
Sage wants to control from the top but Taranin keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Taranin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sage enables Taranin to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sage manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Taranin stopping the sweep attempt from Sage.
Sage throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Taranin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sage looking to control.
Sage is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taranin controlling from the top position.
Maksim Taranin has got the better of the ground game so far.
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 wants to control from the top but Sage keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sage looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sage pulls Taranin in close to his closed guard and prevents Taranin from doing any damage or advancing position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Sage gets caught napping as Taranin dives in and scores a takedown. Sage manages to retain guard.
Sage is wriggling around but Taranin manages to pass to half guard.

Sage actively working from the bottom here.
Sage is looking for a sweep. Taranin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Taranin working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranin stalling away here and it's allowed Sage to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Sage keeping full guard, as Taranin tries to pass.
Taranin trying to control the position from guard on top but Sage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sage is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sage is trying to keep Taranin in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sage trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sage keeping moving, preventing Taranin from controlling successfully.
Sage looking to control.
Taranin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taranin is one step ahead there.
Taranin wants to control from the top but Sage keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Taranin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taranin slaps away a takedown attempt from Sage, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taranin. Sage does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sage appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sage fails to land the takedown.
Taranin looks to land a left hand but Sage moved out of range nicely.
Sage takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sage is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Taranin misses the target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sage tries to clinch there but Taranin circles away.

Taranin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sage looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sage stops Taranin from passing to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Taranin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sage's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sage throws a shot from downtown. Taranin moves away and avoids it.

Taranin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Sage looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Taranin has picked Sage up and slammed him! Sage can't keep hold of the triangle and Taranin manages to pass to side control!

Taranin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sage is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Taranin is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sage sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Taranin wants to control but Sage is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taranin seems to be looking for submissions.

Taranin is looking for a kimura here.
Sage wants to control but Taranin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taranin drops an elbow to the side of Sage's head.
Sage is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sage is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sage is pressing down on Taranin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Taranin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sage is looking to stand up but Taranin isn't so interested in that idea.

Taranin content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Sage has locked up a guillotine! Sage's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Taranin is holding on here and Sage must be using up a lot of energy. Taranin has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Sage gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Devon Sage!
Devon Sage decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.