|
|
SSG 259 Chai vs Maximus PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Hilo, with a TWGC record of 5 wins and 11 losses; Sam Saunders! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 1 wins and 0 losses; Boryenka Stepanov!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Saunders bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Saunders (4) vs (0) Stepanov
Stepanov is trying to improve his position.
Saunders looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stepanov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Saunders (4) vs (2) Stepanov
Stepanov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Stepanov moves nicely into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Saunders (4) vs (5) Stepanov
Who's going to make the next move?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Saunders is looking to reverse the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders wants to control but Stepanov postures up.
Saunders trying to remain calm as Stepanov controls from the top position.
Saunders is looking for a sweep.
Stepanov is staying tight to Saunders's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Stepanov wants to control but Saunders is keeping him busy.
Saunders manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stepanov's best efforts.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saunders is looking for a sweep. Stepanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stepanov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Saunders! Score +3 for passing guard: Saunders (4) vs (8) Stepanov
Saunders is trying to escape the mount.
Stepanov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders stops Stepanov from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Stepanov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stepanov wants to take his opponent's back but Saunders doesn't allow it.
Stepanov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Stepanov trying to control but Saunders is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saunders wants to control but Stepanov is having none of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Saunders slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Saunders looking for submissions off his back.
Saunders looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Saunders is staying active underneath Stepanov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Saunders looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stepanov passes Saunders's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stepanov passes the guard and advances to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Saunders (4) vs (11) Stepanov
Saunders bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Saunders (6) vs (11) Stepanov
Stepanov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saunders manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Saunders (6) vs (13) Stepanov
Stepanov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Saunders's guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Stepanov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Saunders is looking to control Stepanov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Saunders avoid being mounted?
Saunders won't allow Stepanov to pass to mount.
Saunders has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stepanov is working away from the top position though.
Saunders is in trouble now - Stepanov has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Saunders (6) vs (16) Stepanov
Saunders is squirming around, avoiding Stepanov's attempts to control the action.
Saunders tries to hold on but Stepanov pushes him away.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov wants to control the pace but Saunders is squirming around nicely.
Saunders tries to hold on but Stepanov postures up.
Stepanov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stepanov pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Saunders wants to control but Stepanov is having none of it.
Saunders is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov controlling from the full mount.
Stepanov wants to control the pace but Saunders is squirming around nicely.
Saunders is working to get back to half guard.
Saunders manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Saunders wants to get back to full guard but Stepanov has mounted him! Score +3 for passing guard: Saunders (6) vs (19) Stepanov
Saunders is in all sorts of trouble here.
Stepanov controlling the pace for now.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Saunders tries to hold on but Stepanov postures up.
Saunders is trying to escape the mount.
Saunders tries to hold on but Stepanov pushes him away.
Stepanov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Saunders gets back to half guard.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Saunders is in trouble now - Stepanov has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Saunders (6) vs (22) Stepanov
Saunders tries to hold on but Stepanov pushes him away.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Stepanov working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Saunders is controlling an arm, preventing Stepanov from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Stepanov moves to take his opponent's back. Score +3 for taking back: Saunders (6) vs (25) Stepanov
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Stepanov's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Saunders looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov tightening his grip on Saunders, looking for the choke.
Good control from Stepanov.
Stepanov tries to get the hooks in deep but Saunders pushed the leg off.
Saunders is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Stepanov controlling from the back.
Stepanov gets his hands free as Saunders looks to control.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov wants to control but Saunders is keeping busy.
Stepanov is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Saunders has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Saunders trying to control the hands but Stepanov won't let him.
Saunders can't escape the position.
Saunders looking very determined here, making life difficult for Stepanov.
Stepanov is looking for the choke from the back position but Saunders is controlling his hands well.
Saunders looking to control the position.
Stepanov controls the action.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Stepanov is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Saunders has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Saunders trying to control the position but Stepanov manages to sink in the hooks.
What can Saunders do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Saunders defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Saunders wants to escape the position.
Saunders needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Saunders rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Stepanov stalling.
Stepanov trying to mount his opponent but Saunders defends it.
Saunders is pressing down on Stepanov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Saunders wants to hit a sweep here but Stepanov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Saunders there! Score +3 for passing guard: Saunders (6) vs (28) Stepanov
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov content just to control the position here.
Saunders is squirming around, avoiding Stepanov's attempts to control the action.
Saunders regains half guard.
Saunders tries to get to full guard but Stepanov has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stepanov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Stepanov trying to control from half guard but Saunders is working away.
And that's the end of the fight!
Stepanov wins on points by 28 to 6.
A relieved looking Boryenka Stepanov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
|
|
|
|
|
