PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Old Grappling (ranked 2592 p4p, 3540 weight class) and Zacharias Sabel (ranked 297 p4p, 391 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Grappling
vs
Sabel

178 cm
27
195
4 - 2 - 0

174 cm
21
192
4 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Old Grappling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zacharias Sabel!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grappling looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sabel is fending him off so far but Grappling persists. Nope, Sabel circles away and we're back to standing.
Sabel misses with a hook

and Grappling counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Grappling in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sabel trying to keep a closed guard but Grappling is proving a slippery customer.
Grappling 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.
Grappling trying to control but Sabel is working from the bottom.
Sabel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Grappling. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sabel keeping full guard, as Grappling tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grappling loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Grappling throws a big right hand that misses.
Sabel trying to keep a closed guard but Grappling is proving a slippery customer.
Grappling trying to control but Sabel is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sabel working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sabel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Grappling is in close to Sabel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Grappling landing some decent shots from guard.
Grappling wants to pass the guard but Sabel is keeping the position.
Grappling distracts Sabel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Grappling is in close to Sabel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sabel looking to control.

Grappling 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.
Grappling with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Grappling's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Grappling avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grappling connects with a couple of short punches.
Sabel controls Grappling momentarily but Grappling frees himself.

Sabel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Grappling doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Grappling manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Grappling lands a couple of elbows.
Grappling preventing the sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sabel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sabel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grappling with a nice head shot there.
Grappling pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sabel is keeping the position for now.
Grappling looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Grappling is in close to Sabel's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabel is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Grappling wants to control from the top but Sabel keeps moving.
Sabel controls Grappling momentarily but Grappling frees himself.
Grappling trying to control the position from guard on top but Sabel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sabel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Grappling can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sabel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grappling defends it easily.
Grappling works over Sabel with some ground and pound from guard.
Grappling tries to free his leg and advance position but Sabel is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Grappling postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sabel wants to stand up but Grappling is controlling him.

Sabel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Grappling gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sabel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grappling.
Grappling scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sabel has momentary wrist control but Grappling slips an elbow through the middle.
Sabel has momentary wrist control but Grappling slips an elbow through the middle.

Sabel working for a triangle but Grappling defends it easily.
Sabel is trying to keep Grappling in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grappling landing some decent shots from guard.
Sabel is trying to keep Grappling in close.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Old Grappling dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sabel sizes up Grappling with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like Old Grappling has been cut.
Grappling drops his hands momentarily and Sabel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Jab, jab by Sabel - just one landing.
Sabel fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Grappling on the side of the head.

Grappling shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sabel is trying to defend but Grappling finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Grappling looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Grappling lands with a punch from half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grappling throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sabel wants to get back to full guard.
Sabel is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Grappling seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Grappling wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sabel keeps working.
Sabel is looking to control Grappling's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sabel avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grappling scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Grappling is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sabel is trying to maintain the position but Grappling is very close to passing his half guard.
Grappling is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sabel can do to turn this around?
Grappling scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sabel keeping hold of Grappling's head, controlling as best he can.
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. Grappling connects with a nice short shot to Sabel's temple.
Sabel has hold of Grappling's hands but Grappling slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Grappling drops an elbow to the side of Sabel's head.
Sabel wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sabel looking for submissions off his back.

Grappling is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sabel sees it coming and defends easily.
Grappling trying to mount his opponent but Sabel defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grappling scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Grappling seems to be looking for submissions.
Grappling looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Sabel is looking to control Grappling's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sabel avoid being mounted?
Sabel might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Grappling haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Grappling is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sabel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Grappling.
Grappling landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grappling slips a nice elbow through Sabel's hands, connecting with Sabel's forehead.
Grappling sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sabel defending well though.
Sabel slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Grappling thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Sabel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grappling accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Grappling loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Grappling lands a couple of elbows.
Sabel is controlling Grappling's posture.
Grappling chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grappling stands up over Sabel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Grappling stopping the sweep attempt from Sabel.

Sabel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Grappling defends well.
Grappling content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sabel tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Grappling drops back looking for a leg! Sabel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sabel manages to kick Grappling off! Grappling jumps back into Sabel's guard.

Sabel throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Grappling escapes and throws Sabel's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Grappling grinds an elbow into Sabel's temple.
Grappling lands some shots froms side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Old Grappling dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Old Grappling's cut.
That's time! Grappling's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Grappling misses the shot to the body.
Sabel punishes Grappling's body with a nice straight punch.

Sabel closes the distance and clinches.
Sabel stalling.
Sabel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Grappling wants to take the fight to the mat but Sabel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Grappling is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sabel to keep the fight standing.
Sabel cracks Grappling with a nice body shot.
Still in the clinch, Sabel scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Grappling drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sabel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Old Grappling. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sabel slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabel pushes Grappling back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Grappling's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Grappling tries to pull guard but Sabel forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sabel presses Grappling against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short left from Sabel.
Grappling wants a takedown but no success here.
Grappling drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grappling tries to pull guard but Sabel won't allow it.

Sabel manages to break the clinch.
Sabel leaves Grappling with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Old Grappling is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Sabel scores with a four punch combination!
Sabel misses with a wild combination.
Sabel lands with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grappling takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sabel connects with a body shot that sends Grappling's belly button to the back.
Grappling throws a hook but Sabel avoids it easily.

Sabel moves into the clinch.
Sabel stalling in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sabel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabel is trying to force a seperation but Grappling has the dominant position.
The referee calls for Sabel to work.
Sabel tries to break the clinch but Grappling is controlling the position.
Sabel will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Grappling up against the cage.
Grappling is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sabel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sabel leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sabel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sabel.
Grappling tries for a takedown but Sabel manages to get underhooks.
Sabel leaning against his opponent.
Sabel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sabel stalling in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Zacharias Sabel.
Sabel connects with a body shot.
Zacharias Sabel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sabel bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Grappling's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zacharias Sabel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Grappling has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!