PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bas Mutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitry Sandjiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mutten
vs
Sandjiev

180 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bas Mutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Sandjiev!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sandjiev shoots in and drives through. Mutten sprawls well.
Mutten closes the distance and clinches up with Sandjiev, looking for a takedown. Mutten pushes Sandjiev against the cage but Sandjiev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sandjiev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mutten.
Sandjiev shoots and misses

and Mutten counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mutten looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Mutten looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sandjiev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mutten prevents Sandjiev from standing back up.
Sandjiev is trying to escape back to his feet but Mutten uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Sandjiev being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mutten moves into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mutten dominating with strikes here.
Mutten tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sandjiev is trying desperately to improve position.

Mutten stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mutten takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sandjiev misses with a takedown attempt
and Mutten counters with a solid body kick.
Bas Mutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitry Sandjiev.
Sandjiev with a poor takedown

and Mutten decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sandjiev's guard.
Mutten is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mutten is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mutten stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sandjiev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mutten gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sandjiev blocks a leg kick.
Sandjiev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mutten counters by clinching up.

Mutten pulls guard successfully.
Mutten manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mutten sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandjiev wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Sandjiev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mutten. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mutten avoids the attempt from Sandjiev to control.
Mutten dominating with strikes here.
Mutten looking to control but Sandjiev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sandjiev wants to hold on but Mutten pushes him away.

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.
Sandjiev is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Sandjiev is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sandjiev wants to try and get back to his feet.

Mutten is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sandjiev has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sandjiev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sandjiev is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mutten looking to ground and pound but Sandjiev is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sandjiev clinches but Mutten breaks the clinch

and Mutten decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sandjiev's guard.
Mutten controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Mutten decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mutten stuffs the takedown attempt from Sandjiev. Sandjiev gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sandjiev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mutten sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sandjiev somewhat.
Bas Mutten is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sandjiev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mutten avoids it really well and circles away.
Bas Mutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitry Sandjiev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mutten swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mutten takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mutten takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mutten is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sandjiev.
Sandjiev shoots for a double leg takedown but Mutten sprawls well. He's pushed Sandjiev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mutten.
Bas Mutten overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sandjiev is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Sandjiev's face as Mutten controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandjiev wants to get back to his feet but Mutten is dominant here and he's now got Sandjiev's back!
Mutten missing with strikes from the back.
Mutten trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Sandjiev is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Mutten tries to get the hooks in deep but Sandjiev pushed the leg off.
Can Sandjiev hold on?! Mutten is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Sandjiev looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Sandjiev looking very determined here, making life difficult for Mutten.
Sandjiev covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandjiev has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Sandjiev trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Sandjiev is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Mutten lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Mutten.
Mutten controls the position.
Sandjiev prevents Mutten from getting a body triangle.

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.

Mutten is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Sandjiev looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Mutten tries to keep control of the position but Sandjiev is staying busy.
Mutten not allowing Sandjiev to control his hands.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Mutten's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Mutten dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sandjiev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mutten moves into the clinch.

Mutten jumps guard and drags Sandjiev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Mutten pushes Sandjiev off and gets back to his feet.

Mutten closes the distance and pushes Sandjiev back into the cage.
Mutten drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mutten tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sandjiev just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mutten is pressed up against the cage. Sandjiev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mutten down to the mat. Mutten avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sandjiev fails to land the takedown.
Bas Mutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitry Sandjiev.
Mutten circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mutten counters by moving into the clinch.
Sandjiev is trying to break the clinch but Mutten has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sandjiev fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mutten breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mutten slaps away a takedown attempt from Sandjiev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sandjiev shoots in for a takedown but Mutten shows good takedown defense.
Sandjiev darts in trying to clinch

and Mutten counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mutten seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sandjiev wants to stand and escape but Mutten is having none of it.

Sandjiev is looking for a triangle here but Mutten uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mutten is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sandjiev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Mutten has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Sandjiev has his takedown stuffed

and Mutten counters by moving into the clinch.
Mutten jumps guard but Sandjiev stands there with Mutten around his waist. Mutten gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutten gets underhooks to prevent Sandjiev's takedown attempt.
Mutten drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sandjiev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sandjiev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sandjiev changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mutten fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sandjiev darts in trying to clinch

and Mutten counters by moving into the clinch.

Mutten manages to pull guard.
Mutten bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sandjiev's guard.
Mutten postures up.
Sandjiev is looking to stand up but Mutten isn't so interested in that idea.
Mutten stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sandjiev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mutten stops Sandjiev from standing up.
Mutten seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mutten won't allow Sandjiev to get back to his feet.
Mutten working some strikes from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sandjiev misses with a takedown attempt

and Mutten holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dmitry Sandjiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bas Mutten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mutten successfully pulls guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas Mutten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mutten, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bas Mutten!