PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vitaliy Sitkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shamil Isaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Isaev comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Nashid kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Shamil Isaev told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sitkin
vs
Isaev

183 cm
22
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vitaliy Sitkin!
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, Shamil Isaev!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sitkin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Isaev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Isaev wants to clinch up but Sitkin keeps it at a distance.

Sitkin gets the takedown into side control.
Sitkin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Isaev tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

Sitkin moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Isaev has worked his arm free - good work by Isaev!
Isaev is looking for a sweep.
Sitkin working the head with strikes.
Sitkin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Isaev is not content to let Sitkin control the position.
Sitkin throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Isaev is trying to get back to his feet.
Sitkin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Isaev keeps working.
Sitkin wants to stand but Isaev is controlling his arm.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Isaev tries to close the distance and clinch but Sitkin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Isaev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sitkin counters with a nice low kick that buckles Isaev's knee momentarily.

Isaev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sitkin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Isaev is looking to take a break and control but Sitkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sitkin manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Isaev wants to control from the top but Sitkin keeps moving.
Isaev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sitkin is keeping the position for now.

Sitkin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sitkin is breathing heavily.
Sitkin has a closed guard, preventing Isaev from standing up.
Sitkin keeping moving, preventing Isaev from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sitkin trying to keep a closed guard but Isaev is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Isaev postures up in Sitkin's guard and throws a big left but Sitkin blocks it.

Sitkin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Isaev is aware though and is defending well.
Isaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Sitkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Isaev tries to free his leg and advance position but Sitkin is retaining full guard.
Sitkin is trying to control the position but Isaev postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sitkin misses with a two punch combination.
Isaev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Sitkin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sitkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Isaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Isaev keeping full guard, as Sitkin tries to pass.
Isaev trying to control the position.

Isaev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sitkin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sitkin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sitkin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitaliy Sitkin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Isaev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Isaev tries to stand and escape but Sitkin is controlling the position.
Isaev wants to take a breather but Sitkin is having none of it.

Sitkin actively working from the bottom here.
Isaev is looking to advance position but Sitkin won't allow it.
Isaev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Isaev trying to mount his opponent but Sitkin defends it.
Isaev is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sitkin actively working from the bottom here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Isaev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sitkin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Isaev looking to control.
Isaev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Isaev will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Sitkin controlling from the top position.
Isaev working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Isaev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sitkin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
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.
Isaev is trying to control Sitkin's posture but Sitkin avoids it.
Sitkin in side control, throwing shots but Isaev defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sitkin in side control lands a decent elbow.
Isaev is looking for a sweep.
Sitkin wants to control but Isaev is keeping him busy.
Sitkin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Isaev on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Isaev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Sitkin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Isaev keeping full guard, as Sitkin tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Isaev trying to control the position.
Isaev looking for a sweep. Not yet Isaev, not yet.
Isaev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Isaev pulls Sitkin in to control the position.
Sitkin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Isaev is trying to keep Sitkin in close.
Sitkin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitaliy Sitkin dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Sitkin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Isaev wants to pass the guard but Sitkin is keeping the position.

Isaev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sitkin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Isaev has managed to get both his arms back between Sitkin's legs - danger averted.
Isaev wants to control from the top but Sitkin keeps moving.
Isaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Isaev wants to control from the top but Sitkin keeps moving.
Isaev wants to stand but Sitkin is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sitkin keeping moving, preventing Isaev from controlling successfully.

Isaev is posturing up here but Sitkin has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Isaev tries to roll out but it's too tight and Isaev has to tap! Slick submission there by Sitkin!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Vitaliy Sitkin!