PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Buvaisar Saitiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Konap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saitiev comes to the cage accompanied by Gimme Shelter Rolling stones. Buvaisar Saitiev had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Saitiev
vs
Konap

155 cm
26
184 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

188 cm
27
190 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Buvaisar Saitiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felipe Konap!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saitiev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Konap did well to prevent Saitiev getting side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Konap is trying to get back to full guard.
Saitiev is keen to just control but Konap is a slippery customer.
Saitiev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Still in half guard, Saitiev seems content to control.
Konap tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Saitiev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saitiev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Saitiev controlling the pace.
Saitiev working over Konap with some ground and pound. Konap looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Saitiev working over Konap with some ground and pound. Konap looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Konap wants to improve his position but Saitiev is controlling well.
Saitiev 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.
Konap is trying to stand up here but Saitiev is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konap is trying to get back to full guard.
Konap is trying to maintain the position but Saitiev is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Saitiev lands a nice short elbow.

Konap actively working from the bottom here.
Saitiev is trying to control the action in half guard but Konap is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Konap is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ground and pound from Saitiev.
Ground and pound from Saitiev.
Konap is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev drops an elbow to the side of Konap's head.
Saitiev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Saitiev wants to control but Konap is keeping him busy.
Saitiev is thwarting Konap's attempts to control the position.
Saitiev lands with a punch from half guard.
Saitiev is pressing down on Konap's thigh, looking to free his foot. Konap is holding on for now.
Konap has hold of Saitiev's hands but Saitiev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Saitiev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Konap really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saitiev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Konap wants to improve his position but Saitiev is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Konap with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Konap can do anything to dispel that myth.
Saitiev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ground and pound from Saitiev.

Konap looking for submissions off his back.
Saitiev is controlling the pace.
Saitiev winds up and cracks Konap with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saitiev content to control rather than advance.
Saitiev lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev lands strikes from half guard.
Konap on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Saitiev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Saitiev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Konap regains full guard. Nicely done.
Saitiev distracts Konap with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Saitiev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Konap looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Konap looking to control but Saitiev passes into half guard.
Saitiev working Konap over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buvaisar Saitiev dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Konap comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Saitiev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Saitiev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Konap is trying to get back to full guard.
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. Saitiev connects with a nice short shot to Konap's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Saitiev lands a nice short elbow.
Saitiev content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitiev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Saitiev winds up and cracks Konap with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Saitiev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Konap is looking to control Saitiev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Konap avoid being mounted?
Saitiev content to control rather than advance.
Saitiev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Konap is trying to stand.
Saitiev slips a nice elbow through Konap's hands, connecting with Konap's forehead.
Saitiev is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev working the head and body with strikes.
Saitiev lands strikes from half guard.
Konap wants to improve his position but Saitiev is controlling well.
Saitiev working the head and body with strikes.
Saitiev stalling.
Saitiev wants to pass to mount but Konap is defending the position.
Saitiev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konap is pressing down on Saitiev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Saitiev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Saitiev works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Saitiev passes to side control.
Konap is trying to get back to half guard.
Saitiev advances to mount.
Saitiev working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Saitiev looking to control and managing it successfully.
Konap keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Saitiev cracks Konap with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saitiev lands a big shot there that rocks Konap but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Konap really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Konap is breathing heavily.
Saitiev trying to control but Konap is having none of it.
Buvaisar Saitiev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saitiev lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Konap hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buvaisar Saitiev dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Saitiev slips under a jab.
Konap takes a swing at Saitiev's ribcage but misses.

Saitiev gets a takedown into half guard.
Saitiev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Saitiev is trying to control the action in half guard but Konap is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Saitiev uses his free foot to push down on Konap's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Konap.
Saitiev lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Konap is trying desperately to improve position.
BOOM! Saitiev connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitiev looking to control but Konap is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Konap tries to hold on but Saitiev pushes him away.
Saitiev prevents Konap from getting the reversal.
Saitiev fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Saitiev with a couple of short strikes.
Saitiev controlling from the full mount.
Saitiev tries to control but Konap wriggling away.
Konap is trying to escape the mount.
Felipe Konap has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Konap is in a horrible position here. Saitiev smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Saitiev lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Saitiev dominating with strikes here.
Konap is wriggling around trying to escape.
Saitiev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Konap can do to turn this around?
Konap takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Saitiev cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saitiev with good strikes from the mount here!
Saitiev is landing with some decent strikes but Konap is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Saitiev with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Saitiev punishing his opponent with strikes.
Saitiev landing strikes from the mount and Konap is in trouble!
Saitiev controlling from the full mount.
Konap tries to hold on but Saitiev pushes him away.
Saitiev lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Konap hang on?
Saitiev landing strikes from the mount and Konap is in trouble!
Saitiev scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Konap?
Saitiev in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Saitiev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Konap's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saitiev lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Konap hang on?

Konap is rocked!
Saitiev breaks from Konap's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Konap is still in real trouble! Can Saitiev finish him?
Konap really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Saitiev postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Konap in real trouble here! The ref calls for Konap to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Buvaisar Saitiev!