PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Goran Sablich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Good Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sablich
vs
Fighter

180 cm
27
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
27
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Goran Sablich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Good Fighter!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fighter shoots in for a takedown but Sablich shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sablich closes the distance and clinches up with Fighter, looking for a takedown. Sablich pushes Fighter against the ropes but Fighter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sablich could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Fighter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sablich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Fighter shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Fighter was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sablich keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Fighter goes for an armbar but Sablich turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Sablich.
Sablich won't allow Fighter to sweep him here.
Sablich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fighter is keeping the position for now.
Sablich sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fighter's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sablich trying to control the action but Fighter is working from the bottom.
Fighter wants to get back to full guard.
Fighter moves into full guard.

Fighter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sablich defends well.
Fighter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sablich looking to pass the guard.
Sablich is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sablich stops Fighter from standing up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Fighter holds on and takes a little breather.
Fighter being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Goran Sablich just wasn't active enough.

Sablich closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fighter did well to prevent Sablich getting side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Fighter wants to control but Sablich is keeping busy.
Sablich stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter trying to hold on to Sablich's head to control him but Sablich postures up.
Sablich lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Fighter is trying to maintain the position but Sablich is very close to passing his half guard.
Sablich is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sablich is keen to just control but Fighter is a slippery customer.
Fighter wants to get back to his feet.
Sablich trying to pass the guard but Fighter defending well.
Fighter moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sablich controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fighter working a defensive guard here.
Sablich controlling from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fighter wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fighter closes the distance and clinches.

Sablich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sablich tries to close the distance and clinch but Fighter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sablich rushes Fighter and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Fighter drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sablich jumps into guard, dragging Fighter to the mat.
Fighter postures up and lands a big shot to Sablich's brow.
Fighter won't allow Sablich to sweep him here.
Fighter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fighter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sablich swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sablich is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sablich working a defensive guard here.
Fighter working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sablich is trying to hold Fighter in close to prevent damage but Fighter has managed to pass into half guard.
Fighter trying to control the action but Sablich is working from the bottom.
Goran Sablich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fighter is looking to advance position but Sablich won't allow it.
Fighter is thwarting Sablich's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter trying to control the action but Sablich is working from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

We're going to have a standup here because Goran Sablich wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sablich enables Fighter to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sablich manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sablich is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fighter wants to control from the top but Sablich keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sablich trying to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sablich controlling Fighter's posture.

We're going to have a standup here because Goran Sablich wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sablich shoots for a takedown but Fighter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fighter slaps away a takedown attempt from Sablich, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Fighter feints and as Sablich raises his hands in defense, Fighter changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sablich is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sablich keeping moving, preventing Fighter from controlling successfully.

Sablich has his foot on Fighter's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fighter works his way back into a safe position though.
Sablich keeping full guard, as Fighter tries to pass.
Sablich looking for a sweep. Not yet Sablich, not yet.

Sablich throws his legs up looking for a submission but Fighter uses it to pass to side control.
Sablich takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fighter advances to full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Good Fighter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Fighter works Sablich's body with a nice hook.
Sablich lands a high kick!
Sablich looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Fighter closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sablich to the mat! Sablich manages to get full guard.
Fighter looking to sit in guard and control but Sablich gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fighter manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Fighter moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sablich has worked his arm free - good work by Sablich!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter trying to control the position but Sablich is working away.
Fighter tries to stand but Sablich controls the position and pulls Fighter into his guard.
Fighter has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sablich is proving hard to escape from.
Sablich wants to control the position but Fighter says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter drops an elbow to the side of Sablich's head.
Sablich is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Fighter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sablich with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fighter lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fighter with the ground and pound but Sablich uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Sablich is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Fighter has his hands clasped together but Sablich extends an breaks Fighter's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Sablich.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Goran Sablich!