PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saul Tigh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Lapis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapis comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Once Solemn kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Saul Tigh could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Andrey Lapis's chin.

Tigh
vs
Lapis

182 cm
24
180 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

178 cm
22
185 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Saul Tigh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Lapis!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapis misses with a double jab.
Tigh needs to keep his hands up - Lapis had a free shot at his head there.
Tigh closes the distance and clinches up with Lapis, looking for a takedown. Tigh pushes Lapis against the cage but Lapis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lapis scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Saul Tigh has been cut.
Tigh doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Lapis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lapis.

Lapis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tigh.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saul Tigh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tigh gets a double leg takedown into Lapis's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lapis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tigh passes Lapis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lapis is trying to get back to full guard.
Tigh is trying to control the action in half guard but Lapis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapis wants to control but Tigh is keeping busy.
Lapis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lapis is looking to control Tigh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lapis avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up. Andrey Lapis was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Tigh throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lapis was covering up waiting for the punch and Tigh finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Lapis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tigh can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tigh trying to control the position from guard on top but Lapis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tigh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lapis is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapis controls Tigh momentarily but Tigh frees himself.

Lapis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tigh defends it easily.
Lapis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tigh trying to control but Lapis is working from the bottom.
Tigh postures up.

Lapis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lapis is adopting a defensive guard.
Tigh is pushing down on Lapis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lapis is fighting to maintain full guard but Tigh has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapis holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Lapis won't allow Tigh to pass to mount.
Tigh thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lapis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tigh passes into side control, despite Lapis's attempt to control the position.
We've been hearing that Tigh has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Lapis is trying to get back to half guard.

Tigh tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
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You can see the frustration on Lapis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapis tries to bench press Tigh off him but Tigh keeps the position.
Tigh cracks Lapis with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lapis is trying to get back to his feet.
Tigh trying to control the position but Lapis is working away.
Tigh scoring with punches from side control.
Lapis is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lapis is not content to let Tigh control the position.
Tigh lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lapis is not content to let Tigh control the position.
Tigh working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Saul Tigh will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Saul Tigh's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lapis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Tigh shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tigh showed some decent athleticism there.
Lapis is trying to get back to full guard.

Lapis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lapis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lapis trying to control here.
Tigh lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tigh is working for a kimura but Lapis is defending it quite comfortably.
Lapis trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tigh looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Lapis wants to control but Tigh is keeping busy.
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. Tigh connects with a nice short shot to Lapis's temple.
Tigh wants to take a breather but Lapis is having none of it.

Lapis actively working from the bottom here.
Lapis won't allow Tigh to pass to mount.
Lapis preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Lapis manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lapis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tigh is aware though and is defending well.
Tigh trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Lapis manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
My spies in St Petersburg MMA Gym inform me that Lapis has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Tigh lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lapis!
Tigh breaks from Lapis's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tigh breaks from Lapis's wrist control and lands an elbow.
A nice elbow there by Tigh.
Lapis wants to hold on but Tigh pushes him away.
Lapis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lapis tries to hold on but Tigh pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tigh landing punches.
Tigh landing strikes, looking to finish!

Lapis is rocked!
Tigh postures up and throws a big right hand. BOOM! Right on the button! Lapis is out cold - huge knockout for Tigh!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Saul Tigh!
Our winner, Saul Tigh, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.