PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saem Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marat Sanayev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Black
vs
Sanayev

185 cm
22
220 lbs
7 - 7 - 1

188 cm
23
291 lbs
10 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saem Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Marat Sanayev!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanayev looks to clinch

and Black counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sanayev wants to get back to his feet but Black is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Black stands up over Sanayev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Black lands a couple of digs.
Sanayev wants to stand but Black is controlling the position.
Black wants to pass the guard but Sanayev is keeping the position.
Black is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanayev is looking to stand up but Black isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanayev is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanayev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Black takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Saem Black has been cut.
Sanayev falls off balance throwing a combination

and Black counters with a shoot takedown. Sanayev fights it but they end up in guard.
Black is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sanayev is looking to stand up but Black isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanayev has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Black has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Black working some strikes from top position.
Sanayev wants to stand up but Black is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sanayev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Black changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Marat Sanayev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanayev moves to clinch but Black breaks away

and Black counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sanayev!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sanayev some visible discomfort.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black prevents Sanayev from escaping the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Black is looking to take a break and control but Sanayev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Black works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sanayev is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Black asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Black controls the position from side control.
Black lands a few punches from side control.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanayev keeps working.
Sanayev is trying to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marat Sanayev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanayev throws a half hearted mid kick.
Black half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sanayev missing with a left hand there. Black was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Black changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Black tries to keep at a distance but Sanayev has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Sanayev's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saem Black dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Saem Black's cut.
That's time! Black's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanayev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Black circles away quickly and effectively.
Sanayev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Black attempts a counter takedown but Sanayev avoids it well and moves away.
Sanayev tries to clinch but Black is having none of it.
Black attempts a counter takedown but Sanayev avoids it well and moves away.
Sanayev moves in looking to clinch but Black pushes him off.
Sloppy strikes from Sanayev. Those never looked like landing.
Black tries to counter with a takedown but Sanayev is quick to defend against it.
Sanayev throws a head kick that misses

and Black counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sanayev keeping full guard, as Black tries to pass.
Black stands up over Sanayev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanayev has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Black stands up over Sanayev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanayev wants to stand but Black is controlling the position.
Sanayev has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Sanayev wants to get back to his feet but Black is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Black avoids the body shot from Sanayev.
Sanayev misses with a combination

and Black counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Black.
Saem Black overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanayev wants to get back to his feet but Black is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Black stands up over Sanayev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sanayev wants to stand and escape but Black is having none of it.
Black stays in close to Sanayev's body and controls the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sanayev misses with a straight left.
Sanayev misses the jab.
Black swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanayev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sanayev.
Black appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sanayev throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Black half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sanayev tries to clinch up.
Sanayev throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Black dodges the punch combination from Sanayev.
Sanayev misses with a double jab

and Black counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sanayev won't be happy with that.
Sanayev is breathing heavily.
Black cracks Sanayev with a big right hand but Sanayev just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Black moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Sanayev is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Black is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanayev can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Black grinds an elbow into Sanayev's temple.
Sanayev bucks up and tries to throw Black off but instead Black has got his back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black softening up his opponent with strikes here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanayev is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Black landing with strikes.
Black lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Sanayev wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saem Black dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Saem Black's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanayev throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Sanayev misses with a series of wild punches.
Black drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sanayev sprawls and moves away.
Sanayev throws a left and a right that both miss

and Black counters with a shoot takedown. Sanayev fights it but they end up in guard.
Sanayev wants to stand up but Black is controlling him.
Black is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanayev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Black lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanayev wants to stand but Black is controlling the position.
Black trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanayev is looking to stand up but Black isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sanayev looks to land a combination but Black avoids it well.
Black attempts a counter takedown but Sanayev avoids it well and moves away.
Sanayev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Black drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sanayev sprawls and moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Sanayev. Those never looked like landing.
Sanayev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanayev tries to clinch but Black is having none of it.
Black tries to counter with a takedown but Sanayev is quick to defend against it.
Sanayev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Black counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Black.
Black stops Sanayev from standing up.
Black controls from within his opponent's guard.
Black landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black stays in close to Sanayev's body and controls the position.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanayev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black distracts Sanayev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sanayev keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Sanayev wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Black manages to pass to side control.
Sanayev tries to kick Black off but Black keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black controlling the action here.
Sanayev is trying to stand.
Nice strikes from Black there.
Sanayev pushes Black off looking to stand but Black dives back in and keeps control.
Black content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Some wild striking there from Sanayev.
Black appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sanayev lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanayev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Black appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sanayev wants to clinch.
Sanayev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sanayev swinging wildly here.
A punch combination from Sanayev misses.
Black attempts a counter takedown but Sanayev avoids it well and moves away.
Saem Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sanayev takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sanayev smiles and moves away.
Marat Sanayev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some wild striking there from Sanayev.
Black appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marat Sanayev.
I think Black has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saem Black!