PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Samsonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergey Sazonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Aleksandr Samsonov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Samsonov
vs
Sazonov

180 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
17
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Samsonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Sazonov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samsonov lands a high kick!
Samsonov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Samsonov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sazonov.
Samsonov stuffs the takedown.
Samsonov lands a head kick!
Samsonov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Samsonov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Samsonov throws a head kick that misses.
Aleksandr Samsonov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Samsonov lands a really nice looking cross but Sazonov seems unphased.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sazonov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Samsonov is looking to control Sazonov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Samsonov avoid being mounted?
Samsonov is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samsonov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sazonov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Samsonov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sazonov is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Samsonov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sazonov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Samsonov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sazonov is one step ahead there.
Sazonov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Samsonov is breathing heavily.
Sazonov throwing strikes from guard but Samsonov blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Samsonov keeping moving, preventing Sazonov from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Samsonov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sazonov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Samsonov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Aleksandr Samsonov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Samsonov throws a head kick that Sazonov semi-blocks.
Samsonov throws a head kick that misses.

Sazonov gets a takedown into half guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Sazonov has eaten all the pies!
Sazonov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Samsonov defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Sazonov.
Sazonov thows a huge punch but Samsonov dodges it nicely.
Sazonov lands strikes from half guard.
Sazonov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sazonov throwing shots but Samsonov is blocking nicely.
Sazonov thows a huge punch but Samsonov dodges it nicely.
Samsonov is trying to control but can't.
Samsonov is staying active underneath Sazonov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Samsonov wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sazonov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Samsonov circles away.
Sazonov misses with a takedown attempt - Samsonov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Aleksandr Samsonov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergey Sazonov.
Samsonov tries a head kick but it misses.

Sazonov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sazonov is thwarting Samsonov's attempts to control the position.
Samsonov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sazonov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Samsonov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sazonov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aleksandr Samsonov is winning the standup battle so far.
Samsonov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sazonov back to the cage. Samsonov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Samsonov throws a head kick that misses.
Samsonov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sazonov.
Samsonov is pushing Sazonov's head away, looking to escape. Sazonov manages to hold on to the position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samsonov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sazonov throws an elbow but Samsonov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Samsonov is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Sazonov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sazonov trying to control the position but Samsonov is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sazonov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Samsonov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sazonov working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sazonov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Samsonov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Samsonov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sazonov in side control, throwing shots but Samsonov defends.
Sazonov cracks Samsonov with a big right hand but Samsonov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Sazonov stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Sazonov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Samsonov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Samsonov wants to stand up but Sazonov is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sazonov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sazonov cracks Samsonov with a solid left hand.
Sazonov lands a couple of digs.

Sazonov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Samsonov, up you get!
A head kick misses from Samsonov.
Sazonov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sazonov dives in for a single leg takedown but Samsonov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sazonov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Samsonov.
Sazonov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samsonov throws a one two combo.
Samsonov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Samsonov lands with a kick to the temple. Sazonov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Samsonov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As Samsonov backs off Sazonov throws a huge counter combo but Samsonov manages to avoid it all.
Samsonov scores with a head kick.
Aleksandr Samsonov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Samsonov cracks the inside of Sazonov's front leg.
Samsonov throws a nice head kick!
Sazonov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sazonov avoids the head kick by Samsonov.
Samsonov lands a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Samsonov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A punch combination from Samsonov misses.
Samsonov throws a sloppy head kick and Sazonov moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Samsonov.
Samsonov throws a nice head kick!
Sazonov closes the distance and clinches up with Samsonov, looking for a takedown. Sazonov pushes Samsonov against the cage but Samsonov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sazonov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sazonov steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Samsonov. That one must have hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sazonov dives in for a single leg takedown but Samsonov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sazonov tries for a takedown but Samsonov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Aleksandr Samsonov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergey Sazonov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Samsonov throws a nice head kick!
Samsonov scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sazonov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Samsonov counters with a big head kick but Sazonov shrugs it off.
Sazonov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Samsonov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Samsonov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sazonov's sensitive parts.

Sazonov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Samsonov's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sazonov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sazonov looking to sit in guard and control but Samsonov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Samsonov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sazonov can do to turn this around?
Sazonov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samsonov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Samsonov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Samsonov postures up in Sazonov's guard and throws a big left but Sazonov blocks it.
Samsonov is looking to stand up but Sazonov won't let him.
Samsonov pushing down on Sazonov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sazonov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Samsonov prevents Sazonov from standing back up.
Samsonov wants to stand up but Sazonov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Samsonov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samsonov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sazonov takes a step back to recover.
Samsonov throws the left hand but Sazonov avoids the punch easily.
Sazonov tries to counter with a clinch but Samsonov shakes him off and moves away.
Samsonov throws a sloppy head kick and Sazonov moves out of range easily.
Samsonov tries a head kick but it misses.
Samsonov stuffs the takedown attempt from Sazonov. Sazonov gets slowly back to his feet.
Samsonov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sazonov is looking for the big counter here.
Sazonov tries for a takedown but Samsonov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Samsonov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Sazonov with that takedown attempt.
Samsonov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Samsonov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Samsonov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Samsonov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Samsonov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Samsonov throws a right hand that Sazonov ducks under and follows up with a left that Sazonov also avoids with ease.
Sazonov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Aleksandr Samsonov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sazonov fails with the takedown.
Samsonov throws a quick counter head kick but Sazonov was just out of range.
Sergey Sazonov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sazonov sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Samsonov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Samsonov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandr Samsonov!