PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norman Roth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Saitiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saitiev is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Dan Severn Theme. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Roth
vs
Saitiev

187 cm
18
346 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
300 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Norman Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Saitiev!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roth shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Saitiev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Saitiev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Roth wants to sweep here but Saitiev controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saitiev trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Roth manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Saitiev holds on and takes a little breather.
Roth wants to control from the top but Saitiev keeps moving.
Roth wanted to stand there but Saitiev had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roth trying to control but Saitiev is working from the bottom.

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.
Saitiev has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Roth really is a fat lump.
Roth shoots in for a takedown but Saitiev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Roth lands a high kick!

Saitiev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Saitiev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Roth throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Well, if Saitiev is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Saitiev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Roth actively working from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Saitiev leaves Roth with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norman Roth. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Roth gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Saitiev to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Saitiev is looking to pass into half guard but Roth pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Roth is in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Saitiev dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Saitiev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Saitiev slows the pace down in half guard.

Roth looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saitiev moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Roth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitiev is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Roth's shoulder. That is not cool.
Saitiev is continuing to stall.
Saitiev's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Let's hope that Saitiev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roth tries to clinch but Saitiev is having none of it.
Saitiev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roth.
And Saitiev tries to counter it with a takedown but Roth pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Roth falls off balance throwing a combination

and Saitiev counters with a takedown into side control.
Saitiev content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth manages to work his way to half guard, despite Saitiev's best efforts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Roth trying to get back to full guard but Saitiev takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Saitiev controlling from the full mount.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Saitiev.

That's four 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The adventures of Saitiev the control monster continue. Boring.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Saitiev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Roth shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Saitiev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Saitiev controlling the action here.
Roth is looking to get back to full guard here but Saitiev has managed to pass to side control instead.
Saitiev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saitiev taking a breather here.
Aleksandr Saitiev has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth wants to stand up but Saitiev manages to regain full guard.
Saitiev keeping moving, preventing Roth from controlling successfully.
Saitiev 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.
Roth wants to stand and escape but instead Saitiev has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Aleksandr Saitiev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two 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.
Roth keeping full guard, as Saitiev tries to pass.
Roth being controlled here, momentarily.

Roth looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Saitiev passes into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Roth will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

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.
Roth throws a few strikes from the bottom but Saitiev takes advantage and mounts!
Saitiev controlling the position easily from mount.
Norman Roth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Roth is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Saitiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saitiev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 26:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30

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