|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Saki (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.
 |
|
 |
| 187 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
|
190 cm
21
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart |
|
BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Saki!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Alyssa Summers and Joseph Jones.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben avoids the head kick by Saki.
Saki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leben misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Leben fails to land the takedown.
Saki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Leben has taken the fight to the clinch.
Leben drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Saki jumps guard and drags Leben to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Saki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saki has his foot on Leben's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leben works his way back into a safe position though.
Leben avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Leben trying to control but Saki is working from the bottom.
Saki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leben would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Leben has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Leben drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Leben jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Leben sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Leben trying to control the position from guard on top but Saki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saki keeping full guard, as Leben tries to pass.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Saki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saki throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saki throws a head kick that misses.
Saki shoots in but Leben avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Saki looks gassed!
Saki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Leben shoots in but Saki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Leben. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Leben tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leben closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Saki to the mat! Saki manages to get full guard.
Leben trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Leben missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Leben throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leben trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leben wants to control from the top but Saki keeps moving.
Leben postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben trying to control the position from guard on top but Saki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saki darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Leben avoids the head kick by Saki.
Saki stuffs the takedown attempt from Leben. Leben gets slowly back to his feet.
Leben closes the distance and clinches up with Saki, looking for a takedown. Leben pushes Saki against the cage but Saki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Saki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Leben throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Saki's head.
Saki misses with a head kick.
Leben shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saki but Saki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice body kick from Leben.
Leben tries to clinch up.
Leben tries to clinch up.
Leben misses with a takedown attempt
and Saki counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Saki misses with a hook. Leben ducked under it nicely.
Leben gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Saki counters with a single leg into guard. Leben didn't expect that.
Saki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Leben manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Saki has Leben in his guard.
Saki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Saki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saki keeping moving, preventing Leben from controlling successfully.
Leben is really struggling to control Saki but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Eric Saki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Saki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leben misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saki misses the shot to the body.
Saki fails to land the takedown.
Chris Leben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leben clinches but Saki breaks the clinch
and Saki counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Leben thinking.
Leben tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saki swivels and escapes.
Saki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leben swivels and escapes.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Saki.
Saki stuffs the takedown attempt from Leben. Leben gets slowly back to his feet.
Leben moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saki throws a head kick that misses
and Leben counters with a solid body kick.
Leben fakes the leg kick and cracks Saki in the body.
Leben gets the takedown into side control.
Saki is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leben decides to stand back up. Leben steps back and let's Saki get back to his feet.
Leben rushes Saki and presses him up against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saki just stands there and leans against the cage.
Saki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leben goes for a takedown in the clinch but Saki prevents it.
Leben jumps guard but Saki stands there with Leben around his waist. Leben gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Saki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Leben landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Leben tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saki smiles and moves away.
Leben shoots in but no luck this time.
Saki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Leben tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Leben throws a right hand that Saki ducks under and follows up with a left that Saki also avoids with ease.
Leben tries to clinch but Saki is having none of it.
Leben is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saki throws a head kick that misses
and Leben counters with a nice leg kick.
Leben shoots in but no luck this time.
Leben doesn't manage to clinch there - Saki circles away.
Saki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leben circles away.
Horrible takedown by Leben or perhaps it was just good defense by Saki which made him look bad.
Chris Leben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saki scores a takedown into full mount!
Leben is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Saki working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Saki jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Leben is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Leben and Saki has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Saki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Leben gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Saki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Leben sees it coming and defends easily.
Leben looking for submissions off his back.
Saki working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saki is trying to work for a kimura but Leben is defending well.
Leben wants to get back to his feet.
Leben slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Leben is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saki is controlling him.
Saki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saki drops back looking for a leg! Leben is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Leben manages to kick Saki off! Saki jumps back into Leben's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Chris Leben dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Nice sprawl there from Saki as Leben shoots in.
Leben with a poor takedown
and Saki counters with a shoot takedown. Leben fights it but they end up in guard.
Saki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saki passes into half guard.
Saki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Leben is just riding it out for now. Saki eventually gives up the hold.
Leben moves into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saki postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saki drops back looking for a leg! Leben is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Leben manages to kick Saki off! Saki jumps back into Leben's guard.
Leben has his foot on Saki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saki works his way back into a safe position though.
Saki drops back looking for a leg! Leben is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Leben manages to kick Saki off! Saki jumps back into Leben's guard.
Saki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Leben working for a triangle but Saki defends it easily.
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.
Leben throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Saki won't allow Leben to sweep him here.
Saki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saki stopping the sweep attempt from Leben.
Saki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Leben dives on top into guard.
Leben trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Leben works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Saki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saki actively working from the bottom here.
Saki tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Leben has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Leben throwing strikes here but Saki is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saki regains half guard.
Saki is trying to get back to full guard.
Leben looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Saki looking for submissions off his back.
Saki looking for submissions off his back.
And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Saki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Saki!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
52% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
