PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Taisumov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Sassano Jnr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taisumov comes to the cage accompanied by eRa- Enae Volare Mezzo. Maxim Taisumov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Taisumov
vs
Sassano Jnr

174 cm
23
166 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

180 cm
22
166 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maxim Taisumov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Sassano Jnr!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Franklyn Lucas and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Taisumov.
Sassano Jnr dodges the punch combination from Taisumov.
Sassano Jnr steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Taisumov.
Tony Sassano Jnr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sassano Jnr looks to score with a jab to the body but Taisumov is just out of range.
Taisumov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Taisumov tries to bum rush Sassano Jnr with a series of wild strikes but Sassano Jnr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sassano Jnr slips a jab and a cross from Taisumov.
Despite the aggression on Sassano Jnr's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sassano Jnr misses with a lunging right hand
and Taisumov counters with a one-two to the body.
Sassano Jnr cracks Taisumov with an open hand slap.
Sassano Jnr stalks Taisumov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taisumov's face. Taisumov staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Maxim Taisumov has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A looping hook to the body misses from Sassano Jnr. Taisumov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taisumov appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sassano Jnr lands a nice looking kick to the body. Taisumov takes a step back to recover.
Sassano Jnr looks to land a combination but Taisumov avoids it well.
Sassano Jnr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taisumov.
Taisumov appears to be looking for a big counter.
Taisumov takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sassano Jnr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sassano Jnr fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Taisumov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sassano Jnr misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Taisumov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sassano Jnr throws a lazy right hand but Taisumov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Sassano Jnr has Taisumov up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sassano Jnr.

Sassano Jnr has hold of one of Taisumov's legs. Taisumov is fighting the takedown attempt but Sassano Jnr gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Taisumov keeping moving, preventing Sassano Jnr from controlling successfully.

Taisumov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sassano Jnr defends it easily.

Taisumov looking for a guillotine here but Sassano Jnr defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sassano Jnr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taisumov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Taisumov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Taisumov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sassano Jnr stacks Taisumov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sassano Jnr!

Sassano Jnr goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Taisumov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sassano Jnr but great work by Taisumov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sassano Jnr tries to bench press Taisumov off him but Taisumov keeps the position.
Sassano Jnr wants to control but Taisumov postures up.
Sassano Jnr looking for a sweep but Taisumov has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Taisumov with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Taisumov has control of Sassano Jnr's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Sassano Jnr regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sassano Jnr is looking to improve his position but Taisumov isn't that keen on the idea.
Taisumov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sassano Jnr is looking to escape.
Sassano Jnr is looking to improve his position but Taisumov isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.

Taisumov swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Sassano Jnr is now in Taisumov's guard. A big mistake from Taisumov there, giving up the dominant position!

Taisumov working for a triangle but Sassano Jnr defends it easily.
Taisumov is trying to keep Sassano Jnr in close.

Taisumov is looking for a triangle here but Sassano Jnr uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Sassano Jnr working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Taisumov regains half guard.
Taisumov won't allow Sassano Jnr to pass to mount.
Well, if Sassano Jnr 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.

Sassano Jnr is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Sassano Jnr will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maxim Taisumov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sassano Jnr lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sassano Jnr looks to clinch
and Taisumov counters with a left and a right that stings Sassano Jnr.
Sassano Jnr lands with a right hand.
Taisumov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sassano Jnr lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sassano Jnr ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sassano Jnr darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sassano Jnr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Sassano Jnr has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Taisumov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Taisumov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sassano Jnr defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sassano Jnr trying to control the position from guard on top but Taisumov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sassano Jnr passes Taisumov's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sassano Jnr is working for a submission of some sort.
Taisumov is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sassano Jnr is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Taisumov is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Sassano Jnr has latched onto it... Big trouble! Sassano Jnr pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Taisumov is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Sassano Jnr!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tony Sassano Jnr!
Tony Sassano Jnr was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.