PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Paige (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CJ Saaim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Paige
vs
Saaim

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 New York, Mike Paige!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, CJ Saaim!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Columbo Gatti and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paige lands a jab.
Mike Paige seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paige's corner calls for a 1-2. Paige obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Saaim closes the distance and clinches.

Saaim gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Paige is looking to stand up but Saaim isn't so interested in that idea.
Saaim is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Saaim prevents Paige from getting back to his feet.

Paige is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Saaim jumps into guard, dragging Paige to the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Paige gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saaim moves into the clinch.
Paige tries to circle away but Saaim has him pinned against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Saaim.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Saaim is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Paige can't fight it off and eventually Saaim manages to take the fight to the floor. Paige looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Paige kicks Saaim off and gets to his feet.

Saaim closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Saaim lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paige wants to get back to his feet but Saaim is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Saaim wants to control from the top but Paige keeps moving.

Saaim drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saaim jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saaim is looking to work some ground and pound but Paige has wrist control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saaim stands and throws Paige's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Saaim looks up at the clock and then as Paige takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Saaim smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paige is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Saaim has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Saaim scoring with punches and elbows.

Paige throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Saaim dives in and scores a takedown into Paige's guard.

Paige scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Paige fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Paige connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Saaim closes the distance and clinches.
Paige wants to break the clinch but can't.
Paige is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saaim tries to pull guard but Paige holds him up against the cage and eventually Saaim drops back down to his feet.

Saaim breaks from the clinch.
Saaim has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Paige fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Paige sizes up Saaim with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Saaim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saaim has Paige pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Paige manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Saaim wants a takedown.
Mike Paige has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of CJ Saaim.
Saaim looks winded!
Paige has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Saaim changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Paige fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Paige dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Saaim moves forwards but Paige connects with a nice, crisp jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Saaim works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Paige pushes Saaim off and gets back to his feet.
Saaim gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Paige! Saaim is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mike Paige!