PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Sainty (ranked 753 p4p, 90 weight class) and Serafim Lupei (ranked 728 p4p, 87 weight class). Daniel Sainty could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Serafim Lupei's chin.

Sainty
vs
Lupei

189 cm
30
150 lbs
16 - 15 - 0

184 cm
22
167 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Sainty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Serafim Lupei!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lupei moves into the clinch successfully.
Lupei goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right from Lupei.

Lupei breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lupei walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sainty checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sainty really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sainty misses with a body kick.
Sainty goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sainty tries to clinch up but Lupei circles away and keeps his distance.

Lupei moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lupei lands a shoulder strike.
Sainty goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lupei.
We've been hearing reports that Sainty has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Lupei tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sainty's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupei has a couple of punches blocked by Sainty.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lupei creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sainty misses with a body punch.
Sainty dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Good body shot from Lupei.
Lupei misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lupei digs a right hand underneath Sainty's ribcage. Sainty let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sainty tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lupei struggles to land a body shot inside as Sainty controls his hands.
Lupei content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Lupei tries to work over Sainty's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sainty fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lupei misses with the head strike.
A nice left hand lands by Lupei.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lupei misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sainty blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lupei makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sainty can't find room to land a body shot as Lupei controls the action.
Lupei misses with a punch to the body.
Lupei can't find room to land a body shot as Sainty controls the action.

Lupei pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lupei fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sainty misses with a kick to the body.
Lupei pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sainty stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lupei.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sainty uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lupei.
As Lupei backs away, Sainty returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Sainty shoots in for a takedown but Lupei shows good takedown defense.
Serafim Lupei is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lupei throws a leg kick that misses.
Lupei checks a leg kick.
Sainty shoots in for a takedown but Lupei shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Sainty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lupei lands the left hand.
Lupei keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lupei flicks out a counter leg kick but Sainty steps away.
Sainty shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lupei is looking for the big counter here.
Sainty throws a leg kick but Lupei checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sainty connects with the punch.

Lupei moves into the clinch.
Lupei swings wildly with an uppercut but Sainty uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sainty tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lupei misses with a punch to the body.
Sainty misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sainty's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A right hand to the body from Lupei.
Lupei throws a punch but it's blocked by Sainty.
Lupei swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lupei misses with a hook to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sainty is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serafim Lupei 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.

Lupei throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sainty counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sainty pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lupei is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lupei is on top in guard.

Lupei trying to control but Sainty is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sainty looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sainty is trying to control the position but Lupei postures up.
Lupei throwing strikes from guard but Sainty blocks nicely.
Lupei trying to control the position from guard on top but Sainty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lupei has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lupei throwing strikes from guard but Sainty blocks nicely.
Sainty avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sainty not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lupei accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Sainty working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lupei doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lupei manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lupei looking to pass the guard.
Lupei trying to control the position from guard on top but Sainty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sainty doesn't manage to clinch there - Lupei circles away.
Lupei fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sainty.

Sainty manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lupei on his heels. He'll look to pass Lupei's guard now, I'm sure.
Lupei manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sainty manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sainty has his foot on Lupei's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lupei works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lupei engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sainty keeping moving, preventing Lupei from controlling successfully.
Lupei pushes down on Sainty's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sainty won't allow Lupei to pass to mount.

Lupei is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sainty doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lupei.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lupei looks to land a strike but Sainty avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Lupei tries to free his leg and advance position but Sainty is retaining full guard.

Sainty is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lupei defends well.
Lupei throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lupei throws a big right hand that misses.

Sainty is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Lupei has his hands clasped together but Sainty extends and breaks Lupei's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Sainty.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Daniel Sainty!
Daniel Sainty made sure to mention his sponsor, IniTech Nutrition in his post fight interview.