PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aslanbek Barayev (ranked 847 p4p, 96 weight class) and Sisu Sisu (ranked 350 p4p, 44 weight class). Barayev comes to the cage accompanied by Antirespect - There. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barayev
vs
Sisu

173 cm
26
148 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

170 cm
19
150 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Woodhouse's

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aslanbek Barayev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sisu Sisu!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sisu tries to keep at a distance but Barayev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sisu trying to stall but Barayev improves his position.

Sisu has Barayev pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sisu pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Barayev tumbling to the mat - Sisu dives into Barayev's guard.
Sisu looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Barayev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sisu slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sisu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sisu advances position into side control!
Sisu controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barayev manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Barayev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sisu is keen to just control but Barayev is a slippery customer.
Sisu wants to free his trapped foot but Barayev is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sisu takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Barayev is looking for a sweep. Sisu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sisu not doing much here.

Barayev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sisu pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barayev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Barayev is looking for a triangle but Sisu pushes his legs off easily.
Sisu is pushing down on Barayev's leg trying to pass to half guard. Barayev is fighting to maintain full guard but Sisu has managed to sneak the leg through.
Barayev is staying active underneath Sisu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sisu is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Barayev wants to control but Sisu is keeping busy.

Barayev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sisu slows the pace down in half guard.

Barayev looking for submissions off his back.
Sisu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sisu trying to advance position but Barayev counters by regaining guard.

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.

Barayev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sisu passes into side control.
Sisu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barayev keeps working.
Sisu taking a breather here.
Barayev can't do much from the bottom here.
Barayev has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sisu connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Barayev some visible discomfort.
Sisu cracks Barayev with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sisu Sisu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sisu looks to score with a jab to the body but Barayev is just out of range.
Sisu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barayev staying out of range there.
Barayev tries to clinch up.
Sisu's coach down at ELITE Island Gym - 19 Elite Coaches was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Sisu's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Sisu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sisu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Barayev is looking for a sweep.
Sisu trying to control the action but Barayev is working from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barayev wants to control but Sisu postures up.
Barayev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sisu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sisu working away.
Barayev prevents Sisu from moving into mount.
Sisu passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Barayev!
Sisu prevents Barayev from getting the reversal.
Sisu controlling from the full mount.
Sisu tries to control but Barayev wriggling away.
Sisu prevents Barayev from getting the reversal.
Barayev taking shots to the head.
Barayev is squirming around, avoiding Sisu's attempts to control the action.
Sisu controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barayev wants to hold on but Sisu pushes him away.
Sisu lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sisu looking to control but Barayev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sisu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sisu prevents Barayev from getting the reversal.
Sisu trying to control but Barayev is having none of it.
Barayev is looking to improve his position but Sisu isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sisu controlling the position easily from mount.
Sisu looking to control but Barayev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sisu controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barayev is desperately trying to improve his position but Sisu has a good base and remains in mount.
Sisu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sisu can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barayev is looking to escape.

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.
Barayev keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sisu content just to control the position here.
Sisu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Barayev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sisu controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sisu avoids the attempt from Barayev to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sisu Sisu 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!

Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Sisu pushes him off.
Sisu just misses with a punch to the body.
As Sisu tries to get set, Barayev tries to push him back and clinch up but Sisu manages to avoid the attempt.
Sisu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sisu just misses with a punch to the body.
Barayev wants to clinch.

Barayev forces Sisu back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sisu goes for a takedown attempt but Barayev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sisu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A slow jab from Sisu misses its intended target.
Barayev is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sisu.
Sisu looks to score with a jab to the body but Barayev is just out of range.
Sisu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barayev moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barayev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sisu or perhaps it was just good defense by Barayev, which made it look bad.

Sisu darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Barayev actively working from the bottom here.
Sisu content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Barayev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barayev is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sisu looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Barayev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Barayev actively working from the bottom here.

Barayev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sisu winds up and cracks Barayev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sisu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sisu passes to full mount!
Sisu controlling from mount.
Barayev manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Barayev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sisu performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sisu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barayev tries to get to full guard but Sisu has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sisu in particular looking to stall.

Barayev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sisu pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sisu has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sisu Sisu really dominated that round.
That's time! Barayev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barayev is looking to clinch but Sisu is avoiding it.
Sisu tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barayev defends well and Sisu ends up having to push Barayev into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Barayev tries to counter by clinching up but Sisu breaks away and moves out of range.
Barayev wants to clinch up but Sisu keeps it at a distance.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Sisu is avoiding it.
Sisu feints the counter takedown.
Barayev wants to clinch but Sisu slips to the side

and Sisu counters with a single leg into guard. Barayev didn't expect that.
Sisu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Barayev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Barayev is looking for a triangle but Sisu pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sisu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barayev has his foot on Sisu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sisu works his way back into a safe position though.

Sisu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sisu not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Let's hope that Sisu 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Barayev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sisu passes into half guard.

Barayev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sisu pulls his head out easily.
Sisu sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sisu's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sisu trying to mount his opponent but Barayev defends it.
Barayev wants to control but Sisu is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Barayev tries to clinch up.

Sisu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Barayev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sisu pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Sisu 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.

Barayev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sisu pulls his head out easily.
Sisu controlling the pace.
Barayev trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sisu trying to pass the guard but Barayev defending well.
Sisu controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sisu Sisu dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Sisu. Barayev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Sisu pushes him off.
Sisu throws a series of punches but Barayev avoids them all with ease.
Barayev seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Sisu throws the left hand but Barayev avoids the punch easily.
Barayev is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sisu.
Barayev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sisu is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Barayev rather than just go for the knockout.
Barayev wants to clinch.
Barayev tries to clinch

and Sisu counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sisu trying to control the action but Barayev is working from the bottom.

Barayev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sisu pulls his head out easily.
Sisu seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sisu Sisu has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barayev is looking to control Sisu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barayev avoid being mounted?
Barayev is trying to get back to full guard.
Sisu controlling the pace.
Barayev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sisu is working away from the top position though.
Aslanbek Barayev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Sisu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sisu is trying to control the action in half guard but Barayev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Sisu looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Sisu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barayev keeping moving, preventing Sisu from controlling successfully.
Sisu's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sisu tries to free his leg and advance position but Barayev is retaining full guard.

Sisu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barayev throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sisu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sisu not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sisu Sisu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
More stalling from Sisu.
Sisu with more of the same as he continues to hold on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Barayev is looking for a triangle but Sisu pushes his legs off easily.
Sisu sitting in guard here, content to control.

Barayev has his foot on Sisu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sisu works his way back into a safe position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sisu wants to control from the top but Barayev keeps moving.

Sisu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sisu Sisu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sisu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 45:50
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 45:50
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sisu Sisu! Sisu Sisu retains his featherweight title!