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00:08The new-comer, Sarukyan, running a four-fight win streak, Islam Makhachev.
00:16They touch him up, Sarukyan in the red, Makhachev in the grey.
00:21Sarukyan's been bowling around fight week with this glint in his eye,
00:25and the only other person that I would compare him to about,
00:28he's actually his teammate, Peter Jan.
00:30It's like he knows something that we don't,
00:33and we're about to find out what that might be.
00:37Lots of kicks to start with, trying to maintain that distance between them,
00:42reminding Makhachev that there's a danger if he rushes forward.
00:45That spinning back kick's not necessarily on the table against the southpaw, though.
00:50What would you say, Paul?
00:52It's interesting, both those guys just slipped right here in this first round.
00:55Very unfortunate.
00:57Yeah, I agree.
00:58Unless you can switch your stance and throw it the other side,
01:00I wouldn't throw.
01:01It's going to throw you off in a position that's probably going to leave you wide open for a take
01:05down, honestly,
01:05because you're going to go to the outside of their body if you miss it.
01:08And give your back.
01:09Yeah, exactly.
01:09Even if you land on the midsection, you slide off.
01:12Guys, this is significant because Makhachev has never been taken down in his UFC career.
01:16Still hasn't been taken down.
01:17Still hasn't been taken down in his UFC, correction.
01:19So it's not significant yet, Jon?
01:21We were talking, Jon.
01:23Sorry.
01:23Sorry.
01:24I thought I was on the cusp of something right here.
01:26Totally kidding.
01:26Totally kidding.
01:29You know, that's why I never did comedy.
01:31It's just timing's always out.
01:34This is good pressure early.
01:37This is a smart idea, though, possibly, to flip the script on.
01:41Makhachev, did you pressure him?
01:42Well.
01:43But then again, you know, if Sorukin's team felt like kicking was the difference in this fight...
01:48Maybe closing distance wasn't the way to go there.
01:50This may be instinct.
01:51This may be instinct kicking in.
01:56Makhachev said that although his full fight winning streak is impressive,
02:00Five is definitely more impressive, and he'll start making some ambitious call-outs.
02:05Oh, lovely.
02:06Straight to mount.
02:08That is exemplary.
02:11What a beautiful sequence.
02:13And he's trapped the arm as well.
02:16Sorukin's only got his left arm to help defend himself.
02:19Terrible position.
02:22Cries of Islam are ringing around.
02:26Look at those heavy hips.
02:27Beautiful butterfly work from Sorukin.
02:29Sorukin, really nice work to create a scramble.
02:31Oh, you've got to watch his neck.
02:32You've got to watch his neck.
02:33Squared up well, but he's going to get snapped down here.
02:38Or need in the face.
02:40Yep.
02:41He blocked that well, though, Sorukin did.
02:43He's trying to throw his arm to the side to create some space.
02:47Oh, nice.
02:48Oh, that's lovely.
02:48Good scramble to top position, though.
02:50Beautiful job.
02:51That's pretty lovely, too.
02:54He's got his neck.
02:55What a great battle this is.
02:57He's in the cage to try to get a better position on it.
03:00He's stepping on the fence to actually prop himself up
03:03to get a better angle on this guillotine.
03:05But I think he's going to give up on it.
03:07Oh, that's inside.
03:08We did see Makachev giving his neck up over and over again
03:11against Nick Lentz.
03:12Yes.
03:12But not one time did he get caught with something.
03:15And if you're going to be able to avoid Nick Lentz's guillotine,
03:20you can be getting out of anybody's guillotine.
03:22Exactly.
03:22Because that guy's got a sneaky, fast guillotine.
03:26It is something that we see quite a lot, though.
03:28He does leave his neck vulnerable.
03:29I mean, obviously, if his defense is so good,
03:31then it might be something he's not going to be worried about too much.
03:34But that also might lead in over Zazna.
03:36Lovely timing there.
03:38Hand on the canvas.
03:39Still not counted as a takedown, I don't believe.
03:41Oh, I know.
03:42I thought we had one there for a second.
03:45Well, I have a...
03:46Over three on the stats at the moment.
03:49Oh, look at that.
03:51Does that count?
03:52No.
03:52No, no, no.
03:53Oh, my goodness.
03:53What a scramble.
03:54Oh, man.
03:54He's wrestling is ridiculous.
03:56Is he going to go far side hook?
03:58Oh, nice work by Makachev to stand up.
04:00They counted that one, Dan.
04:01They counted that one officially.
04:03Significant, John.
04:07Nice work using the butterfly hooks as well
04:09to continue moving the scramble along.
04:13He did the same thing when he was on the floor on his back as well.
04:17Sarukyan won the Tiger Muay Thai tryouts in 2018,
04:21which got him a year's free training accommodation and meals.
04:24This is a fantastic scheme that they have over in Thailand.
04:28Lot of people from all around the world go for that.
04:31Nice, look at that.
04:32That little trip.
04:33Yeah, wrist control again.
04:35He pulls the wrist across the midsection
04:36to twist the body towards the foot sweep
04:39and then blocks the foot.
04:40I like that.
04:41I'm stealing that.
04:42Thank you, Makachev.
04:43Yeah, right.
04:43If you can get that straight to Mount in your next five.
04:46Hey, listen.
04:46Give me...
04:47Let me at least attempt it first hand.
04:49Nice, dirty boxing from Makachev.
04:51Now we've got some space.
04:52Do we see some kicks from Sarukyan here?
04:57Makachev also has the least amount of significant strikes absorbed per minute in UFC history.
05:04Time on the level change with a good sprawl from Makachev.
05:07Last few seconds in this round.
05:09We'll be back with round number two.
05:17Five in St. Petersburg.
05:19Round number two ahead.
05:21And what a contest we have here between Islam Makachev and Arman Sarukyan.
05:27Brilliant wrestling exchanges.
05:29Very difficult to even keep up with it.
05:34Damn, what were the messages between the corners?
05:37I wasn't really sure to be honest, John.
05:39I was more paying attention to the posture of both the fighters.
05:42You know, Makachev, it's the first time he's been under any kind of real wrestling offensive,
05:46where he's had to be on the back foot.
05:47But he seemed very calm and confident in his corner.
05:51The difference here is, you know, how does Sarukyan approach this second round?
05:55Does he continue trying that wrestling offensive,
05:58which really they're kind of butting heads against, the kind of 50-50 in that one?
06:02Or does he start to diversify his attack,
06:04see a few more kicks that may set up the power hands that we know he's got as well?
06:10I'm just really impressed with his wrestling.
06:12I mean, Makachev is one of the best out there.
06:15And he was able to take him down, even if it was for just a split second,
06:19but he was able to mix it in and counter his wrestling and flow with him,
06:23which is impressive all on its own.
06:25One thing that's evident when you shoot on Makachev is that you don't get the takedown defended.
06:31It gets defended and then you get punished for it by getting stuck in a front headlock.
06:34Yeah.
06:35Yeah, this is some really high-level answering though by Sarukyan,
06:39who actually played hockey to a good level,
06:42but really did find his North Star with MMA.
06:45Wrestling was part of that growing up.
06:48But as we see, he does it so very well for mixed martial arts, went high there.
06:53Doing a good job circling to the close side of Makachev here,
06:56circling to the lead leg, taking away that, throws the back kick.
07:00I feel like that would expose his back.
07:02He's got to be careful throwing it, but watch, we say that until he lands it.
07:06Yeah, right.
07:08He's shooting a lot here.
07:10I feel like that entry to the takedown was much more to come up into a clinch position.
07:15And he's got to watch that wrist control from Makachev again.
07:18He's going to grab that far side wrist.
07:20Now he's blocking it, he's trying to fight that wrist control.
07:23He knows that lane.
07:27He knows that trip's there now, he's been caught with it one time.
07:29That's probably what he's trying to do as well, is land that right knee, land that right knee,
07:33and then switch the side.
07:35And that's when he goes with that left foot out and gets that trip.
07:37He doesn't have that full wrist control.
07:39They're just kind of like playing back and forth with who's controlling that hand right now.
07:45He's putting his hand there in that position.
07:48He's trying to actually control Makachev's hand right now.
07:53The cries of Islam ringing around the arena.
07:56They have been behind their man all week.
07:59Oh, there it is again.
08:00So quick.
08:02Just swipes away the leg.
08:05Runs the pipe down to the mat.
08:06But Saruqi does a really good job of getting straight back up.
08:11We may see another contender emerging here in this division, just based on how 50-50 this is.
08:21Some wrist control here.
08:23You can see Saruqi is locked in on the Kimura grip here, but forced to let go of it.
08:28The defense of this kid is ridiculous.
08:29He's got a Kimura.
08:30Still on it.
08:31Still on it.
08:32Still on it.
08:34How insane would that be right now?
08:36Now this is very much a strength-based move, especially when your opponent's wise to what's happening.
08:42But you could potentially use it to just sweep or get some space, force Makachev to have to defend it,
08:48maybe move around, and he could use that to pop back up to his feet.
08:52Or using the butterfly hook as well to control that far side and sweep him over towards the Kimura.
08:57Now he lets go of it.
08:59Saruqi was looking around for some instruction from his corner.
09:02It's Coach Sergei.
09:03Good luck doing anything in here right now.
09:05Yeah.
09:06He left home from his family to actually move in with his coach.
09:10That is really nice.
09:11Years ago.
09:12That hip pressure that he uses to swipe past the guard.
09:15So strong.
09:16Back up to his feet.
09:17That's insane.
09:20Beautiful job.
09:22Both guys.
09:23I mean, the back and forth grappling you're seeing right now.
09:25This is when you see wrestling and MMA grappling at its finest.
09:29And this, to me, is exciting to watch.
09:31You don't know what's going to happen, who's going to end up on top at any different time.
09:35I'm going to put it out there.
09:36I don't, I don't believe that the Makachev camp really thought they were going to be in for this level
09:41of wrestling.
09:41No, I don't think so either.
09:43I think they thought they were going to dominate in that position.
09:48Heading towards the last 30 seconds of this second round now.
09:51It's so difficult to score.
09:52I mean, one takedown of seven for Makachev.
09:55Sorry, two takedowns of seven for Makachev.
09:57One of eight for Saruqi.
09:59I mean, the strikes, ten ahead for Makachev, 37 to 27.
10:04On total strikes.
10:05I mean, it's still razor thin.
10:06The judges don't see that.
10:07Uh-uh.
10:08No.
10:08Very difficult to score this fight.
10:13Last 10 seconds.
10:15We're going to have a short break.
10:1730 seconds.
10:18And we'll be back with the third and final round.
10:25So you can defend it up.
10:27I mean, these guys have been going back and forth and grappling.
10:29If you can't get excited about grappling and wrestling based on this...
10:33Then don't watch.
10:34Herb's not even sending them back to their corner now.
10:37They want to start in a 50-50 position, I think.
10:40Who's starting down in this round?
10:42Yeah.
10:44Oh, nice right hand.
10:46Nice.
10:47What would you say that was like a, uh...
10:50A Hadouken?
10:50A Hadouken?
10:51A Hadouken?
10:52Yeah.
10:53I knew it was coming at some point.
10:54They had to, right?
10:59I feel like Makachev's got to make something happen this round.
11:01Wow, that was a really nice little slip-over right hand.
11:04Oh!
11:05Kick!
11:06Huge kick there.
11:07That must have wracked through the chin of Sarukyan.
11:10And that was something they didn't expect from Makachev.
11:13No.
11:13The kicking game.
11:16May only be able to use that kicking credit one time, though.
11:19Now Sarukyan's wise to it.
11:21He already reached for that first kick.
11:26Although maybe Makachev's painting, he's gonna go high next.
11:29Let's talk about how in shape these guys are.
11:31Yeah, that's a good point.
11:32That's a grueling pace.
11:33We're in the third round.
11:34Neither one really seems to be over-breathing or slowing down that much.
11:39I mean, obviously they're a little fatigued.
11:40It's the third round of an MMA fight where there's been a lot of wrestling,
11:43but both guys came in shape for this fight.
11:46Yeah, absolutely.
11:47I thought that Makachev looked fresher going back to the stool, if I'm honest.
11:51But Sarukyan's recovered very quickly as he tries to set up the shot.
11:57He's having success there on the feet.
11:59I think he should have just kept going with that.
12:00But like you said earlier, Dan, that could just be his instincts.
12:03That's what he's done in his other fights.
12:05Boom, boom, boom.
12:06Takedown.
12:06Double leg.
12:07Slam a guy down.
12:08You know what?
12:09You know when you're watching something that's so high level,
12:11is when they're making it look like slow motion.
12:15Yeah.
12:16It's so beautiful that this wrestling is almost like he's having a slow motion.
12:20But it's just the finesse in which they're both operating.
12:25Sarukyan looking over his corner, checking up at the big screen.
12:31Neither of these fighters have actually seen the scorecards for a loss in their careers.
12:40So they've always been favoured.
12:44Oh, nice little elbow off the break there.
12:49Sarukyan.
12:51Sarukyan, I would, if I was in his corner, tell him not to spin and kick.
12:55No spin, you're just...
12:57Oh!
13:00Amazing takedown defense.
13:02Oh, big A there for Makushev.
13:05The question is, is this now starting to fatigue Sarukyan?
13:09Sarukyan's slowing down for sure.
13:11And I think Makushev senses that, gets a big takedown.
13:15See, has Sarukyan already thrown the kitchen sink at this point?
13:20Look at that leg control.
13:21Beautiful binding of the legs there.
13:24This is the speciality of this team, really.
13:27What's he getting there?
13:28There's the wrist bar.
13:29What's it called?
13:30Dagestani handcuff.
13:31Dagestani handcuff, man.
13:32You're on it, Paul.
13:34And he's right in his corner as well.
13:36We can see Javier Mendez and Khabib's coach in the corner.
13:40Yeah, just under two minutes.
13:42A lot of knowledge and experience in that corner.
13:44Right accessible to him.
13:46Makushev three to one on takedowns.
13:49It's not for a once of trying, however, by Sarukyan.
13:53Oh, no, man.
13:54We said it when he came out.
13:56He didn't seem overwhelmed.
13:57He seemed to be enjoying the moment and he fought like it.
13:59He came out here to win.
14:01He didn't come out here to be a sacrificial lamb.
14:03He came out here to put on a show.
14:05For sure.
14:05And I can't wait to see what's next for the guy
14:07if he doesn't win a decision here tonight.
14:09But, I mean, he's still in this fight.
14:11You've got to think after a performance like this,
14:13he's going to struggle to get a fight in this division.
14:15Most guys aren't going to want to deal with someone that's...
14:17I don't want to fight.
14:18We found his next matchup.
14:24Driving into the fence is Makushev,
14:26who's going to try and secure another takedown here.
14:28Yeah, you can see the face of Sarukyan.
14:31He's feeling it a little bit.
14:32Another takedown.
14:33There it is.
14:34Using that butterfly hook, but...
14:35Heavy, heavy dips.
14:37Yeah, the float of Makushev just too much.
14:41Four to one now on takedowns for Makushev.
14:44Ankle lock.
14:44Ankle lock possibly if Sarukyan can create some space.
14:47I just don't know if he's got the energy to push Makushev off enough
14:50to get to that leg.
14:52He's trying.
14:52You just see Makushev just sitting down on him.
14:57I think his hips are a heavy weight, to be honest.
15:00He might be a lightweight, but his hip weight is heavy.
15:03Same with Habib, man.
15:04I'm sure it's the same kind of pressure.
15:06You can't...
15:07It's something you can't see as somebody watching.
15:10You have to grab him.
15:11Oh, well, there we go again.
15:12Lace in the legs.
15:13Real sovereignty on the ground from Makushev.
15:17Head pressure and just punching above his head into the face of Sarukyan.
15:22He's doing a great job, but...
15:24So are we going to call those the Dagestani leg irons?
15:28That's all you, Dan.
15:29That's all you.
15:30What a fight.
15:32What a fight.
15:33That was a great fight.
15:35Really evenly matched.
15:39Ladies and gentlemen, after three rounds, we go to the judges' scorecards for a decision.
15:45The judges score the contest.
15:4630-27, 30-27, and 29-28 for the winner by unanimous decision,
15:55Islam al-Katan!
16:01You take it again.
16:01We go out!
16:01We go out!
16:01We go out!
16:01We go out!
16:01We go out!
16:01Yeah, we hold it.
16:02So, it's just a bit.
16:02There we go out!
16:02I'll see you next time.
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