PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Haji (ranked 3327 p4p, 3977 weight class) and Aslan Dudayev (ranked 433 p4p, 498 weight class). Dudayev has chosen Waking Lions as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Haji
vs
Dudayev

188 cm
21
188
3 - 3 - 0

183 cm
22
190
2 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sam Haji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Aslan Dudayev!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haji swings for the body but Dudayev moves out of range.
Sam Haji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haji connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Dudayev momentarily.
Nice cross by Haji.
A head kick by Haji misses
and Dudayev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dudayev misses with a takedown
and Haji counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Haji scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Haji gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dudayev to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Dudayev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Haji works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Haji on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Haji tries to get out of the position.
Haji has Dudayev pulled in close to control his posture.
Dudayev trying to control but Haji is working from the bottom.
Haji controlling Dudayev's posture.
Haji tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dudayev wants to control from the top but Haji keeps moving.
Haji pulls Dudayev in close to his closed guard and prevents Dudayev from doing any damage or advancing position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dudayev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Haji holds on and takes a little breather.
Haji's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Haji looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dudayev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Dudayev tries to free his leg and advance position but Haji is retaining full guard.
Haji has Dudayev pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
Haji misses with a combination
and Dudayev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Haji waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dudayev.
Dudayev takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dudayev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Haji goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sam Haji is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haji's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Haji duly obliges.
A low kick lands for Haji.
Dudayev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Haji. Haji obviously looking to wear him down.
Dudayev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dudayev walks into a jab.
We've been told by Haji's head coaches at FF Forever that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Dudayev tests Haji's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Haji slips a straight right by Dudayev.
Haji lands with a cross.
Haji throws a big shot that misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haji fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Haji blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Haji blocks an uppercut.
Haji tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dudayev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Haji lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dudayev backwards.
Dudayev working aggressively here.
Dudayev has a couple of punches blocked by Haji.
Dudayev wants to break free but Haji has control.
Dudayev swings wildly with an uppercut but Haji uses good head movement to avoid it.
Haji swings wildly with an uppercut but Dudayev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dudayev swings wildly with an uppercut but Haji uses good head movement to avoid it.
Haji swings wildly with an uppercut but Dudayev uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haji misses with a hook to the ribs.
Haji fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haji.
Haji blocks an uppercut.
Dudayev working aggressively here.
Dudayev is trying to drag Haji to the mat but Haji just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Dudayev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Haji - that landed with a thud.
A short right from Haji on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Haji.
Haji lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haji has a couple of punches blocked by Dudayev.

Haji pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Haji throws a body shot but no joy.
A nice side step and Dudayev releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Haji 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.

Haji tries a head kick but it misses.
Haji drops his hands momentarily and Dudayev takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Haji throws a leg kick that misses.
Haji throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A combination from Haji does no damage.
Dudayev takes one to the side of the head.
Dudayev takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Haji is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dudayev can do to turn this around?
Dudayev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dudayev lands a nice shot that snaps Haji's head back.
Dudayev ducks under a wild hook from Haji.
Haji connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Dudayev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Dudayev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dudayev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Haji's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dudayev throws an elbow but Haji slips to the side and avoids it well.
Haji is looking to regain half guard here but Dudayev keeps moving and retains side control.
Haji takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
I wouldn't like to be where Haji is right now.
Haji is trying to improve his position.
Dudayev working away.
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Dudayev looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Haji is avoiding damage well.
Haji tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dudayev wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Haji struggling a bit here.
Dudayev in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Haji tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dudayev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Haji has escaped the position, nice work there.
Haji is looking to regain half guard here but Dudayev keeps moving and retains side control.
Haji is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Dudayev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Haji trying to hold on to Dudayev's head to control him but Dudayev postures up.
Haji is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dudayev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Haji works his way to full guard. Good work.
Dudayev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Haji has Dudayev pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haji looking for a sweep. Not yet Haji, not yet.
Dudayev tries to free his leg and advance position but Haji is retaining full guard.
Dudayev stopping the sweep attempt from Haji.
Dudayev throws a big elbow that misses.
Dudayev wants to control from the top but Haji keeps moving.
Haji is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haji trying to control the position here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Haji trying to control the position.
Haji wants to sweep here but Dudayev controlling him for the moment.
Aslan Dudayev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dudayev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

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.
Haji is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Dudayev postures up.
Haji wants to sweep here but Dudayev controlling him for the moment.

Dudayev is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dudayev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Haji is keeping the position for now.
Haji has Dudayev pulled in close to control his posture.
Haji looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dudayev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haji keeping moving, preventing Dudayev from controlling successfully.
Dudayev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Haji swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslan Dudayev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dudayev takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Haji throws a sloppy head kick and Dudayev moves out of range easily.
Dudayev blocks a head kick by Haji.
Haji has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Dudayev finds it's way round the side to connect with Haji's head.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dudayev or perhaps it was just good defense by Haji, which made it look bad.
Haji scoring well with a low kick there.
Haji throws a front kick aimed at Dudayev's knee but Dudayev avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haji misses with a low kick.
Haji scores with the left hand. Dudayev knows he should have avoided that one.
Haji scores with a nice right hand.
Haji attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Dudayev tries to clinch up but Haji circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haji scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Haji scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Dudayev doesn't seem bothered though.
Haji misses with a hook.
Haji scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Haji throws a body kick that misses
and Dudayev counters with a nice body shot.

Dudayev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Haji did well to prevent Dudayev getting side control.
Haji is trying to maintain the position but Dudayev is very close to passing his half guard.
Dudayev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Haji knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Haji slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Haji has his hands on Dudayev's head, controlling the position.

Dudayev is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haji looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Haji manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dudayev manages to get himself to full guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dudayev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Haji controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dudayev is trying to keep Haji in close.

Dudayev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Haji is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dudayev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Haji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Dudayev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Haji defends it easily.
Haji slips nicely into half guard.
Dudayev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dudayev gets full guard.
Haji passes Dudayev's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Haji seems content to control.

Dudayev actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haji stalling.
Dudayev wants to improve his position but Haji is controlling well.
Haji slows the pace down in half guard.
Dudayev wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haji controlling the pace.
Dudayev wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Haji showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Haji has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Haji!
Sam Haji decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
In defeat, Aslan Dudayev stepped up to the mic, saying 'I've decided that this will be my last fight. I just cant compete on the same level as these other fighters. Thanks for the support! *Takes off his gloves and drops them on the mat*'.