PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Kattar (ranked 5915 p4p, 4395 weight class) and Magomed Ismailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Magomed Ismailov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Daniel Kattar's chin.

Kattar
vs
Ismailov

178 cm
18
167
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
20
180
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daniel Kattar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Ismailov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ismailov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kattar looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Kattar is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kattar gets underhooks to prevent Ismailov's takedown attempt.
Ismailov is pressed up against the cage. Kattar has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ismailov down to the mat. Ismailov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kattar stuffs the takedown attempt from Ismailov. Ismailov gets slowly back to his feet.

Ismailov moves into the clinch.
Ismailov wants to break the clinch but can't.

Ismailov pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ismailov controlling the position.
Ismailov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ismailov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismailov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ismailov trying to control the pace.
Ismailov passes the guard and advances to mount!
Ismailov controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kattar is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ismailov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ismailov seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Kattar is holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismailov throws some wild stikes that Kattar manages to avoid easily.

Ismailov working for a submission but Kattar is keeping him at bay.
Kattar looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Ismailov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kattar is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ismailov controlling the pace for now.
Ismailov looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kattar wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ismailov.
Ismailov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ismailov content just to control the position here.
Ismailov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Ismailov 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.

Kattar defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ismailov.
Ismailov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kattar stuffs the takedown.
Kattar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kattar leaves Ismailov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Daniel Kattar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magomed Ismailov.
Ismailov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kattar changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ismailov shoots in looking for a takedown. Kattar tries to sprawl out of it but Ismailov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kattar manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ismailov shoots in but Kattar avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kattar is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ismailov.
Ismailov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ismailov there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kattar shoots and misses
and Ismailov counters with a series of strikes. Kattar will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ismailov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ismailov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ismailov fails with the takedown.
Ismailov scores with a shot to the body.
Kattar blocks a head kick by Ismailov.
Kattar tried to counter with a leg kick but Ismailov avoided it.
Ismailov connects with a crisp jab.

Ismailov rushes Kattar and presses him up against the cage.
Ismailov tries to pull guard but Kattar forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kattar slows down the pace here.
Ismailov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kattar prevents it.
Kattar stalling in the clinch but Ismailov improves position.
Ismailov is struggling to control the position.
Ismailov wants to get back to striking at distance but Kattar won't allow it.

Ismailov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kattar uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ismailov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kattar is aware though and is defending well.

Ismailov looking for a guillotine here but Kattar defends easily.
Kattar won't allow Ismailov to sweep him here.
Kattar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Ismailov has his foot on Kattar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kattar works his way back into a safe position though.
Kattar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kattar trying to control but Ismailov is working from the bottom.

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.
Kattar is fighting to break Ismailov's control of his arms but Ismailov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ismailov gets a clinch.
Ismailov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kattar just stands there and leans against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ismailov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Kattar breaks from the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ismailov is looking to land body kicks.
Ismailov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Ismailov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Ismailov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ismailov fails with a takedown attempt.
Kattar swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Ismailov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ismailov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ismailov stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ismailov tries to circle away but Kattar has him pinned against the cage.
Ismailov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ismailov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Daniel Kattar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magomed Ismailov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kattar throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Ismailov.

Ismailov decides to pull guard.
Ismailov has Kattar pulled in close to control his posture.
Kattar won't allow Ismailov to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ismailov has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Kattar is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Kattar misses with a knee to the head.
Kattar can't get the takedown.
Ismailov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kattar up against the cage.
Kattar is pressed up against the cage. Ismailov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kattar down to the mat. Kattar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismailov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kattar but Kattar pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ismailov looks to land a body kick but Kattar moved away.
Ismailov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kattar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ismailov as he jumps to the side.
Ismailov with a nice cross.
Daniel Kattar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kattar swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ismailov counters with a three punch combo that has Kattar backing up. Kattar nods at Ismailov to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kattar defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ismailov.

Kattar drives through with a takedown into Ismailov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Ismailov manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ismailov blocks a jab.

Ismailov has Kattar up against the cage in a clinch.
Ismailov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kattar is defending well.

Kattar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Kattar blocks the leg kick.
Kattar tries to counter with a takedown but Ismailov is quick to defend against it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ismailov.
A little feinted left hand from Kattar on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Kattar.
It looked like Kattar wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kattar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kattar throwing a counter right hand but Ismailov manages to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kattar pushes Ismailov up against the cage in a clinch.
Ismailov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kattar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Daniel Kattar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ismailov fails to pull guard.
Ismailov digs a right hand underneath Kattar's ribcage. Kattar let out a lung full of air as it connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomed Ismailov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ismailov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magomed Ismailov!