PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sallah Alcoubra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilham Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aliyev has chosen Why Can't We Be Friends? as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Alcoubra
vs
Aliyev

185 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sallah Alcoubra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilham Aliyev!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aliyev wants to clinch up but Alcoubra keeps it at a distance.

Alcoubra scores with a takedown into Aliyev's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aliyev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alcoubra's guard.
Alcoubra keeping full guard, as Aliyev tries to pass.
Aliyev wants to control from the top but Alcoubra keeps moving.
Aliyev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alcoubra swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Alcoubra working for a triangle but Aliyev defends it easily.
Aliyev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alcoubra's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alcoubra is keeping the position for now.
Aliyev wants to control from the top but Alcoubra keeps moving.
Alcoubra tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alcoubra misses with an attempted mid kick.
Alcoubra looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aliyev is fending him off so far but Alcoubra persists. Nope, Aliyev circles away and we're back to standing.

Aliyev drives through and clinches with Alcoubra against the cage.
A short right from Alcoubra on the inside.
Alcoubra lands a shot to the body.
Aliyev tries to break the clinch but Alcoubra is controlling the position.
Aliyev is pressed up against the cage. Alcoubra has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aliyev down to the mat. Aliyev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alcoubra throws a nice looking combination but Aliyev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alcoubra is breathing heavily.
Alcoubra wants to clinch but Aliyev slips to the side

and Aliyev counters with a shoot takedown. Alcoubra fights it but they end up in guard.
Alcoubra pulls Aliyev in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev scoring with some ground and pound.

Aliyev gets to his feet. Alcoubra looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Alcoubra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Aliyev counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Alcoubra!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sallah Alcoubra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Alcoubra has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Aliyev tightening his grip on Alcoubra, looking for the choke.
Aliyev doesn't have the hooks in and Alcoubra manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alcoubra postures up.

Aliyev looking for a guillotine here but Alcoubra defends easily.
Aliyev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alcoubra trying to control but Aliyev is working from the bottom.
Aliyev lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alcoubra!
Alcoubra avoids a series of strikes thrown by Aliyev.
Aliyev fails to take his opponent's back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Aliyev controlling the pace for now.
Alcoubra is trying desperately to improve position.
Alcoubra wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Alcoubra tries to break free.

Alcoubra is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Alcoubra is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Aliyev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Aliyev misses the shot to the body.

Aliyev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alcoubra looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Alcoubra tries to buck Aliyev off but Aliyev is having none of it.
Aliyev avoids the strikes from the bottom by Alcoubra.

Aliyev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Alcoubra knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Alcoubra is trying to get back to half guard.
Alcoubra is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Aliyev off and has taken his back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aliyev turns into Alcoubra and is now in his guard.

Alcoubra uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A shot to de liver by Alcoubra. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alcoubra fails with a takedown attempt.
Alcoubra misses with an uppercut

and Aliyev counters by moving into the clinch.

Aliyev breaks the clinch.

Aliyev has closed the distance and engaged Alcoubra in a clinch.

Aliyev turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Aliyev manages to end up in side control.
Alcoubra takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Aliyev is putting a hurting on Alcoubra here, landing some big shots from side control.
Aliyev lands an elbow.
Aliyev works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Alcoubra wants to control but Aliyev postures up.
Aliyev trying to control the position but Alcoubra is working away.
Alcoubra is looking to get back to his feet here but Aliyev is keeping cool and he's managed to take Alcoubra's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aliyev working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Alcoubra is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Alcoubra shoots and misses

and Aliyev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aliyev wants to control but Alcoubra is keeping him busy.
Aliyev wants to stand up but Alcoubra is controlling the position.
Aliyev trying to control from half guard but Alcoubra is working away.
Aliyev trying to mount his opponent but Alcoubra defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aliyev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Alcoubra wants to get back to his feet.
Aliyev prevents Alcoubra from improving his position.
Alcoubra is looking to control Aliyev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Alcoubra avoid being mounted?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Aliyev instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alcoubra is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aliyev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sallah Alcoubra. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aliyev breaks the clinch.
Alcoubra takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Aliyev scores with a nice body kick.
Alcoubra throws a sloppy head kick and Aliyev moves out of range easily.

Alcoubra clinches.
Alcoubra tries to break the clinch but Aliyev is controlling the position.
Aliyev gets underhooks to prevent Alcoubra's takedown attempt.
Alcoubra misses with the head strike.
Alcoubra tries to break the clinch but Aliyev is controlling the position.

Aliyev breaks the clinch.
Alcoubra fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alcoubra stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Alcoubra misses with a takedown attempt - Aliyev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alcoubra misses with the combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Aliyev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aliyev prevents Alcoubra from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Aliyev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Aliyev.
Alcoubra throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

Aliyev tries for a kimura but Alcoubra is defending well.
Aliyev working the ground and pound but Alcoubra is defending the strikes.
Aliyev working away.
Aliyev advances to mount.
Aliyev controlling from mount.
Aliyev is landing with some decent strikes but Alcoubra is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alcoubra wants to hold on but Aliyev pushes him away.

Aliyev has hold of Alcoubra's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Alcoubra manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Aliyev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Alcoubra has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Aliyev avoids the attempt from Alcoubra to control.
Aliyev looking to control but Alcoubra is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Aliyev tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Alcoubra wants to hold on but Aliyev pushes him away.

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.
Aliyev tries to control but Alcoubra wriggling away.

Aliyev goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Alcoubra is on top in guard.
Aliyev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aliyev has a closed guard, preventing Alcoubra from standing up.
Alcoubra has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aliyev looking for a sweep. Not yet Aliyev, not yet.
Alcoubra wants to control from the top but Aliyev keeps moving.
Alcoubra postures up in Aliyev's guard and throws a big left but Aliyev blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alcoubra slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Aliyev seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Alcoubra stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Alcoubra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Aliyev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Knees in the clinch landing for Aliyev.
Alcoubra jumps guard but Aliyev stands there with Alcoubra around his waist. Alcoubra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alcoubra is working for takedown but Aliyev is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sallah Alcoubra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alcoubra scores with a shot to the side of Aliyev's head.
Alcoubra drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Aliyev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Alcoubra lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Alcoubra.
Alcoubra is trying to break free.
Aliyev prevents the takedown attempt.
Alcoubra is working for takedown but Aliyev is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alcoubra stops a takedown attempt from Aliyev.

Aliyev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alcoubra throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aliyev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aliyev's corner calls for a 1-2. Aliyev obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Alcoubra on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Aliyev. Aliyev obviously looking to wear him down.
Aliyev tries to clinch but Alcoubra moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Aliyev.

Alcoubra tries to keep at a distance but Aliyev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Alcoubra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Alcoubra is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aliyev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sallah Alcoubra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head punch on the inside from Alcoubra fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilham Aliyev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Aliyev 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilham Aliyev!