PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marlon Raynard (ranked 486 p4p, 1559 weight class) and Chimzat Khamaev (ranked 60 p4p, 209 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Raynard
vs
Khamaev

180 cm
28
180
12 - 3 - 0

188 cm
27
170
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marlon Raynard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chimzat Khamaev!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raynard moves into range and clinches up with Khamaev.

Raynard pulls Khamaev into guard.
Khamaev throws a strike but Raynard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Khamaev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Khamaev is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Khamaev wants to get back to his feet but Raynard passes into half guard.
Khamaev is trying to stand back up but Raynard is controlling him

Khamaev kicks Raynard off and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Raynard moves into the clinch successfully.

Khamaev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Raynard has closed the distance and engaged Khamaev in a clinch.
Raynard lands with a short shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raynard blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raynard decides to pull guard.
Khamaev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Khamaev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Raynard looking for a sweep. Not yet Raynard, not yet.
Khamaev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Khamaev wanted to stand there but Raynard had control of the position.
Khamaev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raynard is keeping the position for now.
Khamaev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
My spies in 3Band MMA inform me that Khamaev has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Khamaev is fighting to break Raynard's control of his arms but Raynard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khamaev throws a big elbow that misses.
Khamaev scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khamaev wanted to stand there but Raynard had control of the position.

Khamaev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Raynard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Khamaev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Raynard's head.
Raynard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Khamaev's guard.

Khamaev is looking to stand up but Raynard isn't so interested in that idea.
Raynard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Khamaev pushes Raynard off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khamaev closes the distance and clinches.
Raynard tries to pull guard but Khamaev won't allow it.
Raynard tries to pull guard but Khamaev holds him up against the cage and eventually Raynard drops back down to his feet.
Raynard jumps guard but Khamaev stands there with Raynard around his waist. Raynard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marlon Raynard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khamaev looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Raynard is trying to pull guard but Khamaev has him pressed against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Khamaev throws an elbow but misses.
Khamaev is trying to break the clinch but Raynard has him pressed against the cage.
Raynard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Khamaev smiles and moves away.
Raynard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Khamaev misses with a hook to the body
enabling Raynard to counter with a crisp jab.

Khamaev drives through and clinches with Raynard against the cage.
Raynard avoids the elbow strike from Khamaev, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raynard tries to pull guard but Khamaev won't allow it.

Khamaev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Khamaev connects with a body shot that sends Raynard's belly button to the back.

Khamaev takes the fight into the clinch.
Raynard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Khamaev's efforts to push away.
Khamaev taking a breather.

Raynard manages to pull guard.
Khamaev postures up and lands a big shot to Raynard's brow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khamaev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Khamaev chips away with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khamaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khamaev postures up in Raynard's guard and throws a big left but Raynard blocks it.
Raynard pulls Khamaev in close to prevent any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chimzat Khamaev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Khamaev scores with a hook to the body. Raynard takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Khamaev gets a clinch.
Raynard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Khamaev just stands there and leans against the cage.
Raynard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Khamaev just stands there and leans against the cage.
Raynard dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Khamaev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Raynard is keeping busy.
Raynard is trying to pull guard but Khamaev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marlon Raynard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khamaev throws an elbow that misses.

Raynard manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Raynard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raynard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Khamaev with a nice head shot there.
Khamaev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Khamaev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khamaev trying to control but Raynard is working from the bottom.
Raynard has a closed guard, preventing Khamaev from standing up.
Khamaev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Khamaev stands up over Raynard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Raynard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Khamaev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Raynard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Raynard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Khamaev is looking to work some ground and pound but Raynard has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khamaev trying to control but Raynard is working from the bottom.
Khamaev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Raynard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Khamaev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Khamaev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Raynard looking for a sweep. Not yet Raynard, not yet.
Khamaev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Khamaev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khamaev cracks Raynard with a solid left hand.
Khamaev wants to stand but Raynard is controlling his posture from full guard.
Khamaev looking to sit in guard and control but Raynard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khamaev is looking to stand back up but Raynard counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Khamaev.
Khamaev tries to kick Raynard off in order to stand up. Raynard Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Khamaev wants to get back to his feet.
Raynard is staying tight to Khamaev's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four 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.
Khamaev is pushing Raynard's head away, looking to escape. Raynard manages to hold on to the position though.
Khamaev bucks up and tries to throw Raynard off but instead Raynard has got his back!
Khamaev is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Raynard off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Khamaev is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Chimzat Khamaev has got the better of the ground game so far.
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.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marlon Raynard will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raynard tries to keep at a distance but Khamaev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Khamaev manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Khamaev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Khamaev looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Raynard decides to pull guard.
Raynard controlling Khamaev's posture.
Khamaev lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khamaev looking to sit in guard and control but Raynard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Raynard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khamaev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Raynard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Khamaev wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Raynard manages to pass to side control.

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.
Raynard is taking a breather. Khamaev says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Khamaev is looking to get back to is feet but Raynard passes into side control.
Khamaev wants to get back to his feet.
Khamaev wants to get back to his feet but Raynard is dominant here and he's now got Khamaev's back!
Khamaev is trying to get back to his feet but Raynard has full control of the position and if anything, Khamaev has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raynard just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Khamaev is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four 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.
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.

Marlon Raynard clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Khamaev instigates a clinch.
Raynard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Khamaev to keep the fight standing.

Raynard decides to pull guard.
Khamaev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khamaev trying to move into half guard but instead Raynard has managed to sweep!

Khamaev wants to stand but Raynard is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khamaev wants to get back to his feet but Raynard passes into half guard.
Khamaev is looking to get back to is feet but Raynard passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raynard moves into full mount!
Khamaev is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Raynard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Khamaev is trying to stand.

That's two 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.
Khamaev is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raynard content just to control the position here.
Khamaev tries to buck Raynard off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Raynard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Raynard won't let Khamaev get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Raynard takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marlon Raynard had his way with Chimzat Khamaev in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Khamaev drives through and clinches with Raynard against the cage.
Raynard digs a right hand into Khamaev's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Khamaev's gas tank.

Raynard jumps guard and drags Khamaev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Khamaev throws an elbow that misses. Raynard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Khamaev's guard. Nice move by Raynard!

Raynard won't allow Khamaev to get back to his feet.
Raynard 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.
Raynard won't allow Khamaev to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Khamaev has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Raynard is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Raynard manages to pull guard.
Khamaev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raynard trying to control the position.
Khamaev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Khamaev tries to move to full mount but Raynard actually manages to regain half guard.
Khamaev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Khamaev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Khamaev trying to control from half guard but Raynard is working away.
Raynard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Khamaev.
Khamaev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raynard is pressing down on Khamaev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Raynard wants to sweep here but Khamaev controlling him for the moment.
Khamaev trying to control but Raynard is working from the bottom.
Khamaev throwing strikes from guard but Raynard blocks nicely.
Khamaev wants to control from the top but Raynard keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Khamaev throwing strikes from guard but Raynard blocks nicely.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raynard slips a jab from Khamaev.
Raynard moves out of range of the strikes.
Khamaev misses with a hook to the body
and Raynard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Khamaev gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Khamaev misses with an elbow strike.
Marlon Raynard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Khamaev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Khamaev wants to break free but Raynard has control.

Khamaev breaks from the clinch.

Khamaev moves into the clinch.

Raynard decides to pull guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khamaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Raynard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Khamaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Raynard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raynard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Khamaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Khamaev throws a strike but Raynard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Khamaev wants to get back to his feet but Raynard passes into half guard.
Khamaev looks like he's trying to stand up.
Chimzat Khamaev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khamaev is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Khamaev manages to escape and get back to his feet!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chimzat Khamaev.
I think Raynard 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 48:47
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 47:48
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marlon Raynard!
Marlon Raynard retains his welterweight title!
Marlon Raynard very nearly forgot to thank Shadow Realm Apparel amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
Chimzat Khamaev spoke after the fight, saying 'I trained so hard for this fight! I’ll be back! Keel everybody! '.